physical force

Join The UDA

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This Castlemara (Carrickfergus) has been criticized by both DUP and Alliance councillors (Newsletter). The final words – “Join the UDA” – have drawn particular ire, as in other respects it is similar to other murals in featuring hooded gunmen, such as these two other Carrickfergus murals: Inclusion | Eternal Vigilance. (Nolan Show discussion of the mural on 2015-02-11: Part 1 | Part 2)

The mural sports a hooded gunman facing the viewer with a slogan borrowed from Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata: “Better to die on your feet than live on your knees in an Irish republic. Join the UDA.”

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11832 [M11833] [M11834] [M11835]
M11836 [M11837] [M11838]
M11839

South East Antrim UDA

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association” with shamrock, thistle, and rose, but not the daffodil – though the Welsh “Red Dragon” is included alongside the Scottish Saltire, the flag of Northern Ireland, and Queen Elizabeth II’s royal standard. 

The mural originally read “Ulster Defence Union” rather than “Ulster Defense Association” – see X01208.

Oakfield Drive, Carrickfergus

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11831

Sunnylands RHC

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a vintage cut-out in the Sunnylands estate (visible in 2008 Google Street View). The central board – a RHC emblem – had a plastic or paper layer between the star/wings and the circular back-board with red-white-and-blue colours and the words “Red Hand Commando” in a circle. The hooded gunmen on either side each appear to be a single, painted, carving.

Salia Avenue, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11825 [M11826] [M11827]

Antiville UDA

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is a very aggressive set of boards, in Hampton Crescent behind the Antiville (Larne) community centre: two of them show silhouetted UDA (3rd battalion, D company) gunmen in active poses, and another deploys the fearsome figure of Eddie The Head. Rather than the Union flag that he carries in other murals and on the original Iron Maiden album cover (see Eddie’s Visual History page), in this version “The Trooper” carries a UDA flag (with the UFF symbol also shown). “AYM” is presumably “Antiville Young Militants”. 

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11811 M11819 M11816 [M11817] [M11818] M11812 [M11813] [M11814] [M11815]
M11806 M11810 M11808 [M11809] M11807

Kenneth Nicholl

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“Remember those not here today, And those unwell or far away, And those who never lived to see the end of the War & Victory, And every friend who’ve lost [or: passed] our way, Remember as of yesterday, It’s absent friends we miss the most, To ALL, Let’s drink a loving toast.”

William Walker’s poem Absent Friends is used as a part of UDA/UFF commemoration of various Larne men: “Ewan ‘Shug’ McPherson, Raymond ‘Toby’ Sloan, Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Nicholl (who is featured in a separate board; BBC-NI report of his killing), Ian ‘Big Ian’ Hamilton. Walker was a pilot during WWII who wrote poetry and returned to the brewing trade after the war; he died at age 99 in 2012 (Guardian).

Linn Road, Antiville, Larne

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11820 [M11821] [M11822] [M11823] M11824

But What Did They Do?

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Craigavon Two – John-Paul Wootton and Brendan McConville – were convicted in 2012 of the 2009 murder of PSNI Constable Steven Carroll (BBC) and sentenced to 18- and 25-year minimums, respectively. The case is under review (Guardian) and a campaign for their release – using the hashtag “#JFTC2” – is under way (Fb).

This supportive graffiti is in Bligh’s Lane, Derry

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M12519 M12518

Highland Fusiliers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“On March 10th 1971 at this place three young Scottish Soldiers of the Royal Highland Fusiliers were murdered by republican terrorists. Fusilier John McCaig aged 17, Fusilier Joseph McCaig aged 18, Fusilier Dougald McCaughey aged 22. Always in our hearts. Never forgotten.” The trio were were lured by the IRA from a city-centre pub to their deaths in Ligoniel in 1971 (WP). The stone is frequently vandalised (BelTel | BBC | STV | BBC). 

White Brae/Squire’s Hill, Ligoniel, north Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11803 [M11804] M11805

John Bunting

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“John Bunting MI5 tout”. This Tiger’s Bay placard is an indicator of the continued tensions within the North Belfast UDA that first came to public attention in December 2013. John Bunting was arrested in September (2014) and charged with the attempted murder of John Borland and Andre Shoukri, from the opposing faction.

(See Split for links to articles from 2013; for the latest, see Belfast Daily and Belfast Live.)

Mervue Street, north Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
M11771