Ulster Defence Association

The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a loyalist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland, outlawed as a terrorist group in the UK and Republic of Ireland, which is perceived by its supporters as defending the unionist community from Irish Republican terrorism.

Related Topics:
Loyalist - Paramilitary - Northern Ireland - Terrorist group - UK - Republic of Ireland - Unionist - Irish Republican - Terrorism

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It was a legal organisation from its creation in 1971 until August 1991. The group has been involved in the killings of two republican paramilitaries and three members of the security forces, but mostly in attacks on and murders of Republican and Catholic civilians. Many Irish people believe that a lot of these attacks were carried out with the assistance or complicity of the British army and/or the Royal Ulster Constabulary. This belief was later backed up by the Stevens Enquiry although it hasn't yet been determined the exact total number of people murdered as a result of collusion.

Related Topics:
Republican - Paramilitaries - Civilian - British army - Royal Ulster Constabulary - Stevens Enquiry

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The group's political party was the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), which was dissolved in November 2001, and recently trying to draw the organisation into the political process has been problematic.

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It is heavily involved in racketeering and in the drugs trade in Northern Ireland, and to a lesser extent in western Scotland. The group had also developed strong links with neo-nazi groups in Britain such as Combat 18, though in 2005 the UDA announced that it was severing all ties with neo-Nazi organizations.

Related Topics:
Scotland - Neo-nazi - Britain - Combat 18 - 2005

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The US State Department's 2002 "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report substantiates these accusations, stating: "The UDA/UFF has evolved into a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and other moneymaking criminal activities."

Related Topics:
US - State Department

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The UDA was formed in 1971 as an umbrella organisation for various loyalist groups. It originally had the motto 'law before violence' and was in fact a legal organisation until it was banned in August 1991. During this period of legality, the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) (a cover name for the UDA) committed a large number of murders, including that of SDLP politician Paddy Wilson in 1973.

Related Topics:
Umbrella organisation - Loyalist - SDLP - Paddy Wilson - 1973

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In the 1970's the group favoured Northern Ireland independence, but they have retreated from this position in recent years. The UDA was involved in the successful Ulster Workers Council Strike in 1974. The strike was led by Vanguard Assemblyman and UDA member, Glenn Barr.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland independence - Ulster Workers Council Strike

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They have been involved in several feuds with the Ulster Volunteer Force, which led to many murders. On February 22 2003 it announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months. It also apologised for the involvement of some of its members in the drugs trade.

Related Topics:
Feud - Ulster Volunteer Force - February 22 - 2003

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Its 'ceasefire' was welcomed by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Paul Murphy and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Hugh Orde. Most nationalists are sceptical, however, as the UDA has a history of making statements it cannot or will not back up.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Paul Murphy - Chief Constable - Police Service of Northern Ireland - Hugh Orde - Nationalists

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The Red Hand Defenders is an organisation that formed in 1998. Its members are loyalist hard-liners that oppose the ceasefire. The organisation seems to be made up of members of the UDA/UFF and LVF - all organisations that officially denounce them. Speculation remains as to exactly what their relationships are.

Related Topics:
Red Hand Defenders - LVF

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The New Ulster Political Research Group (or NUPRG) was initially the political wing of the UDA which then formed the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP). Gary McMichael was the party leader, son of the prominent UDA man John McMichael who was killed by the IRA (there was widespread suspicion that he was set up to be killed by some of his UDA colleagues). The UDP supported the signing of the Good Friday Agreement but had poor electoral success and internal difficulties before eventually folding. The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) was subsequently formed to give political analysis to the UDA and act as community workers in unionist areas. Following an August 2005 Sunday World article that poked fun at the gambling losses of one of its leaders, the UDA banned the sale of the Sunday World newspaper from shops in areas it controls. Shops that defy the ban have suffered arson attacks, and at least one newsagent was threatened with death. The PSNI have recently begun accompanying the paper's delivery vans.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1507-1743605-1187,00.htmlhttp://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2005/aug16_Loyalists_dont_want_to_face_up__SMcKay.php

Related Topics:
Ulster Democratic Party - Gary McMichael - John McMichael - IRA - Good Friday Agreement - Ulster Political Research Group - Sunday World - PSNI

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According to the Sutton database of deaths at the University of Ulster's CAIN projecthttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/crosstabs.html, the UDA was responsible for 112 killings during the Troubles. 78 of its victims were civilians, 29 were other loyalist paramilitaries (including 22 of its own members), 3 were members of the security forces and just two were republican paramilitaries.

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