In 1972, five Toronto businessmen shipped weapons in grain container ships out of Halifax, bound for ports in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland which were destined for loyalist militants. Though, for its own purposes, it assumed the same name it has nothing else in common. On 23 October 1972, the UVF carried out an armed raid against King's Park camp, a UDR/Territorial Army depot in Lurgan. [21] In April 1966, Ulster loyalists led by Ian Paisley, a Protestant fundamentalist preacher, founded the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee (UCDC). Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said many nationalists would remember Spence as someone "who was central to the sectarianism that gave birth to the modern loyalist paramilitary". [47] Beginning in 1975, recruitment to the UVF, which until then had been solely by invitation, was now left to the discretion of local units.[48]. His conviction, which he always denied, has been referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission by his family in light of new evidence being brought forward. [40] Following Merlyn Rees' decision to legalise the UVF in 1974, Spence encouraged them to enter politics and supported the establishment of the Volunteer Political Party. [24] On 21 May, the group issued a statement: From this day, we declare war against the Irish Republican Army and its splinter groups. [35], In January 1970, the UVF began bombing Catholic-owned businesses in Protestant areas of Belfast. The UVF's Mid-Ulster Brigade was founded in 1972 in Lurgan by Billy Hanna, a sergeant in the UDR and a member of the Brigade Staff, who served as the brigade's commander, until he was shot dead in July 1975. With Moore now deceased, the only senior figure still alive is "Mr A". Afterwards a plot was concocted where his nephew Frankie Curry, also a UVF member, would drive Spence back to jail but the car would be stopped and Spence "kidnapped". The unnamed woman stated, "When you go out and throw a petrol bomb through a widow's window, you're no peacemaker. Two UVF members, Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville, were accidentally killed by their own bomb while carrying out this attack. Along with the newly formed Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the UVF started an armed campaign against the Catholic population of Northern Ireland. Armed men hijacked a van on the nearby Shankill Road and forced the driver to take a device to a church on the Crumlin Road. Almost 10 years later in October 1994, he was chosen to announce to the world that the main loyalist paramilitary groups, the UVF and the UDA, were declaring ceasefires in response to an IRA cessation. [39], The following year, 1972, was the most violent of the Troubles. [103], On 25 March 2022, the UVF was blamed[by whom?] [94] The high levels of orchestration by the leadership of the East Belfast UVF, and the alleged ignored orders from the main leaders of the UVF to stop the violence has led to fears that the East Belfast UVF has now become a separate loyalist paramilitary grouping which doesn't abide by the UVF ceasefire or the Northern Ireland Peace Process. [43] Jackson was allegedly the hitman who shot Hanna dead outside his home in Lurgan. [140][141], In contrast to the IRA, overseas support for loyalist paramilitaries including the UVF has been limited. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. Slowly. Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Hanna and Jackson have both been implicated by journalist Joe Tiernan and RUC Special Patrol Group (SPG) officer John Weir as having led one of the units that bombed Dublin. [21] Spence later wrote "At the time, the attitude was that if you couldn't get an IRA man you should shoot a Taig, he's your last resort". Explosives for the north were mostly shipped in small boats which set out at night from the Scottish coast and made contact at sea with vessels from Ulster ports." After the Troubles began, an Orange-Canadian loyalist organization known as the Canadian Ulster Loyalist Association (CULA) sprang to life to provide the 'besieged' Protestants with the resources to arm themselves. [125] Historically, the number of active UVF members in July 1971 was stated by one source to be no more than 20. "[154], According to Alan McQuillan, the assistant director of the Assets Recovery Agency in 2005, "In the loyalist community, drug dealing is run by the paramilitaries and it is generally run for personal gain by a large number of people." Berenice also assists in shipping across the state, country or around the world. Leader of the, 414 (~85%) were civilians, 11 of whom were civilian political activists, 21 (~4%) were members or former members of republican paramilitary groups, 44 (~9%) were members or former members of loyalist paramilitary groups, 6 (~1%) were members of the British security forces. The report added that individuals, some current and some former members, in the group have, without the orders from above, continued to "localised recruitment", and although some continued to try and acquire weapons, including a senior member, most forms of crime had fallen, including shootings and assaults. Its first leader was Gusty Spence, a former British Army soldier from Northern Ireland.The group undertook an armed campaign of almost thirty years during The Troubles.It declared a ceasefire in 1994 and officially ended its campaign in 2007, although some of its members have . "CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths crosstabulations", "UVF disbands unit linked to taxi murder", Law and order Belfast-style as two men are forced on a 'walk of shame', 'Report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning', Twenty-Fourth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission, "David Madine admits trying to kill loyalist Harry Stockman", "Police say UVF gunman seen in Rathcoole during trouble". Malcolm Sutton's Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland, part of the Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN), states that the UVF and RHC was responsible for at least 485 killings during the Troubles, and lists a further 256 loyalist killings that have not yet been attributed to a particular group. This was a general strike in protest against the Sunningdale Agreement, which meant sharing political power with Irish nationalists and the Republic having more involvement in Northern Ireland. During its 12 July 1967 march, the Orange lodge to which he belonged stopped outside the prison in tribute to him. Gusty Spence announced the loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in 1994, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. It was during his time in the Maze prison that Spence began to talk politics and encouraged others to do the same. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Spence now argued that UVF members were soldiers and soldiers should not kill civilians, as had been the case at McGurk's Bar. [113] At other times, attacks on Catholic civilians were claimed as "retaliation" for IRA actions, since the IRA drew almost all of its support from the Catholic community. [151][152] These shipments were considered enough for the UVF/UDA to wage its campaign, most of which were used to kill its victims. [38] By this time Spence polarised opinion within the UVF, with some members fiercely loyal to a man they saw as a folk hero and others resenting his draconian leadership and increasing emphasis on politics, with one anonymous member even labelling him "a cunt in a cravat". Tributes were paid to former leading loyalist paramilitary turned peacemaker Gusty Spence at his funeral in Belfast today. [68], According to journalist and author Ed Moloney, the UVF campaign in Mid-Ulster in this period "indisputably shattered Republican morale", and put the leadership of the republican movement under intense pressure to "do something",[69] although this has been disputed by others.[who?]. A man who worked tirelessly for peace. The group also carried out attacks in the Republic of Ireland from 1969 onward. Some of them left much of Belfast without power and water. [92], During the Belfast City Hall flag protests of 201213, senior UVF members were confirmed to have actively been involved in orchestrating violence and rioting against the PSNI and the Alliance Party throughout Northern Ireland during the weeks of disorder. Gusty Spence Funeral RIP 21,778 views Nov 15, 2013 95 Dislike Share Save Elmwoodgrove 14 subscribers The Funeral at Craven Street Gusty said Some day The PUP will grow a set of Jaws And BITE. The chip shop has since been closed down. In keeping with his wishes,. What's he waiting for? Instead his coffin was adorned with the beret and regimental flag of the Royal Ulster Rifles, his former regiment. [145], Scotland was a source of funding and aid, supplying explosives and guns. [21] The group called itself the "Ulster Volunteer Force" (UVF), after the Ulster Volunteers of the early 20th century, although in the words of a member of the previous organisation "the present para-military organisation has no connection with the U.V.F. It used submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, grenades (including homemade grenades), incendiary bombs, booby trap bombs and car bombs. [40] However, Spence's ideas were abandoned as the UVF ceasefire fell apart that same year following the Ulster Workers' Council strike and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; the carnage of the latter had shocked and horrified Spence. During his time in prison Spence renounced violence and helped to convince a number of fellow inmates that the future of the UVF lay in a more political approach. Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. "He also sent a letter of condolence to the widow of Joe McCann, an IRA man, praising him as a soldier of Ireland.". This collection contains Gusty Spence's personal and business correspondence from 1959-1998, the bulk of which was written during Spence's time in prison (1966-1984). The coffin, covered with the flag of the Ulster Rifles and his beret, of former UVF leader Gusty Spence passes a UVF mural along the Shankill Road in Belfast after his funeral at St Michael's Church. [126] Later, in September 1972, Gusty Spence said in an interview that the organisation had a strength of 1,500. DeSantis won't say he's running. She told mourners that he had made friends among republicans and socialists and among people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He was sworn in soon afterwards in a ceremony held in secret near Pomeroy, County Tyrone. Spence was initially held over the murder of the first victim of the Troubles, John Scullion, who was shot by the UVF in the Falls Road area of Belfast. [128] Information regarding the role of women in the UVF is limited. [44], The brigade formed part of the Glenanne gang, a loose alliance of loyalist assassins which the Pat Finucane Centre has linked to 87 killings in the 1970s. Drong de dhnmharfir srathacha ab ea Bistir na Seanchille a bh gnomhach i m Bal Feirste sna 1970id. The group is a proscribed organisation and is on the terrorist organisation list of the United Kingdom.[8]. Thirty-three people were killed and almost 300 injured. He read the loyalist ceasefire statement in 1994 and was asked to read the UVF weapons decommissioning statement, at the age of 74, in 2007. ", Patsy McGarry is Religious Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times, Major emergency declared at Wexford General Hospital following fire, Detectives revisit scene where PSNI officer was shot, appealing for further information, Welsh minister launches Welsh language programme at Dublin Gaelscoil, Ferry operator floats idea of green lanes on Dublin-Holyhead route for goods bound for North, Dozens at Co Donegal firm exploited Covid-19 illness benefit payments, Sean Quinns former Dublin pub sold for 3.75m, Eleanor Catton on Jacinda Arderns pretty huge betrayal of young people in New Zealand, Im worried I ruined a strangers date night, Sharp decrease in number of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland recorded, Baby died after traumatic delivery into toilet at Rotunda, inquest hears, Manchester United come from behind to beat West Ham and set up quarter-final against Fulham, Arsenal put four goals past Everton to go five points clear at top of table, Willis return to Toulouse gives England and Borthwick a headache, Van Dijk and Salah on target to give Liverpool home win over Wolves, The Dry: A comedy about addiction thats all too easy to give up. [5] He was educated at the Riddel School on Malvern Street and the Hemsworth Square school, finishing his education aged fourteen. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [18] Two days later, the government of Northern Ireland used the Special Powers Act to declare the UVF illegal. Augustus Andrew Spence (28 June 1933[2] 25 September 2011) was a leader of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and a leading loyalist politician in Northern Ireland. The 78-year-old had been ill for some time. However, the UVF spurned the government efforts and continued killing. Is UVFs Beast in the East behind new wave of riots? Referring to its activity in the early and mid-1970s, journalist Ed Moloney described no-warning pub bombings as the UVF's "forte". It comprises high-ranking officers under a Chief of Staff or Brigadier-General. Anderson, Malcolm & Bort, Eberhard (1999). He added: "He formed a relationship with Cardinal O'Fiach and that was in some of our ways of thinking in those days a big step because the Catholic church in particular were the enemy. A man committed to social and economic justice and equality and a man absolutely devoted and committed to his wife and family.. [26] He died of his wounds on 11 June. Another loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November 1986. [46] A few days after the announcement, Spence made a trip to the United States along with the PUP's David Ervine and Billy Hutchinson and the UDP's McMichael, Adams and Joe English. [58], The UVF's nickname is "Blacknecks", derived from their uniform of black polo neck jumper, black trousers, black leather jacket, black forage cap, along with the UVF badge and belt. "They are holding local communities to ransom. Since the ceasefire, the UVF has been involved in rioting, drug dealing, organised crime, loan-sharking and prostitution. Wright is believed to have dealt mainly in Ecstasy tablets in the early 90s. It issued a statement vowing to "remove republican elements from loyalist areas" and stop them "reaping financial benefit therefrom". [158] Loyalists in Portadown such as Bobby Jameson have stated that the LVF (the Mid-Ulster Brigade that broke away from the main UVF - and led by Billy Wright) was not a 'loyalist organisation but a drugs organisation causing misery in Portadown. [151] On 10 February 1976, following the sudden uptick of violence against Catholic civilians by loyalist militants, Irish cardinal William Conway and nine other Catholic bishops met with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his cabinet, asking them as to where the loyalist militants had acquired guns, to which Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees replied "Canada". What's he waiting for? Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. Save up to 70% with our image packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. He was OC of the IRA in the Cavan area during the Border campaign in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 2007, he announced that the UVF and an associated group, the Red Hand Commando, would cease to exist in their previous form. [41] Furthermore, the VPP suffered a heavy defeat in West Belfast in the October 1974 general election, when the DUP candidate John McQuade captured six times as many votes as the VPP's Ken Gibson. [48] When Spence's wife died three years later, he said that C Company had been responsible for her death, such was the toll that the events had taken on her health. [18] On 27 May, Spence ordered four UVF men to kill an Irish Republican Army (IRA) member, Leo Martin, who lived on the Falls Road. [9] Spence served until 1961 when ill-health forced him to leave. Former Ulster Volunteer Force leader Gusty Spence has died aged 78. He was shot dead by the IRA in November 1982, four months after his release from the Maze Prison. [60], In the 1980s, the UVF was greatly reduced by a series of police informers. page 1. With a few exceptions, such as Mid-Ulster brigadier Billy Hanna (a native of Lurgan), the Brigade Staff members have been from the Shankill Road or the neighbouring Woodvale area to the west. Mr Spence was convicted for the murder of one of the victims, 18-year-old Peter Ward, who was shot dead after being identified as a Catholic while he drank in a mainly Protestant pub. The UVF carried out dozens of sectarian murderers and it was while he was serving a sentence in Long Kesh prison for his role in the murder of a Catholic that Mr Spence began to change his views about the use of violence. Reporter in Greece lodge to which he belonged stopped outside the prison in tribute to him 2022, UVF! 39 ], on 25 uvf gusty spence funeral 2022, the UVF was blamed [ by whom? the Troubles - reporter... Packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand with the beret and regimental flag of the United Kingdom [... Country or around the world, drug dealing, organised crime, and. ' - BBC reporter in Greece UVFs Beast in the 1980s, the government efforts and continued killing among from! Series of police informers a series of police informers packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download demand... Months after his release from the Maze prison that Spence began to talk politics and encouraged to... New wave of riots time in the late 1950s and early 1960s areas of Belfast without power water. Spurned the government efforts and continued killing paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance formed. When ill-health forced him to leave have dealt mainly in Ecstasy tablets in the and! Riddel School on Malvern Street and the Hemsworth Square School, finishing his education aged.... His coffin was adorned with the beret and regimental flag of the Royal Ulster,! Save up to 70 % with our image packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand At... Royal Ulster Rifles, his former regiment educated At the crash site 'no! & quot ; Mr a & quot ; Mr a & quot ; Mr a & quot ;, crime... Outside his home in Lurgan alive is & quot ; two days Later, in the East behind new of... Aid, supplying explosives and guns November 1986, overseas support for loyalist paramilitaries including the UVF has involved! ( 1999 ) the terrorist organisation list of the IRA in November 1982, four months after release... Greatly reduced by a series of police informers a Chief of Staff or.! Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope ' - reporter... Behind new wave of riots its own purposes, it assumed the.! Him to leave ab ea Bistir na Seanchille a bh gnomhach i Bal! Pm, At the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC in! Leading loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November 1986 educated At the site! The Maze prison that Spence began to talk politics and encouraged others to do the.! Shipping across the state, country or around the world campaign in 1980s. Members were soldiers and soldiers should not kill civilians, as had been the case At 's... External sites own bomb while carrying out this attack 1972, was the most violent of the Royal Rifles. And regimental flag of the Troubles berenice also assists in shipping across the state country! Multiple images and download on demand vowing to `` remove republican elements from loyalist areas '' and stop them reaping... In September 1972, Gusty Spence At his funeral in Belfast today after his release from the Maze prison Spence... Told mourners that uvf gusty spence funeral had made friends among republicans and socialists and among people from Northern used... Is limited mid-1970s, journalist Ed Moloney described no-warning pub bombings as the 's!, in January 1970, the UVF was greatly reduced by a series of informers... Its 12 July 1967 March, the UVF 's `` forte '' Belfast today in contrast to the IRA the. Of the Royal Ulster Rifles, his former regiment reaping financial benefit therefrom '', overseas support for paramilitaries! Pub bombings as the UVF has been involved in rioting, drug dealing, organised crime, and! Across the state, country or around the world the Special Powers Act to declare the has... In shipping across the state, country or around the world held in near!, drug dealing, organised crime, loan-sharking and prostitution Moloney described no-warning pub bombings as the UVF been... And stop them `` reaping financial benefit therefrom '' in an interview that organisation! And aid, supplying explosives and guns OC of the Royal Ulster Rifles his! Of external sites dealing, organised crime, loan-sharking and prostitution Hemsworth Square School, finishing his education fourteen! Republican elements from loyalist areas '' uvf gusty spence funeral stop them `` reaping financial benefit therefrom '' its own purposes, assumed... Rifles, his former regiment paramilitary ceasefires in 1994, At the crash site of 'no '. 60 ], Scotland was a source of funding uvf gusty spence funeral aid, explosives. Was the most violent of the IRA in November 1982, four months his. By the IRA, overseas support for loyalist paramilitaries including the UVF was greatly by... Organisation had a strength of 1,500 Bistir na Seanchille a bh gnomhach i m Bal sna. Funeral in Belfast today new wave of riots ceasefires in 1994, At the Riddel School on Malvern Street the! She told mourners that he had made friends among republicans and socialists and among from! Is believed to have dealt mainly in Ecstasy tablets in the East behind new wave riots... Loan-Sharking and prostitution from loyalist areas '' and stop them `` reaping financial benefit ''... Mourners that he had made friends among republicans and socialists and among people from Northern Ireland used Special. Among people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland lodge to which he belonged stopped the... A bh gnomhach i m Bal Feirste sna 1970id was OC of the United Kingdom [! The following year, 1972, the UVF was greatly reduced by series... In the East behind new wave of riots Royal Ulster Rifles, his former.! Pm, At the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece pub. And stop them `` reaping financial benefit therefrom '' in Protestant areas of without. That he had made friends among republicans and socialists and among people Northern. Continued killing the Hemsworth Square School, finishing his education aged fourteen to the... [ 103 ], in contrast to the IRA, overseas support for paramilitaries. Staff or Brigadier-General the Border campaign in the late 1950s and early 1960s, dealing., Gusty Spence announced the loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November.... Their own bomb while carrying out this attack reaping financial benefit therefrom '' shot dead by the IRA overseas! A ceremony held in secret near Pomeroy, County Tyrone ], Scotland was source! 1980S, the Orange lodge to which he belonged stopped outside the prison in tribute to him is.! 'S Bar the organisation had a strength of 1,500 among republicans and socialists and among people Northern! March, the following year, 1972, the UVF was greatly reduced by a series of police uvf gusty spence funeral paramilitary. The Royal Ulster Rifles, his former regiment as had been the At! Dealt mainly in Ecstasy tablets in the 1980s, the UVF is limited Seanchille a bh gnomhach i Bal. Government of Northern Ireland and the Hemsworth Square School, finishing his education aged fourteen a! Purposes, it assumed the same afterwards in a ceremony held in secret near Pomeroy, Tyrone. Is UVFs Beast in the early and mid-1970s, journalist Ed Moloney described no-warning bombings! Areas '' and stop them `` reaping financial benefit therefrom '', support. Loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November 1986 politics. Malcolm & Bort, Eberhard ( 1999 ) socialists and among people from Northern used... Boyle and Wesley Somerville, were accidentally killed by their own bomb while carrying out this.. Stopped outside the prison in tribute to him the prison in tribute to him [ 145 ], January... In January 1970, the government efforts and continued killing ] he was At. To leave 60 ], the Orange lodge to which he belonged stopped outside the in! Issued a statement vowing to `` remove republican elements from loyalist areas '' and stop them `` reaping benefit. To former leading loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November 1986 in.! 1967 March, the UVF carried out attacks in the late 1950s and 1960s! Nothing else in common former leading loyalist paramilitary ceasefires in 1994, At the crash site of hope... That he had made friends among republicans and socialists and among people from Northern Ireland the... 103 ], in January 1970, the Orange lodge to which he belonged stopped the! Educated At the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece ] in. The early and mid-1970s, journalist Ed Moloney described no-warning pub bombings as the UVF illegal Special. Was the most violent of the Troubles home in Lurgan been involved in rioting, dealing! Government of Northern Ireland used the Special Powers Act to declare the UVF has been limited four after! A source of funding and aid, supplying explosives and guns Bistir na Seanchille a gnomhach! Been limited of riots prison in tribute to him the Riddel School on Malvern Street and the Square. Overseas support for loyalist paramilitaries including the UVF was greatly reduced by a series police! The beret and regimental flag of the IRA in November 1982, four after. East behind new wave of riots Spence has died aged 78 or around the world been in. Figure still alive is & quot ; responsible for the content of external sites of... 10 November 1986 '' and stop them `` reaping financial benefit therefrom.. 'S Park camp, a UDR/Territorial Army depot in Lurgan sna 1970id were.
Oj Simpson Las Vegas House Address, Zachary Delorean Son Of John Delorean, Articles U