This Portadown mural combines the Ulster Volunteers of 1912 with the contemporary UVF. The panels show “UVF gun-smuggler 1913”, “Firearms training 1913”, and “Sir Edward Carson about to address troops at Portadown railway station” while the roll of honour lists modern-day volutneers Joey Neill, Horace [Harris] Boyle, Wesley Summerville [Somerville], Derek McFarlane, Jackie Marshall, Wilson “Winky” […]
Mid Ulster Brigade Ulster Volunteer Force
EAST Belfast UVF have been branded coke-dealing thugs i an astonishing attack by the boss of a UVF museum in the area.
Follow this link to find out more: https://twitter.com/LynneCampbell5/status/1275686919255490562?s=20
He hit out as specialist cops busted a suspected drugs ring linked to the gang. Loyalist community worker William McCaughey, curator of a museum dedicated to the UVF, laid into the current paramilitary goons for “torturing” the Protestant people. He accused them of criminality and cocaine dealing saying they should “hang their heads in shame”.
UVF HISTORIAN SLAMS SECTARIAN TERROR GROUP FOR THE TORTURE OF PROTESTANTS AND TELLS THEM: YOU’RE COKE DEALING THUGS’
EAST Belfast UVF has been accused of “torturing the Protestant population” in the heart of East Belfast.
Follow this link to find out more: https://www.facebook.com/913308238745902/posts/3069554353121269/?app=fbl
Respected community worker and UVF historian William McCaughey laid into the current UVF mob who were targeted in yet another anti-drugs sting the weekend last. McCaughey is the curator of the Ballymac Museum which is smack in the heart of what has for years been the heartland of the East Belfast UVF – making the outspoken dressing down even more unusual. And his brave outburst came as police revealed on Saturday 20th June they had busted a suspected East Belfast UVF drug gang. Officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force announced they had searched properties in Dundonald and believe drugs and cash found were linked to the East Belfast UVF. A 40-year-old man has been charged with drug offences and two women were reported to the PPS. The Sunday World understands the raid is highly significant and is closely linked to one of the terror group’s top bosses. A top cop said afterwards the local community “utterly supports” their efforts to disrupt East Belfast UVF. Detective Inspector Hamilton said: “Paramilitaries are not defenders of their communities, instead they are criminals who pretty on vulnerable people and exploit any circumstances they can for their own gain.”
PRISONERS
And during a five-minute video posted on the Ballymac Friendship Centre’s Facebook page this week, William McCaughey (49) describes the current East Belfast UVF in less flattering terms. The clip entitled ‘Ballymac Museum Tour Part 3’ sees William, who’s listed in the credits as curator of the museum, complete his tour of the museum which largely includes artefacts collected from the Troubles. Having shown us various weapons and trinkets made in Long Kesh prison by UVF prisoners like David Ervine and Gusty Spence, he out-of-the-blue lets rip at the present day UVF. While a music box, made in Long Kesh, plays in the background he says: “It’s usually at this stage of the tour people ask me what has the East Belfast UVF got to do with the museum and my answer has to be, absolutely nothing. “Why? What has cocaine [word inedible], criminality, hiking of bills and general torture of the Protestant population, what’s that got to do with all this rich history?”
But he doesn’t stop his impassioned speech there and even tells the current East Belfast UVF criminal element they should be ashamed. He continues: “Why use them three letters [UVF] and live on the backs of the people in this museum – the Ulstermen who have defended their wee part of Ulster for hundreds of years? “Hang your heads in shame!” The video was uploaded to the museum’s Facebook page on Monday 15th June and seems to have been done to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of the murder of local UVF hero Robert ‘Squeak’ Seymour. McCaughey adds: “And from a time when East Belfast UVF were the ‘People’s Army’ – Volunteer Robert Squeak Seymour 15th June 1988.” Seymour became a UVF legend during the Troubles for murdering senior IRA man James ‘Skipper’ Burns, for which he was convicted of killing in 1981, though he was later cleared on appeal as he’d been convicted on ‘supergrass’ testimony. Until 2011, Seymour’s image featured on a mural on a gable in the nearby Ballymacarrett Road.
.With many thanks to the: Sunday World and Steven Moore for the EXCLUSIVE original story – steven.moore@sundayworld.com
Follow these links to find out more: https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/anti-uvf-operation-nets-suspected-drugs-and-cutting-agent-man-charged-narcotics-and-firearms-offences-2890660
(2)-: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/watch-paramilitary-crime-taskforce-raid-18456679
(3)-: http://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2020/06/20/man-held-over-east-belfast-uvf-drug-dealing-probe/
(4)-: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-northern-ireland-53119053
Over the past 50 years unionism has been represented by a myriad of political parties and independent representatives, some more successful than others.
The common denominator for all, has been the determination that Northern Ireland maintains its position as an integral part of the United Kingdom.
Irrespective of how one voted in the Brexit referendum, the undeniable outcome has created a climate of uncertainty within unionism, probably not seen since the Home Rule crisis.
Regardless of whom you hold responsible for creating the uncertainty, it is quite clear that now is the time for unionism to set aside divisive rivalries and speak with one voice, in promoting the benefits of retaining our place within the UK and for all concerned to cast their vote in the upcoming Westminster election and return those candidates, they believe to be best placed to represent the unionist cause.
Consequently, on behalf of my party, I am reiterating our call for a commitment from all unionist parties to come together under the umbrella of a Unionist Convention at the soonest possible opportunity to coalesce the unionist message.
Brian Lacey, Chair Progressive Unionist Party of NI, Shankill Road, Belfast
With many thanks to the: Belfast News Letter for the original story
Follow this link to find out more: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Unionist_Party
Car driven into house and set alight believed to be linked to ongoing loyalist feud.
RESIDENTS living in a Larne housing estate where a car was drivedriven into a house and set on fire yesterday have been left feeling “terrorised”.
Shame Féin representative Oliver McMullen said he has been contacted by people living in the Killyglen Road area after the incident. The stolen silver Peugeot was set alight and damage was caused to the front door of the house. No-one was in the property at the time. It is understood to be the seventh attack in the Co Antrim town in more than a week and is believed to be linked to the on going loyalist feud in Larne. Police last night appealed for any witnesses to the attack, which took place at around 4.45pm.
Last night police said they had arrested two men, aged 24 and 32, are charged with suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Another man 34-year-old was later arrested and charged on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and assault on police. Mr Mullan said residents are too afraid to speak out. “I was contacted by one of the families. They feel terrorised and just want to live in peace. Nobody wants This,” he said.
“In what other town would you see a burning car being driven into a house in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon? This is a busy enough area with lots of children. It’s a terrible image for the town. “I would appeal to some of the bigger organizations linked to this to step in and put an end to it. The police have been pro-active and arrests have been made but it is a matter of breaking down these crime gangs.” On Tuesday arsonists targeted a when a car was reversed through a metal shutter and set alight. Days earlier, cars were torched.
With many thanks to: The Irish News for the original story.
IN A couple of days we’ll be taking down the decosions, locking up the 12-year-old Scotch malt that’s only brought out at Christmas and contemplating another year!!!
The New Year is traditionally a time for optimism, sadly down the years ours has been wasted and without wishing to be a seasonal grump I’m not sure how long our optimism can take it. We’re getting used to being let down, but you have to hope don’t you? Things have to change eventually so why not in 2014. First thing that needs to change is the Chief Constable. Matt (maggot) Baggott has an unenviable task as head of the PSNI/RUC but he has shown he is simply not up to the job, whether its because of political pressure, his failure to handle the UVF has been spectacular. He was ill advised to have attended the PUP conference as the keynote speaker last year but he clearly can’t learn from his mistakes. With the UVF orchestrating night after night of street violence as the fleg protests swung into action the PSNI’s/RUC softly softly approach simply handed control of the streets to the terror group. His officers were expected to stand on the front line and take a battering – night after night – and when the PSNI/RUC did a deal allowing the UVF to police their own parades it was confirmation that the lunatics really had taken over the asylum. And if that wasn’t bad enough he insisted the UVF’s ceasefire remains intact, despite more than 30 murders since they claimed they put their guns beyond use and more recently the attemped murder of Jemma McGrath in East Belfast.
In the wider context we need the Orange Order to wise up. The outside world looks in and wonders what these strange wee men in bowler hats and collarettes are all about. Their intolerance and open hatred of all things Catholic is hard for anyone to grasp. And accommodating tolerant Orange Order would, in one fell swoop, disarm all those who want to see it condemned to the history books. The Order gives bigots an excuse, take it away and they fall. On the other side of the house the Shinners must be hoping that Gerry Adams‘ (pedo protector) closet isn’t any bigger. With the number of skeletons already out it resembles the Tardis! The Shame Fein president has been left damaged by his continued denial of IRA membership, allegations of involvement in the abduction and murder of Jean McConville refuse to go away and his handling of sex abuse claims levelled against his brother further wrecked his creditability. He is fast becoming a leader in name only – people simply don’t trust him anymore. Maybe 2014 will be a time the Shinners started looking for a new star. It’s not asking much but if we manage to secure these changes and the North of Ireland manage to win the match 2014 mightn’t be too bad.
With many thanks to: Richard Sullivan, The Sunday World.
BALLISTICS tests on the gun used to kill pensioner Roseann Mallon were done by RUC Special Branch officers who might not have been properly qualified, an inquest has heard.
The Czech-bought assault rifle, now linked to 11 other murders and two attempted murders, was first examined at the Weapons and Explosives Research Centre (Werc) – a previously unheard of unit located within the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Laboratory, the court was told. Mr Justice Weir, who is hearing the long-awaited inquest, said: “This is the first time it has ever come to my attention that there was a forensic system.” Ms Mallon (76) was gunned down as she watched television at a house near Dungannon, Co Tyrone on May 8 1994. The spinster, who had been staying with relatives because she felt vulnerable, was unable to escape when two loyalist gunmen indiscriminately opened fire on the bungalow on Cullenrammer Road.
The UVF said its mid-Ulster brigade had been responsible (although it was widely beleived to be members of Billy Wright‘s LVF gang) and were targeting two of her nephews Christopher Mallon, who was not home at the time and Martin Mallon who lived half a mile away. In the wake of the shooting, British army spying equipment was found in a nearby field sparking claims of security force collusion. Last week it emerged that the Historical Enquries Team (HET) – a specialist unit set up to re-examine Troubles-related cold cases – had linked the murder weapon to the UVF killings of Charles and Theresa Fox at the Moy, Co Armagh, in 1992, as well as the murders of John Quinn, Dwayne O’Donnell, Malcolm Nugent and Tommy Armstrong outside a bar in Cappagh, Co Tyrone in 1991. But, Barry McDonald QC, who is representing the Mallon family, said the rifle was now known to have been involved in at least eight incidents that resulted in 11 murders and two attempted murders.
He said inaccurate information that the gun had no previous previous history was fed into the the system by Special Branch. Mr MacDonald said: “The practice seems to have been when cartrige cases were collected they were forwared to the Forensic Science Laboratory of Northern Ireland but it was the Werc who conducted their investigations and provided a steer. “The upshot is that these incorrect conclusions have been made by a section of Special Branch in circumstances where the object of this entire exercise – that’s this inquest – is to allay suspicion and rumour about the involvement of Special Branch.” Judge Weir told the court he had never heard of Werc despite a lengthy career as a defence barrister and judge. He also expressed concern that they were not ballistics experts and said he would be demanding a full explanation on how they operated and who took the decision to conceal their existence. Martin Mallon said the family had been left bemused by the latest revelations. He said: “We have had Special Branch hiding behind screens, we have heard evidence about burning notebooks and items being destroyed. We have consistently heard about Special Branch being a force within a force and now it appears that Werc was unit within a unit. Notorious killer Billy Wright and two other loyalists were arrested and questioned about Ms Mallon’s murder but no-one has ever been convicted. Sinn Fein MLA Sean Lynch, who sits on the Stormont justice committee and is a Mallon family friend, said: “It is obvious that the British state is covering up, delaying and prevaricating on vital evidence – particularly around ballistics.” The inquest has now been adjourned until May to allow the HET to complete its investigation into 24 murders in the East Tyone area between 1988 and 1994 – including Ms Mallon’s murder.
With many thanks to: The Irish News.
THE Policing Board for Northern Ireland have copped out of facing up to Woodvale UVF leader Winston Winkie Irvine.
For to UVF commender Irvine STILL hasn’t been sacked from his post on the North Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership of which he is a member. After years of this newspaper highlighting Irvine’s role in the UVF, coupled with a BBC Spotlight documentary broadcast recently which also named him as a UVF ‘Commander‘, the Northern Ireland Policing Board announced that they would ‘reveiw’ Irvine’s position on the group. But, yesterday, the Policing Board said no decision has been taken – yet. The Policing Board simply told us that their investigation into Irvine’s activites is still ongoing – well over a month since they announced their ‘reveiw’. A statement from the Policing Board, when asked if the reveiw on Irvine’s position has been completed and if a decision has been taken, read: “The reveiw is being progressed in line with the Board’s procedure and will be completed in due course.” When asked if Irvine is currently still a member of the North Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership (NBPCP) and Community Safety Partnership (CSP) the Policing Board spokesperson said: “YES.” Last night Stormont SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness blasted the Policing Board stalling as a ‘scandal’.
The veteran MLA said questions must be answered on why the Policing Board still haven’t come to a decision. “I asked this very question to the Justice Minister David Ford on November 19 and he told me that it was a matter for the Policing Board,” he said. “People regard this man’s membership of a policing organisation as a scandal and I beleive that steps have been taken on this ongoing situation. “It is absolutely scandalous that this man is on a Policing and Community Safety Partnership. Even if you just take the unrest caused by the flags protest, and leave aside any other form of criminality, it is still a scandal. “The Justice Minister is not prepared to deal with the situation himself, and the Policing Board seem incapable of dealing with a person ho is a member of an illegal paramilitary oeganisation.” When Mr Maginness asked David Ford about Irvine’s position on the board back in November Ford replied: “I certainly understand the concerns that are being expressed by Mr Maginness if that is the feeling of sections of the community about some individual members.”
With many thanks to: Jamie McDowell, The Sunday World.
A number of pickets, staging shifts at the so-called ‘Equality Civil Rights Camp’ on the corner of the city’s Twaddell Avenue, have been visited at their homes access the city by police and officially warned their lives are in danger.They have been told that the rebel republican militants may have details of their movements, their workplaces, their cars, and their home aaddresses – many in the loyalist districts of the city – and their domestic and family circumstances. It is understood that the dissidents may have been targeting prominent loyalists way back since the six-week long Union Flag pprotests which streached over last Christmas and New Year, and sparked mayhem on city streets.
The penultimate line of the Code of Conduct even carries a disclaimer in a blunt warning in bbold type it warns: “You enter and remain on this site at your own risk.”
Meantime, the UVF’s annual stage-managed show-of-strength on the Shankill Road passed off peacefully yesterday. The parade is held annually to ‘commemorate’ UVF volenteer Brian Robinson, shot dead in an SAS ambush after he gunned down a Catholic shop kepper, Paddy McKena, at the Ardoyne in 1989. Ranks of UVF men dressed in black suits, white shirts and black ties, were marshalled and marched to a wall mural in Robinson’s memory in Disraeli Street closr to the’Civil Rights’ protest at Ardoyne. Said a loyalist siurce on the Shankill: “The UVF put out an order that the ‘lid was to be kept’ on the Robinson commemoration.”
With many thanks to : Jim McDowell, Sunday Word.
A LOYALIST paramilarary group last night threatened to take “military action” against children attending three Catholic schools in greater Belfast. A man claiming to represtant the Red Hand Defenders issued the threat using a codeword.
The group, formed in 1998, and used as cover name by both the UVF and UDA, is not thought to have been active in recent years. In 1999 it admitted responsibility for the murder of human-rights solicitor Rosemary Nelson after a bomb exploded under her car near her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh. In a statement to The Irish News the group said it had “reactivated” in “response to attacks on the Protestant, Unionist and loyalist community in recent months” and would target three schools in greater Belfast. “Parents, pupils and staff who go to those schools are no longer welcome at the three schools,” it read. “Those three schools are in Protestant, unionist and loyalist areas and as our parades and people are are not welcome in nationalist areas, therefore [anything] to do with these schools will now be considered as legitimate targets.” The group said it wanted the schools to be made aware of the threat, adding: “If the message is not taken on board by the community then trouble will commence on Monday morning and military action will also commence on Monday morning.”
With many thanks to : Connla Young, The Irish News.
WHIMPERING UVF boss Colin ‘Meerkat’ Fulton is hauled away as loyalist mob rule strangles Belfast city centre. The UVF High command was on parade on Friday night as the city centre was ripped apart – cars hijacked, bars attacked, people hospitalised – proof that the paramilitary organisation orchestrated and controlled seven hours of sickening street riots.
The Sunday World can reveal that high ranking UVF figures including Shan kill chiefs Joe ‘No Neck’ McGaw, and ‘Harmless’ Harry Stockman were among hundreads of loyalists coralled on Belfast’s Royal Avenue.
Fulton’s UVF boss Eddie ‘Onions’ Rainey was also there. The paramilitary ledership watched as paving stones were ripped up and gratings used as missiles to hurl at police. Rampant loyalist mobs smashed windows at the Hudson Bar on Gresham Street stealing beer kegs which were also used as weapons. Customers in the Sunflower Lounge on Union Street had a lucky escape as a baying mob tried to smash windows. The police fired 26 plastic bullets and made seven arrests as the over-stretched force tried to contain the trouble. One unsuspecting German tourist was hauled from his car on North Street and his hire car set on fire; two American police officers who had been taking part in the World Police and Fire Games looked bewildered as violence erupted. Other Games athletes were barricaded into a city centre bar, unable to gain access to a youth hostel on Kent Street just off Royal Avenue. PSNI/RUC Chief Constable Matt Baggott ( who was fishing at the time), described the violence as “mindless anarchy” and “thugery”. He praised his officers, saying they had put their lives on the line to protect the rule of law. “I want to commend my colleagues for their immense courage last night. I have no doubt whatsoever that they prevented that anarchy from spreading and without that courage, many lives may well have been lost,” Mr Baggot said. Loyalist ‘Paster From Hell’ Clifford Peoples was also on the ground taking pictures of police officers and journalists as trouble erupted.
The roly poly paramilatery apologist has spent 10 years behind bars for a string of terrorist convictions and even boasted that he “blessed” bombs and guns used in loyalist terrorist atrocities. But it is Fulton’s arrest that caused the most comment. The South Belfast terror boss was seen mouthing off at riot cops as police tried to force the crowd down Royal Avenue. But once he was snatched from behind loyalist lines, Fulton was a different man. As our exclusive pictures show Fulton didn’t put up any struggle as he was led away. Gone was the bravado as he pleaded with officers to “go easy.” “No need to push,” he bleated, “I’m not resisting arrest, there’s no problem.” The UVF/Protestant Coalition orchestrated the riots in response to an anti-Internment parade which left Belfast city centre like a war zone. The republican parade which was due to pass through Royal Avenue was re-rourted and was subsequently held up and attacked by loyalist bigots at the bottom of the Shankill. Then police pushed the bigots back up the Shankill to allow the anti-Internment parade to pass through. There was over 5,000 republican activists took part in the march, and showed dignity and restrint at the provokacation by loyalist rioters.
Dozens of police officers were injured 56 in total during the protests. 26 plastic baton rounds were fired by police, two water cannons and dogs were deployed during the disorder. 
Only seven people were arrested and detained on suspicion of offences including riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour and hijacking and are expected to appear in court later today. Secretary of State Theresa Villers described the violence and attacks on police as “shameful”. She said what had happened was a “hugely regrettable step backwards” after the North of Ireland‘s recent successes at hosting the G8 summit and World Police and Fire Games. The Sunday World now understands that the Orange Order is becoming increasingly concerned at the amount of control exercised by the paramilitaries. Meetings are now planned to discuss a ‘new way’ of securing the future of loyalist parades. The Parades Commission which had given permission for six loyalist protests ( even though they were not passing any loyalist areas) against the republican parade will now reveiw their decision as police struggled to maintain order. A further concern is that police resources are being stretched to the limit. One officer speaking to the Sunday World said he had two days off since the start of December.
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