Ulster Defence Association

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The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a loyalist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 as an umbrella organisation for a number of existing loyalist groups. It remained legal until 1991.[1]

Origin

According to journalist Martin Dillon, the UDA emerged during the early years of the Troubles out of conversations involving the unionist politician William Craig after he was rebuffed in meetings with the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1970. he then turned turned his attention to the idea of a new paramilitary organisation with a legal framework, and held discussions with loyalist figures including William McGrath, John McKeague, Charles Harding Smith and Tommy Herron.[2]

In July 1971, Harding Smith, the head of the Woodvale Defence Association was involved in drafting a statement calling for loyalists to form themselves into armed platoons of 20 to be integrated into an incipient command structure.[3]

The formation of the Ulster Defence Association was proposed in September 1971 as an umbrella organisation for the various 'Protestant Defence Associations'.[4]

People

Chairman

West Belfast Brigadier

North Belfast Brigadier

South Belfast Brigadier]]

South-East Antrim Brigadier

Londonderry and North Antrim Brigadier

External Resources

Notes

  1. Ulster Defence Association, Northern Ireland: The Troubles - Fact Files, BBC, accessed 21 November 2001.
  2. Martin Dillon, The Trigger Men, Mainstream Publishing, 2003, p.173.
  3. Martin Dillon, The Trigger Men, Mainstream Publishing, 2003, p.183.
  4. Colin Crawford, Inside the UDA: Volunteers and Violence, Pluto Ireland, 2003, p.20.
  5. Robert Fisk, The Point of No Return, The Strike which broke the British in Ulster, André Deutsch, 1975, p.355.
  6. Martin Dillon, The Trigger Men, Mainstream Publishing, 2003, p.183.
  7. W.D. Flackes, Sydney Elliot, Northern Ireland: A Political Directory, Blackstaff Press, 1989, p.270.
  8. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  9. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  10. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  11. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  12. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  13. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  14. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.
  15. Rosie Cowan, Too many chiefs led to loyalist bloodshed, The Guardian, 4 February 2003.