Northern Ireland "fanatic" fighter turns community worker

By Andras Gergely

BELFAST (Reuters) - Noel Large, a former loyalist paramilitary and ex-prisoner, works in community development in Belfast's Protestant area around Shankill Road and where it touches on the Catholic stronghold of Falls Road.

Having spent 16 years in prison for killing Catholics and a list of other crimes, he was released under the terms of the Good Friday peace accord that mostly ended fighting in Northern Ireland 10 years ago.

Large talked to Reuters about his life and views on the peace process, before taking a group of American visitors on an educational tour along the "peace wall" dividing Shankill Road from nearby Catholic communities.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Where were you 10 years ago?

A: This time 10 years ago, I was in H block 3 of the Maze prison, Long Kesh (outside Belfast). I had almost 16 years served in prison, sentenced to four life sentences and 357 years for the other smaller sentences.

I was on the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) command staff within the prison. And being on that I would have had access to politicians.

Q: You are now doing community work as opposed to fighting but you haven't given up your beliefs.