Read that link Brendy gave again, Keith "..He has been described as an associate of the Loyalist Volunteer Force."

McCartney has been described as having 'associations with Sinn Féin'

I'm sure the reporting on both men were impeccable, Keith.
How it is interpreted depends on how much the media drags the story out.
... and who runs the media whose reporting you swallow?

But there was no (and to date) has been no calls for Loyalist to disarm (as indeed you realised from the reply you received from your MP:

"In relation to your question,I understand the reason why more air-time in the media is being given to the decommissioning of arms by nationalist factions, is due to Sinn Fein's "inextricable links" to the IRA. This is in conjunction with their strong electoral mandate makes such a link especially intolerable. It should be unthinkable that a political party with such ties to a para-military organisation can wield such power.

Although it is true that the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) is similarly linked to para-military groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force, the PUP's situation there is clearly somewhat different- as they have just 1 member in the Northern Ireland Assembly compared to Sinn Fein's 24."

Ahh... so that's OK then, is it?
Gerry Adams and John Hume needn't have bothered heir arses way back in the old Downing Street Declaration days, in that case.

Weapons can be replaced, remember also.
Willingness and engagement in the Peace Process by the Unionists are the qualities that the Nationalist population want to see exuded. The 'handing in of the weapons' is meant to denote willingness.

Do you accept that because the PUP has only 1 member in the Assembly, they should be exempt from pressure to decommission?
When do you think the Loyalists should be as publicly pressurised in equal amounts?
When they have 2 members, 4, 6, 8,?
When should Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley call spades spades?

Do you accept the answer you got from your MP?

Cos really, Keith, it begs more questions than it addresses.

Yes indeed, Keith, Ted needs to be slapped into line good and proper every once in a while. You, however, could do with remembering that what's good for the goose, applies in equal measure for the gander.

No call for Loyalist weapons - no call for Republican weapons.

Or had you thought that Croppy had lain down?