[6] The Irish News described the brigade as 'powerful' and at one time being 'the most bloody and murderous gang operating within the paramilitary organisation'. [14] Later in the year, English was forced to confront Adair about rumours that Adair was considering attending an Inner Council meeting armed in order to eliminate the other five brigadiers and assume sole control of the UDA. The UDA member claimed the paramilitary group was heavily involved in serious crime in the south east Antrim area . games. [1][2] It is claimed they control "100%" of an illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is claimed they control "100%" of an illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland. Gregg joined the Ulster Young Militants (UYM), the youth wing of the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association (UDA) at the age of 14. The veteran loyalist, who was 'brigadier' of its South East Antrim unit, was kicked out of the organisation last week. Read about our approach to external linking. Senior members of the UDA group want to take out the UVF member who they think is a 'tout'. [27] On 8 December a bomb was found under Gregg's car, apparently placed there by one of Adair's allies from the Loyalist Volunteer Force. Snoddy died from the illness in September 1988 and English . Adair was returned to prison two days later. A UDA member originally from the Woodvale Road had moved to Rathcoole where he had been beaten up after it emerged that he was a friend of Joe English, the former brigadier who had been exiled from the estate by Gregg for his anti-drugs stance. [34], Gregg was given a paramilitary funeral which was attended by thousands of mourners, including senior UDA members Jackie McDonald, Jim Gray, Sammy Duddy and Michael Stone. A DEPOSED UVF boss is suspected of stealing more than 250,000 from the terror gang over the past five years. On 8 December a bomb was found under Greggs car, apparently placed there by one of Adairs allies from the Loyalist Volunteer Force. In November 2011, Stuart Gregg received 400,000 compensation for psychological trauma due to having witnessed his fathers murder. "[1], Following his release from prison, Gregg returned to Rathcoole, where he again became an important figure, taking a central role in the illegal drug trade, with his Rathcoole stronghold a centre of narcotics. Browns_right_foot 3 mo. A mural in support of the group lists its areas of activity as being Rathcoole (the mural's location), Rathfern, Monkstown, Glengormley . The ex-UVF leader has been warned to return the money, with a portion also invested in hot food takeaways and some hidden at safe houses in the Rathcoole estate. In the last 12 months almost a dozen alleged South East Antrim members have been lifted and charged with drug offences by the National Crime Agency working alongside the Paramilitary Crime Task Force. Gregg was born in 1957 and raised in a Protestant family from the Tigers Bay area of North Belfast. [27], However, in late 2002 a UDA member originally from the Woodvale Road who had moved to Rathcoole was attacked after it emerged that he was a friend of Joe English, the former brigadier who had since been exiled from the area by Gregg for his anti-drugs stance. Police confirmed that they were treating it as part of the existing feud. Will the Windsor Framework be enough for the DUP? [37], In 2007, the UDA's inner council expelled the Brigadier in the South East Antrim area and his political adviser after a long-running stand-off between the mainstream UDA and the South East Antrim Brigade. [6] However, this proved short-lived. All four were arrested earlier this week during a police and . The Sunday World understands he is desperate for an exit strategy that will take him out of the firing line. John Gregg (UDA) The man who shot Gerry Adam? "It was very tragic, on the day of the funeral, to have a large police presence around the church," he said. They in no way reflect my own opinions and I take no responsibility for any inaccuracies or factual errors. "Fisher can't make a decision, he's not allowed to make a decision and they're just keeping him there, partly because no one wants the job and they're waiting until the heat from the Task Force eases. His 2IC (second-in-command) was also dismissed after being given a sickening baseball bat beating by other masked UVF members. [54] Two men were subsequently charged with the murder. "These people are completely ruthless, I believe that it would put my life in danger," he said. [35] Members of Adair's C Company shot and killed Gregg the following month. [50] Three arrests were made in the days immediately after the attack. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) They have a number of supply lines. Cloughfern Young Conquerors, a flute band attached to the brigade, had been to Derry for the annual Apprentice Boys of Derry march through the city centre when at the train station they met members of the Shankill Protestant Boys, a UVF-affiliated band. the UDA commander or Brigadier in South-East Antrim, a figure who kept a very low . Gregg when explaining his family background, revealed that his father, regarded as a quiet man, had trust in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army but joined the loyalist vigilante groups set up around the start of the Troubles ostensibly to protect the Protestant community from attacks by republicans. It is unclear when South East Antrim was first designated as a brigade area although its first recognised leader was Alan Snoddy and he held title of Brigadier by at least 1979. He managed to avoid being beaten in return for tricking his ex-UVF 2IC friend into attending the Monkstown meeting during which he was attacked. [52] The South-east Antrim brigadier, who was not named in reports, stated that any brigade members attending Gilmore's funeral would be expelled. Masked gunmen immediately opened fire on the occupants with automatic weapons. The killing of Mr Horner, gunned down in front of his three-year-old son Oscar in the Bangor carpark of Sainsbury supermarket, was linked at the time to the South East Antrim UDA feud which claimed the life of his friend, Carrickfergus loyalist Geordie Gilmore, two months earlier. BUSINESS UDA signs strategic cooperation with Mara Inc to expand facilities management business " data-media=""> 21/02/2023 09:14 PM KUALA LUMPUR, The veteran loyalist, who was 'brigadier' of its South East Antrim unit, was kicked out of the organisation last week. Posted 2 years ago 2 years ago. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00, closed M. Located just inside the main entrance of Taipei City Hall, this is a good place to know the history and culture of Taipei City. Killing Rage The life and death of Eamon Collins. A rebel UDA unit is re-arming in a grim warning to rival drug dealers. However, this proved short-lived. Both men, who lived on Ferris Avenue, had their houses burnt out during the attack. His assassination attempt had made him a loyalist hero and he quickly took over from English as brigadier. A bomb attack on Adairs house on 8 January 2003 was blamed on Gregg by White, although Adair himself was returned to prison two days later after a dossier detailing his drug-dealing and racketeering activities was shown to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Paul Murphy. pockets of the town remain on edge since the murder of a local man, Glenn Quinn, by the South East Antrim UDA. Carrickfergus is a town that once inspired a classic Irish folk song about longing. Members of this brigade were believed to be behind the killings of Catholic postman Danny McColgan, Protestant teenager Gavin Brett and Trevor Lowry (the latter kicked to death in the mistaken belief he was a Catholic), and a spate of pipe bomb attacks on the homes of Catholics. SoundCloud . Masked gunmen immediately opened fire on the occupants with automatic weapons. Watch: Peter Crouch sings the Fields of Athenry with Liverpool fans in Dublin pub, Former minister Nichola Mallon says Windsor Framework receiving positive welcome from businesses, Senior police officer referred to watchdog over alleged rape comments, Over 150 Presbyterian members sign letter criticising incoming moderators comments on ordination of women, Hancock hugely disappointed and sad after WhatsApp messages sent to newspaper. [29] In response, graffiti appeared around the walls of Rathcoole in December, stating: "Daft Dog and White beware. Snoddy died from the illness in September 1988 and English immediately succeeded him. A UDA/UFF South-East Antrim Brigade mural in Newtownabbey On 6 January 2010, the UDA announced that it had put its weapons "verifiably beyond use". He has since told pals that he has no intention of leaving Rathcoole, where he grew up, but loyalist insiders say that he will have no option but to go. Gary Fisher became brigadier following the murder in 2003 of his predecessor John 'Grug' Gregg, but he is known to be looking for a way out of the organisation. Sources have told us the crime boss is a man under intense pressure. Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. 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"But then what happened was that the UDA began to splinter into criminal gangs, criminal fiefdoms.". Close pal Clifford 'Trigger' Irons is currently out on bail awaiting trial on drugs charges. [40] As of 2014, the South East Antrim Brigade is no longer considered part of the wider UDA and their brigadier does not attend meetings of the organisation's ruling Inner Council. The deposed brigadier's ex-2IC is also facing major money worries having been fined 20,000 by the UVF. Home. Gregg's movements were known to C Company member Alan McCullough who, receiving instruction from Adair (then in HMP Maghaberry), arranged for a hit team to kill Gregg and his associate as the taxi took them from the port of Belfast. Belfast Books Thanks for promoting my book mate. Afterwards a lone piper led the cortege to Carnmoney Cemetery where he was buried. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. At the service on 6 February, UVF/RHC representatives joined the UDA leadership in a show of anti-Adair solidarity. A mortally-wounded Carson died later in hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt. The organisation is now in the grip of a committee of senior paramilitary veterans with Fisher forced to toe the line. In a move that was not universally popular in the region, Fisher allowed the Shoukris and their ally Alan McClean to live under South East Antrim Brigade protection and even attend meetings of the brigade's commanders. [66], In July 2021, Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, told the BBC that the South East Antrim UDA had threatened to kill him twice. T he breakaway South East Antrim has issued a warning that it will get tough with Carrick dealers . "Some middle-ranking UDA men in the estate wanted him to be shot dead because touting on fellow loyalists to the police is as bad as it gets," said the source. [18] In 2000, he helped to ensure that a proposal before the Inner Council to initiate the decommissioning of weapons was rejected. [84] 'Break the silence about who killed my brother', Cannabis factory uncovered in UDA searches, House of alleged senior UDA member seized, Angry protests erupt over Greek rail disaster, India PM Modi urges G20 to overcome divisions, Aboriginal spears taken in 1770 to return to Sydney, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. [73] . The south Belfast, south-east Antrim and east Belfast brigadiers . Despite his reputation for gangsterism, Gregg's failed attack on Gerry Adams had afforded him legendary status and, under the direction of Jackie McDonald, the remaining UDA brigadiers concluded that Adair had to be removed. Sunday World understands the UVF man, based in Rathcoole, is aware he has been fingered as a police tout and has stepped up security as his home in fear of attack. Gregg had been a regular visitor to Ibrox Park for a number of years. Despite his reputation for gangsterism, Greggs failed attack on Gerry Adams had afforded him legendary status and, under the direction of Jackie McDonald, the remaining UDA brigadiers concluded that Adair had to be removed. A mortally wounded Carson died later in hospital, and taxi driver William McKnight was seriously hurt. UDA boss Gary Fisher plots his exit strategy. 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