LOYALIST paramilitaries predict protests and civil disobedience campaigns if the British government seeks to align Northern Ireland customs arrangements with the Republic in any Brexit compromise.

Government told to wake up to extent of unionist anger over ‘betrayal’ of Northern Ireland.

A Brexit deal which is seen to threaten the union between Britain and Northern Ireland could lead to civil disorder by loyalists, the head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has warned.

Tensions in Northern Ireland (NI) escalated sharply after a loyalist figure suggested that it might be time for unionists "to fight physically to maintain our freedoms within the UK".