Shankill Defence Association

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The Shankill Defence Association was a loyalist vigilante group formed for the defence of the Protestant Shankill Road area of Belfast, Northern Ireland during communal disturbances in 1969.

The Shankill Defence Association was formed by John McKeague, with the intention of defending the Shankill from Catholic rioters at the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. In the Northern Ireland riots of August 1969, the SDA was involved in providing what co-ordination there was of violence on the Protestant side.

In 1971, it merged with similar Protestant groups elsewhere to form the Ulster Defence Association.