This move came as the organisation held high-level discussions about its future. "We have to get in there, and stay in there," he continued, remembering that "it took several hundred years to bring about this situation, so we must have a little bit of patience. He was jailed for life for the murder of a Catholic barman in 1966 and served 18 years in prison. [131] The UVF has also been involved in the extortion of legitimate businesses, although to a lesser extent than the UDA,[138] and was described in the fifth IMC report as being involved in organised crime. [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. [16] Their base of operations was the Standard Bar, a pub on the Shankill Road frequented by Spence and his allies (it was normal practice for UVF "teams" to be based at a single pub that its members used socially). This development came soon after the UVF's Brigade Staff in Belfast had stood down Wright and the Portadown unit of the Mid-Ulster Brigade, on 2 August 1996, for the killing of a Catholic taxi driver near Lurgan during Drumcree disturbances. for a proxy bomb attack targeting a "peace-building" event in Belfast where Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney was speaking. The Shankill loyalists supported Kilfedder and following his election as MP sent a letter to Paisley accusing him of treachery during the entire affair. Two Ulster Unionist Assembly members, Michael McGimpsey and Mike Neabitt, were among the mourners at the funeral. "He was an Irishman and looked upon himself as an Ulster Irishman as well as being British. The UVF's declared goals were to combat Irish republicanism particularly the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom. Spence's biographer Roy Garland said he had formed unlikely relationships and challenged conventional loyalist thinking. It claimed the pubs were used for republican fundraising. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. Independentie. It comprises high-ranking officers under a Chief of Staff or Brigadier-General. [53] These men had overthrown the "hawkish" officers, who had called for a "big push", which meant an increase in violent attacks, earlier in the same month. [37] As the loyalist Maze commander, Spence initially also had jurisdiction over the imprisoned members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), although this came to an end in 1973 when, following a deterioration in relations between the two groups outside the prison walls, James Craig became the UDA's Maze commander. The UVF's last major attack was the 1994 Loughinisland massacre, in which its members shot dead six Catholic civilians in a rural pub. [2] His brother Bobby, also a UVF member, died in October 1980 inside the Maze, a few months after the death of their brother Billy. [125] Historically, the number of active UVF members in July 1971 was stated by one source to be no more than 20. Grob-Fitzgibbon, Benjamin. LocationLa Habra, CA 90631 EmailGet a free estimate Call(562) 579-5980. [116], Like the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the UVF's modus operandi involved assassinations, mass shootings, bombings and kidnappings. [21] This occurred despite Spence having been officially expelled from the Orange Order following his conviction. He did not specify what activities or what was being resisted. [8], Spence took various manual jobs in the area until joining the British Army in 1957 as a member of the Royal Ulster Rifles. [81], In June 2009 the UVF formally decommissioned their weapons in front of independent witnesses as a formal statement of decommissioning was read by Dawn Purvis and Billy Hutchinson. [75] This was to take effect from midnight. [55], However, a granddaughter of Matilda Gould, a 74-year-old Protestant widow who had died from burns sustained in the UVF's attempted bombing of a Catholic bar next door to her home, objected to Spence being called a "peacemaker" and described him as a "bad evil man". 2023 BBC. [106][107] This uniform, based on those of the original UVF, was introduced in the early 1970s. The Irish parliament's Joint Committee on Justice called the bombings an act of "international terrorism" involving the British security forces. These attacks were stepped up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly in the east Tyrone and north Armagh areas. we solemnly warn the authorities to make no more speeches of appeasement. In 2007, he announced that the UVF and an associated group, the Red Hand Commando, would cease to exist in their previous form. [151] A Canadian branch of the UDA also existed and sent $30,000 to the UDA's headquarters in Belfast by 1975. [38] This came to a climax on 4 December, when the UVF bombed McGurk's Bar, a Catholic-owned pub in Belfast. [115] They always signed their statements with the fictitious name "Captain William Johnston". [29], Spence was granted two days leave around in early July 1972 to attend the wedding of his daughter Elizabeth to Winston Churchill "Winkie" Rea. Correspondence includes Spence's correspondence with leaders and imprisoned members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and letters concerning his imprisonment originally . Spence was born in the Shankill Road, Belfast, area, Northern Ireland, the son of William Edward Spence, who was born in Whitehaven, England and raised in the Tiger's Bay area of north Belfast before moving to the Shankill. [76][77][78], In January 2008, the UVF was accused of involvement in vigilante action against alleged criminals in Belfast. [26] Despite the fact that control of the UVF lay (nominally at least) with Spence's closest ally Samuel "Bo" McClelland, from prison Spence was often at odds with the group's leadership, in particular with regards to the 1971 McGurk's Bar bombing. [103], On 25 March 2022, the UVF was blamed[by whom?] [47] Spence went on to become a leading advocate for the Good Friday Agreement. '[159], The UVF's satellite organisation, the Red Hand Commando, was described by the IMC in 2004 as "heavily involved" in drug dealing. 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. [55] The hawks had been ousted by those in the UVF who were unhappy with their political and military strategy. Save up to 70% with our image packs Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. Formed in 1965,[7] it first emerged in 1966. [29] The loyalists "intended to force a crisis which would so undermine confidence in O'Neill's ability to maintain law and order that he would be obliged to resign". [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. [53] Spence, a talented footballer in his youth with Old Lodge F.C., was a lifelong supporter of Linfield F.C. Along with the UDA, it helped to enforce the strike by blocking roads, intimidating workers, and shutting any businesses that opened. The UVF's leadership is based in Belfast and known as the Brigade Staff. With Moore now deceased, the only senior figure still alive is "Mr A". This gang was led by Lenny Murphy. In accordance with Spence's wishes, there were no paramilitary trappings at the funeral or reference to his time in the UVF. Read about our approach to external linking. Another loyalist paramilitary organisation called Ulster Resistance was formed on 10 November 1986. Openly paraded with the UVF and thanked Gusty Spence repeatedly for his services to Ulster. [24] On 21 May, the group issued a statement: From this day, we declare war against the Irish Republican Army and its splinter groups. Accueil / Non class / gusty spence funeral; 15 Sep 0. gusty spence funeral . My experience of Gusty was as the whole man. Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of the former loyalist leader Gusty Spence. In May 1966, the UVF issued a statement, announcing that it was declaring war on the IRA. 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. In the 1960s, he founded the modern Ulster Volunteer Force, an organisation which was responsible for hundreds of sectarian murders during the Troubles. [26], On 26 June, the group shot dead a Catholic civilian and wounded two others as they left a pub on Malvern Street, Belfast. 2023 BBC. of which I have been speaking. 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. The initial aim of Ulster Resistance was to bring an end to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Both pubs were wrecked and a number of people were wounded. After several years away from the spotlight, Spence was again asked to read the statement, a role which senior loyalists said was indicative of his significance within Northern Ireland loyalism. [29] Unionist support for O'Neill waned, and on 28 April he resigned as Prime Minister. These included the Miami Showband killings of 31 July 1975 when three members of the popular showband were killed, having been stopped at a fake British Army checkpoint outside Newry in County Down. [citation needed]. A man once involved in conflict. In the 1960s, he founded the modern Ulster Volunteer Force, an organisation which was responsible for hundreds of sectarian murders during the Troubles. 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. Leading public figures were among the mourners, including former senior civil servant Maurice Hayes, former head of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Monica McWilliams, and trade unionist Peter Bunting. [80], In the twentieth IMC report, the group was said to be continuing to put its weapons "beyond reach", (in the group's own words) to downsize, and reduce the criminality of the group. [10] Spence then found employment at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, where he worked as a stager (builder of the scaffolding in which the ships are constructed), a skilled job that commanded respect amongst working class Protestants and ensured for Spence a higher status within the Shankill. [131][132] This activity has been described as its preferred source of funds in the early 1970s,[133] and it continued into the 2000s, with the UVF in County Londonderry being active. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Spence joined the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), becoming a leading figure in the group. Captain Robert Nairac of 14 Intelligence Company was alleged to have been involved in many acts of UVF violence. [10] Whatever the truth of this intelligence, Gusty Spence's Shankill UVF team was made up of only around 12 men on its formation. The gunmen shot dead six people and injured five. The 78-year-old died in hospital at the weekend after a long illness. [45], Released from prison in 1984, Spence soon became a leading member of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and a central figure in the Northern Ireland peace process. He was OC of the IRA in the Cavan area during the Border campaign in the late 1950s and early 1960s. [42], Spence was increasingly disillusioned with the UVF and he imparted these views to fellow inmates at Long Kesh. [58][59] West died in 1980. [32][33] There were further attacks in the Republic between October and December 1969. Bates, employed as a barman at the Long Bar, was recruited into the Shankill Butchers gang in 1975 by its notorious ringleader, Lenny Murphy. He was jailed for life for the murder of a Catholic barman in 1966 and served 18 years in prison. Although O'Neill was a unionist, they saw him as being too 'soft' on the civil rights movement and too friendly with the Republic of Ireland. "[140], Protestants in Canada also supported the loyalist paramilitaries in the conflict. They also stated that they would retain their weaponry but put them beyond reach of normal volunteers. In the 1960s, he founded the modern Ulster Volunteer Force, an organisation which was responsible for hundreds of sectarian murders during the Troubles. Spence in 1972, while at large from prison, National Committee on American Foreign Policy, Biographies of people prominent during 'the Troubles': S, "CAIN: Background: Chronology of Key Events 1800 to 1967". The charges were dropped but later in 1966 he was given life for the murder of Peter Ward, who had called in to a Shankill Road bar with Catholic workmates and was shot dead as he left. [70], There followed years of violence between the two organisations. The 78-year-old died in hospital at the weekend after a long illness. In 1984, Gusty was released from prison, and became a leading figure in the Progressive Unionist Party and . Gusty Spence reading the 2007 UVF 'weapons beyond use' statement in Belfast. Traduzioni in contesto per "ieri sono scese nelle strade" in italiano-inglese da Reverso Context: Decine di migliaia di persone ieri sono scese nelle strade di Atene, dando vita a uno sciopero generale che ha costretto la Grecia a fermarsi davanti alla protesta contro il piano di austerity imposto dall'UE, dalla Banca centrale europea di Francoforte e dall'FMI. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group. [19] 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". [72], On 12 February 2006, The Observer reported that the UVF was to disband by the end of 2006. [125], The UVF has killed more people than any other loyalist paramilitary group. Cludach leabhair do "The Shankill Butchers" le Martin Dillon. The Mid-Ulster Brigade was also responsible for the 1975 Miami Showband killings, in which three members of the popular Irish cabaret band were shot dead at a bogus military checkpoint by gunmen in British Army uniforms. During this time he restructured the organisation into brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and sections. A piper leads a procession for Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella in La Habra, CA on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. 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. [29], On 12 October, a loyalist protest in the Shankill became violent. [43] Jackson was allegedly the hitman who shot Hanna dead outside his home in Lurgan. [4] He married Isabella "Bella" Hayes, Gusty Spence's mother, in 1919. She said: "Some people have said that in his later life, he changed to become committed to peace. [151][152] Between 1979 to 1986, Canadian supporters supplied the UVF/UDA with 100 machine guns and thousands of rifles, grenade launchers, magnum revolvers, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition. Read about our approach to external linking. [41] On 17 May, two UVF units from the Belfast and Mid-Ulster brigades detonated four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan. However, the year leading up to the loyalist ceasefire, which took place shortly after the Provisional IRA ceasefire, saw some of the worst sectarian killings carried out by loyalists during the Troubles. Skip to navigation [n] Skip to content [c] Skip to footer [f] Search Search. The Sunday World's offices were also firebombed. "However he did dedicate himself to peace and reconciliation for much of his later life so he will also be remembered as a major influence in drawing loyalism away from sectarian strife," he added. Read about our approach to external linking. THE self described "old UVF man", Mr Gusty Spence (64), gave a brief oration at the funeral of Mr Jim Lynch (72), a former officer commanding (OC) of the IRA, at Cootehill, Co Cavan, yesterday. Home; About; Testimonials; Contact; Select Page. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no UVF trappings and his coffin will be draped in the regimental flag of the Royal Ulster Rifles in which he served. Images Courtesy of Getty Images. [3] Spence was the sixth of seven children, their birth order being Billy, Cassie, Jim, Bobby, Ned junior, Gusty and Lily. After his release December 1984, Spence was a key figure in developing UVF thinking and indirectly its political wing, the Progressive Unionist Party. 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