TARA

TARA was a loyalist group founded by William McGrath in 1966.

According to Roy Garland,Tara emerged in November 1966, when McGrath took over as chairman of a ginger group previously called 'the cell'.

The title 'Tara' reflected McGrath's idiosyncratic British Israelite interpretation of Irish history. Unlike many unionists, McGrath emphasised Irish identity, albeit within the context of the United Kingdom.

The organisation forged links with the British Israelite movement and later with the right-wing International Council of Christian Churches in Holland.

In 1969, McGrath told Garland that a number of leading unionists had agreed to meet at his home to discuss loyalist unity, but this was apparently cancelled because of the refusal of Norman Porter to attend. According to Garland, a number of senior unionists, including James Molyneaux did subsequently meet McGrath at his home.

At a meeting in the summer of 1969, it was decided that Tara should purchase a printer to produce its own literature. Along with Ian Paisley's church secretary, Garland financed the purchase in McGrath's name. The printer was later used in August 1971 to print a call for the formation of platoons in loyalist areas.

In the early hours of 14 August 1969, McGrath, Paisley, Garland and a man called Black from Armagh met the Northern Ireland Prime Minister James Chichester-Clark to call for the formation of a "people's militia".

The call for a people's militia arose out of a meeting largely involving members of Paisley's Ulster Constitution Defence Committee at his offices at Shaftesbury Square.

McGrath then turned to the Orange Order. After he raised the militia idea with leading Orangemen in November 1969, one offical asked why he and Garland did not go ahead on their own initiative. McGrath interpreted this as encouragement.

By January 1970, the new paramilitary Tara was meeting at Clifton Street Orange Hall. Some of those involved were members of the Unionist Party, while others were associates of Paisley. According to Garland, the Hall Committee was not aware of the real nature of the meetings, held under the name of "The Orange Discussion Group". The meetings were attended by sergeants representing platoons which were largely autonomous.

By 1971 Roy Garland had become disillusioned with McGrath's opposition to equal rights and his financial and sexual conduct. He was also concerned about McGrath's position at the Kincora Boy's Home. He approached Rev. Martin Smyth to do something about McGrath's position. He also made attempts to contact Paisley.

On 25 November 1971, Garland received a death threat in the words: "Your blood is on your own head now finally." The following year he left the Orange Order, feeling he had become an outcast because of his opposition to McGrath.

Garland also raised McGrath's sexual activities with a policeman in 1972 or early 1973. He met Ian Paisley in January 1974. According to Garland, Paisley did not wish to know about McGrath, but asked Garland to talk to a prominent DUP figure who was an associate of the Tara leader. This meeting never took place.

People

• William McGrath - Commanding Officer
• Roy Garland - second in command circa 1966-1971
• Frank Millar Junior
• Clifford Smyth - Intelligence Officer.
• David Browne
• Charlie Simpson
• Ian Dawson
• Alan Gingles

External Resources

• CAIN, 'PROCLAMATION' published by TARA (n.d.,1973?)