Red Hand Commando

Red Hand Commando (RHC)

Participant in the Troubles

RHC badge
RHC Flag
Active 1972 – 2007/2009 (declared ceasefire in October 1994, ended armed campaign in May 2007, disarmed by 2009)
Ideology British unionism,
Ulster loyalism
Leaders John McKeague,
Winston Churchill Rea,
William "Plum" Smith,
Billy Elliot,
"Brigade Staff"
Headquarters Belfast
Area of operations Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Strength Small
Allies Ulster Volunteer Force
Opponents Irish nationalists

The Red Hand Commando[1] (RHC) was a small secretive Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, which is closely linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Its aim was to combat Irish republicanism – particularly the Irish Republican Army (IRA) – and to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom. It is named after the Red Hand of Ulster.

Writing in early 1973, Martin Dillon characterized the Red Hand thus: "the composition of this group was highly selective, and it was very secret in its operations. Its membership was composed in the main of Protestant youths – the Tartans who roamed the streets at night looking for trouble. These youths longed for action, and McKeague let them have it."

To date the Red Hand Commando are the only loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland not to have had a supergrass, or informant in its ranks, believed to be due to its secretive and disciplined nature.

History

Formation

Much of the group’s past is a mystery. The RHC was formed in 1972 in the Shankill area of west Belfast by John McKeague (who was also involved with Tara), William "Plum" Smith and colleagues from the Shankill Defence Association.[2] Membership was high in the Shankill, east Belfast, Sandy Row, Newtownabbey areas as well as in parts of County Down. In 1972, the RHC agreed to become an integral part of the Ulster Volunteer Force. It kept its own structures but in 'operational' matters agreed to share weapons and personnel and often carried out military operations in the name of the UVF. [3] It was proscribed by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw on the 12th November 1973.

A RHC publicity photo showing masked and armed RHC members

Progressive Unionist Party formation

A number of senior Red Hand Commando members played an integral part in the formation of the Progressive Unionist Party. The early beginnings of the party began in the compounds of Long Kesh where members such as William Smith and Winston Churchill Rea joined members of the Ulster Volunteer Force in a new political direction.

RHC publicity photo

Paramilitary campaign

The RHC waged a paramilitary campaign from 1972 until the loyalist ceasefires of 1994. According to the Sutton database of deaths at the University of Ulster's CAIN project, the RHC has allegedly killed 13 people, including 12 civilians, and one of its own members. However it is known they killed and allowed other loyalist paramilitary groups to claim in their name, namely the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). [4]

RHC mural in Ballybeen housing estate with the Irish slogan Lámh Dhearg Abú, which roughly means "red hand to victory")


RHC Mural, Rathcoole
RHC Mural
RHC Grave - Stevie McCrea


The following is a timeline of RHC attacks that resulted in deaths and attacks in which RHC members were killed:

1970s

1990s and 2000s

1990s
2000s
RHC Memorial Garden

Ceasefire and decommissioning

In October 1994, the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) declared a ceasefire on behalf of all loyalist paramilitary groups. The RHC along with all major Loyalist groups supported the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and maintained a ceasefire from 1994 until (arguably) 2005.[13] Galway-Jackson argues that the RHC declares its ceasefire remained intact from 1994 until full and final decommissioning in 2009.[14] On 3 May 2007, the RHC declared it was officially ending its armed campaign following recent negotiations between the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, the RHC made a statement that they would transform to a "non-military, civilianised" organisation.[15] This was to take effect from midnight. They also stated that they would retain their weaponry but put them beyond reach of normal volunteers. Their weapons stock-piles are to be retained under the watch of the RHC leadership.[16][17][18]

2007 official Statement

Following a direct engagement with all the units and departments of our organisation, the leadership of the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando today make public the outcome of our three year consultation process.

We do so against a backdrop of increasing community acceptance that the mainstream republican offensive has ended; that the six principles upon which our ceasefire was predicated are maintained; that the principle of consent has been firmly established and thus, that the union remains safe.

We welcome recent developments in securing stable, durable democratic structures in Northern Ireland and accept as significant, support by the mainstream republican movement of the constitutional status quo.

Commensurate with these developments, as of 12 midnight, Thursday 3 May 2007, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando will assume a non-military, civilianised, role.

To consolidate this fundamental change in outlook we have addressed the methodology of transformation from military to civilian organisation by implementing the following measures in every operational and command area.

Recruitment

All recruitment has ceased; military training has ceased; targeting has ceased and all intelligence rendered obsolete; all active service units have been de-activated; all ordinance has been put beyond reach and the IICD instructed accordingly.


We encourage our volunteers to embrace the challenges which continue to face their communities and support their continued participation in non-military capacities.

We reaffirm our opposition to all criminality and instruct our volunteers to cooperate fully with the lawful authorities in all possible instances.

Moreover, we state unequivocally, that any volunteer engaged in criminality does so in direct contravention of brigade command and thus we welcome any recourse through due process of law.

All volunteers are further encouraged to show support for credible restorative justice projects so that they, with their respective communities, may help to eradicate criminality and anti-social behaviour in our society.

We call on all violent dissidents to desist immediately

We ask the government to facilitate this process and remove the obstacles which currently prevent our volunteers and their families from assuming full and meaningful citizenship.

We call on all violent dissidents to desist immediately and urge all relevant governments and their security apparatus to deal swiftly and efficiently with this threat.

Failure to do so will inevitably provoke another generation of loyalists toward armed resistance.

We have taken the above measures in an earnest attempt to augment the return of accountable democracy to the people of Northern Ireland and as such, to engender confidence that the constitutional question has now been firmly settled.

In doing so we reaffirm the legitimacy of our tactical response to violent nationalism yet reiterate the sincere expression of abject and true remorse to all innocent victims of the conflict.

Brigade command salutes the dedication and fortitude of officers, NCOs and volunteers throughout the difficult, brutal years of armed resistance.

We reflect with honour on those from our organisation who made the ultimate sacrifice; those who endured long years of incarceration and the loyal families who shared their suffering and supported them throughout.

Finally, we convey our appreciation for their honest forthright exchange with officers, NCOs and volunteers throughout the organisation over the past three years which has allowed us to assume with confidence the position we adopt today.

For God and Ulster. Captain William Johnston, Adjutant.

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) stated that this was unacceptable.[19] In June 2009, after talks with the IICD, it was announced that the RHC and UVF had decommissioned their weapons before independent witnesses.

The group is noted for using an Irish language motto "Lámh Dearg Abú" (Victory to the Red Hand) as opposed to a Latin motto as is common with most other Loyalist groups.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Red Hand Commandos.
  1. ↑ "Red Hand Commando (RHC), Cain: Abstracts of Organisations". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  2. ↑ Peter Taylor, Loyalists, Bloomsbury, 2000, p. 80
  3. ↑ Garland, p. 151
  4. ↑ "CAIN Index of Deaths". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Peter. Loyalists: War and Peace in Northern Ireland. TV Books, 1999. p.105
  6. ↑ The Milwaukee Journal, 13 August 1974
  7. ↑ The Age, 14 April 1975
  8. ↑ Star-News, 30 October 1976
  9. ↑ McKittrick, David. Lost Lives, p.684
  10. ↑ "Loyalists claim more victims than IRA". The Independent. 2 January 1993
  11. ↑ "The Irish Emigrant - The Irish Emigrant - February 22, 1993". Emigrant.ie. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  12. ↑ "CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  13. ↑ "UVF ceasefire no longer recognised - Hain". 4ni.co.uk. 2005-09-14. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  14. ↑ Interview with member, by J Galway-Jackson PgD (UU) BA (Hons)
  15. ↑ "UVF Statement". BBC News. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  16. ↑ "RTÉ News – Statement Imminent". Rte.ie. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "Statement Imminent". BBC News. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Statement Released". BBC News. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  19. ↑ "UVF calls end to terror campaign, BBC News, Thursday, 3 May 2007". BBC News. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
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