The Red Hand Defenders (RHD) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1998 by loyalists who opposed the Belfast Agreement and the loyalist ceasefires.[1] Its members were drawn mostly from the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).[1] The name had first been used by Red Hand Commandos dissident Frankie Curry in 1996 and he was the leading figure in what was a somewhat unstructured organization until he was killed in 1999.[2] It is named after the Red Hand of Ulster.[3]
The RHD emerged when it claimed responsibility for a blast bomb attack on 7 September 1998 during a loyalist protest in Portadown. Loyalists had been protesting against the decision to ban the Orange Order from marching through the town's mainly Catholic and Irish nationalist quarter (see Drumcree conflict). The attack killed a Catholic Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer.[1] Since then, the RHD has claimed responsibility for killing a further ten people. It has also claimed responsibility for many pipe bomb attacks, mostly on the homes of Catholics.[1] One of the RHD's most notable attacks was the assassination of human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson on 15 March 1999.[1] She had represented alleged Irish republican paramilitaries, the family of Robert Hamill, and the Garvaghy Road Residents Association. Of the eleven people the RHD claimed to have killed, nine were civilians, one was a former UDA member and one was an RUC officer.
The RHD are a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000.[4]
^ abcdeRed Hand Defenders, Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN)
^Henry McDonald & Jim Cusack, UDA – Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror, Dublin: Penguin Ireland, 2004, pp. 307-308
^"Terrorist Organization Profiles – START – National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism". Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
^"Proscribed Organisations". Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11, sched. 2). UK Public General Acts. 20 July 2000. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
and 21 Related for: Red Hand Defenders information
The RedHandDefenders (RHD) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1998 by loyalists who opposed the Belfast Agreement...
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) RedHandDefenders (RHD), an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland RedHand Day or International Day against...
Redhands, also known as hot hands, slapsies, slap jack, red tomato (Northern Britain), Pope slap, tennis, slaps, chicken, slappy-patties, or simply the...
attacks have been launched by loyalist paramilitaries, especially the RedHandDefenders, Orange Volunteers and Ulster Defence Association. However, they have...
and officially ended their activities in 2005. Orange Volunteers RedHandDefenders "LVF repeats peace pledge" BBC News, 30 October 1998. Retrieved 24...
Death threats were made against the parents and school staff by the RedHandDefenders, a loyalist paramilitary group. The protest was condemned by both...
defused the device. The attempted attack was initially claimed by the RedHandDefenders. However, the RUC later suggested that it was carried out by the Ulster...
the UDA, established stronger links once he became a brigadier. The RedHandDefenders is a cover name used by breakaway factions of the UDA and the LVF...
disease, a disease caused by the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus RedHandDefenders, an illegal paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland Rheumatic...
brigades broke the ceasefire and attacked Catholics under the name RedHandDefenders, but the paramilitary campaigns did not resume. The 2001 Holy Cross...
some Tartan Gang members known to John McKeague formed the basis of the RedHand Commando when he established that group in 1972. During the Ulster Workers'...
Brolly couple with protection, following reports of threats from the RedHandDefenders, a Loyalist paramilitary group. In 2005, she was re-elected to the...
have supplied hand grenades to the Orange Volunteers (a separate organisation from the original Orange Volunteers) and the RedHandDefenders, a covername...
assailants assuming he was a Catholic. Brett's murder was claimed by the "RedHandDefenders", a cover-name invented by Frankie Curry and subsequently used by...
Volunteer Force Loyalist Volunteer Force Orange Volunteers RedHand Commandos RedHandDefenders Atomwaffen Division National Action The Base Kurdistan Workers...
not surrender its weapons to international disarmament officials. RedHandDefenders (1998–present). Opposes ceasefire. Orange Volunteers (1998–present)...
County Armagh. A loyalist paramilitary group calling itself the RedHandDefenders claimed responsibility for the murder. Allegations that the British...
not uncommon until a few decades ago. Body contact is permitted for the defenders trying to stop the attackers from approaching the goal. No protective...
RedHandDefenders (RHD) claimed responsibility. Stobie's killers, who shot him five times, actually belonged to the UDA and were using the RedHand Defenders...
investigated for posing with a gun in a picture. Orange Volunteers RedHandDefenders Timeline of Ulster Defence Association actions "Peace process in for...