Region:
Western Europe

Status:
Cease-fire since 1994

Established:
1966

Leader:
Billy Wright (assassinated by Irish National Liberation Army gunmen at Maze prison on 27 December 1997)

Strength:
Unknown

History/Notes:
The loyalist Volunteer Force is a breakaway group of the Ulster Volunteer Force which refuses to accept the loyalist cease-fire. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act [PTA], the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may proscribe any organization that "appears...to be concerned in, or in promoting or encouraging terrorism occurring in the United Kingdom and connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland." Membership in proscribed loyalist and republican paramilitary groups is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. In June 1997 the Secretary of State proscribed the Volunteer Force.

During the summer weeks of the annual "marching season" some 100,000 members of the Orange Order and similar Protestant organizations stage traditional parades to celebrate their history and cultural identity. While few of the 3,100 parades held each year are contentious, about 40 that celebrate Protestant "triumphs" in historical battles or are routed through Catholic neighborhoods give rise to tensions. The LVF threatened heavy bombing in the Republic of Ireland if the Orange Order March in Portadown was banned.

The future of the LVF appears to depend on whether it can replace Billy Wright with a credible leader.

Stated Goal(s):
Exists "to protect the Loyalist community from attempts to persecute them by armed attack and political subversion."

Location:
Northern Ireland

Area of Operation:
Northern Ireland

Terrorist Acts:

• misc. bombings and sectarian killings
• riots and attacks on police after the killing of Billy Wright
• May 1997 - killing of Sean Brown in Bellaghy in retalliation for murder of Billy Wright
• June 1 1997 - killing of RUC constable Greg Taylor in County Antrim after police ban of loyalist parade in Dunloy
• July 1997 - suspected of killing Catholic Bernadette Martin while she was sleeping in the house of her protestant boyfriend
• December 5 1997 - suspected of killing Gerry Devlin, a Catholic in Norht Belfast
• December 1997 - new year's eve attack on a North Belfast pub resulting in the killing of Seamus Dillon and Eddie Treanor

Other Links:

Irish Republican Army
The Northern Ireland Conflict CAIN Web Service (Conflict Archive on the INternet)
Organisations That Were Prominent During 'the Troubles'