Timeline of Ulster Volunteer Force actions

This is a timeline of actions by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1966. It includes actions carried out by the Red Hand Commando (RHC), a group integrated into the UVF shortly after their formation in 1972. It also includes attacks claimed by the Protestant Action Force (PAF), a covername used by the UVF. Most of these actions took place during the conflict known as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland.

The UVF's declared goal was to destroy Irish republican paramilitary groups. However, most of its victims were Irish Catholic civilians, who were often chosen at random.[1] Whenever it claimed responsibility for its attacks, the UVF usually claimed that those targeted were IRA members or IRA sympathizers.[2] Other times, attacks on Catholic civilians were claimed as "retaliation" for IRA actions, since the IRA drew most of its support from the Catholic community. Such retaliation was seen as both collective punishment and an attempt to weaken the IRA's support.[3] Many retaliatory attacks on Catholics were claimed using the PAF covername.

Attacks resulting in at least three deaths are marked in bold.

Contents

1960s

1966

References for this year: [4] and [5]

1969

References for this year: [9] and [10]

1970s

1970

1971

References for this year: [14] and [15]

1972

References for this year: [21] and [22]

1973

References for this year: [26] and [27]

1974

14 May: The UVF, along with Sinn Féin, were declared legal following the passing of legislation at Westminster.

References for this year: [38] and [39]

1975

March: A feud began between the UVF and Ulster Defence Association (UDA)/Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), the other main loyalist group.

References for this year: [62] and [63]

1976

References for this year: [83] and [84]

1977

References for this year: [86] and [87]

1978

References for this year: [89] and [90]

1979

20 February: Eleven members of the UVF known as the “Shankill Butchers” were sentenced to life in prison for 19 murders. The infamous group was named for their practice of torturing and mutilating their victims with butcher’s knives.

References for this year: [91] and [92]

1980s

1980

References for this year: [93] and [94]

1981

References for this year: [95] and [96]

1982

16 July: Lenny Murphy (leader of the “Shankill Butchers”) was released from prison.

References for this year: [99] and [100]

1983

11 April: In a ‘supergrass’ trial in Belfast, 14 UVF members were jailed for a total of 200 years. Their convictions were quashed on 24 December 1984.

References for this year: [103] and [104]

1984

References for this year: [107] and [108]

1985

References for this year: [109] and [110]

1986

16 September: A number of Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians attended the funeral of leading UVF member John Bingham.

References for this year: [112] and [113]

1987

References for this year: [115] and [116]

1988

References for this year: [119] and [120]

1989

References for this year: [124] and [125]

1990s

1990

References for this year: [127] and [128]

1991

References for this year: [132] and [133]

1992

References for this year: [136] and [137]

1993

15 July: The UVF issued a statement admitting sole responsibility for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974.

1994

2 August: A meeting was held by representatives of the UVF and UFF. At that meeting it was decided that loyalist paramilitaries would continue attacking Catholic civilians regardless of any future Provisional IRA ceasefire.
31 August: The Provisional IRA announced a ceasefire.
13 October: The Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) issued a statement which announced a ceasefire on behalf of all loyalist paramilitaries. The statement noted that "The permanence of our cease-fire will be completely dependent upon the continued cessation of all nationalist/republican violence".

1995

1996

References for this year: [142] and [143]

1997

References for this year: [144] and [145]

1998

References for this year: [146] and [147]

1999

2000s

2000

References for this year: [150] and [151]

2001

References for this year: [152] and [153]

2002

References for this year: [154]

2003

References for this year: [155]

2004

References for this year: [156]

2005

References for this year: [157]

2007

2009

2010

See also

References

  1. ^ David McKittrick (12 March 2009). "Will loyalists seek bloody revenge?". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/david-mckittrick-will-loyalists-seek-bloody-revenge-1643076.html. Retrieved 21 June 2011. 
  2. ^ Kentucky New Era, 14 April 1992
  3. ^ Mitchell, Thomas G (2000). "Chapter 7 subsection: The Loyalist terrorists of Ulster, 1969-94". Native vs. Settler. Greenwood Press. pp. 154–165. 
  4. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch1800-1967.htm
  5. ^ Dillon, Martin. The Shankill butchers: the real story of cold-blooded mass murder. Routledge, 1999. Pages 20-23
  6. ^ Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1977. p.654
  7. ^ The Telegraph Herald, 26 December 1969
  8. ^ The Lewiston Daily Sun, 29 December 1969
  9. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch69.htm
  10. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1969.html
  11. ^ a b c d e Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1977. p.660
  12. ^ a b Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1977. p.670
  13. ^ David; Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thronton (2000). Lost Lives. Mainstream Publishing. p.101
  14. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch71.htm
  15. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1971.html
  16. ^ McKittrick, p.195
  17. ^ McKittrick, p.204
  18. ^ Report of the Independent International Panel on Alleged Collusion in Sectarian Killings in Northern Ireland - informally called the Cassel Report. Center for Civil and Human Rights, Notre Dame Law School. October 2006. p.43
  19. ^ McKittrick, p.310
  20. ^ McKittrick, p.311
  21. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch72.htm
  22. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1972.html
  23. ^ McKittrick, p.331
  24. ^ "Man charged with 1973 murder of Eileen Doherty". BBC News. 14 December 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11989392. 
  25. ^ McKittrick, p.398
  26. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch73.htm
  27. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1973.html
  28. ^ McKittrick, p.416
  29. ^ McKittrick, p.419
  30. ^ "Houses of the Oireachtas. Interim Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin Bombings of 1972 and 1973, November 2004", p. 102"; retrieved 29 December 2009
  31. ^ The Press Courier, 19 October 1974
  32. ^ The Press Courier, 19 October 1974
  33. ^ Ottawa Citizen, 28 October 1974
  34. ^ Gadsden Times, 9 November 1974
  35. ^ The Vancouver Sun, 21 November 1974
  36. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.45
  37. ^ McKittrick, p.595
  38. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch74.htm
  39. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1974.html
  40. ^ McKittrick, p.514
  41. ^ McKittrick, p.516
  42. ^ McKittrick, p.518
  43. ^ McKittrick, p.520
  44. ^ McKittrick, p.528
  45. ^ McKittrick, p.530
  46. ^ McKittrick, p.532
  47. ^ The Age, 14 April 1975
  48. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.47
  49. ^ The Leader Post, 15 May 75
  50. ^ a b "Murdered John revived our community spirit". Andersonstown News.
  51. ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 May 1975
  52. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.47
  53. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.48
  54. ^ McKittrick, p.565
  55. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.49
  56. ^ McKittrick, p.566
  57. ^ McKittrick, p.573
  58. ^ McKittrick, p.579
  59. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.50
  60. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.51
  61. ^ McKittrick, p.606
  62. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch75.htm
  63. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1975.html
  64. ^ McKittrick, p.616
  65. ^ McKittrick, p.631
  66. ^ McKittrick, p.631
  67. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.53
  68. ^ McKittrick, p.639
  69. ^ McKittrick, p.639
  70. ^ McKittrick, p.642
  71. ^ McKittrick, p.642
  72. ^ Cassell Report (2006), p.53-54
  73. ^ McKittrick, p.656
  74. ^ McKittrick, p.658
  75. ^ McKittrick, p.666
  76. ^ McKittrick, p.672
  77. ^ McKittrick, p.680
  78. ^ McKittrick, p.683
  79. ^ Star-News, 30 October 1976
  80. ^ McKittrick, David, p.684
  81. ^ McKittrick, p.687
  82. ^ McKittrick, p.692
  83. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch76.htm
  84. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1976.html
  85. ^ McKittrick, p.707
  86. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch77.htm
  87. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1977.html
  88. ^ McKittrick, p.760
  89. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch78.htm
  90. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1978.html
  91. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch79.htm
  92. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1979.html
  93. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch80.htm
  94. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1980.html
  95. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch81.htm
  96. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1981.html
  97. ^ Observer-Reporter, 30 October 1982
  98. ^ Youngstown Vindicator, 22 November 1982
  99. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch82.htm
  100. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1982.html
  101. ^ Reading Eagle, 23 April 1983
  102. ^ McKittrick, p.964
  103. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch83.htm
  104. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1983.html
  105. ^ McKittrick, p.982
  106. ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 30 March 1985
  107. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch84.htm
  108. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1984.html
  109. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch85.htm
  110. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1985.html
  111. ^ Spokane Chronicle, 16 September 1986
  112. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch86.htm
  113. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1986.html
  114. ^ McKittrick, p.1085
  115. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch87.htm
  116. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1987.html
  117. ^ The Age, 17 May 1988
  118. ^ McKittrick, p.1129
  119. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch88.htm
  120. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1988.html
  121. ^ McKittrick, pp.1168–1169
  122. ^ McKittrick, p.1169
  123. ^ McKittrick, p.1175
  124. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch89.htm
  125. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1989.html
  126. ^ "7 Killed as I.R.A. Forces 3 Men To Drive Bombs to Security Posts". The New York Times. 25 October 1990. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/25/world/7-killed-as-ira-forces-3-men-to-drive-bombs-to-security-posts.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm. 
  127. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch90.htm
  128. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1990.html
  129. ^ McKittrick, pp. 1228–1229
  130. ^ McKittrick, p.1231
  131. ^ Hudson Valley Morning News, 1 April 1991
  132. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch91.htm
  133. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1991.html
  134. ^ a b c Peter Heathwood Collection of television programs: 1992. Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN).
  135. ^ McKittrick, p.1291
  136. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch92.htm
  137. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1992.html
  138. ^ "Loyalists claim more victims than IRA". The Independent. 2 January 1993
  139. ^ a b c d Peter Heathwood Collection of television programs: 1993. Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN).
  140. ^ McKittrick, p.1323
  141. ^ a b c d e Peter Heathwood Collection of television programs: 1994. Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN).
  142. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch96.htm
  143. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1996.html
  144. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch97.htm
  145. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1997.html
  146. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch98.htm
  147. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1998.html
  148. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/1999.html
  149. ^ a b "Lest We Forget". County Armagh Grand Orange Lodge website.
  150. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch00.htm
  151. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/2000.html
  152. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch01.htm
  153. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/chron/2001.html
  154. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/deaths2002draft.htm
  155. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/deaths2003draft.htm
  156. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/deaths2004draft.htm
  157. ^ http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/deaths2005draft.htm
  158. ^ . http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/murder-of-loyalist-bobby-moffet-lsquois-to-show-uvf-wonrsquot-be-messed-aroundrsquo-14826074.html.