Eddie Sayers
Encyclopedia
Eddie Sayers is a former Northern Irish loyalist
who served as brigadier of the Ulster Defence Association
's (UDA) Mid Ulster Brigade in the 1980s.
Sayers ran a small business in Omagh
, County Tyrone
, and became involved in unionist politics, joining Ian Paisley
's Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP). He stood for the party in Mid Ulster
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
, taking 4,454 first-preference votes, but narrowly missed election.
In the late 1970s, Sayers left the DUP and became active in the paramilitary
Ulster Defence Association
(UDA). He was quickly appointed Brigadier of its Mid Ulster Brigade. He stood for election to Omagh District Council
in 1981
, as an independent unionist, but came bottom of the poll, with only 74 votes. He also ran Borderline Security, which acted as a front for the UDA. In 1987, the investigative journalist Roger Cook
filmed Sayers attempting to extort money from a reporter posing as a businessman. This was broadcast the following year as an episode of The Cook Report
, and was considered extremely embarrassing by the UDA, not least because it showed Sayers struggling with basic arithmetic. He was tried at Belfast Crown Court in 1989, and sentenced to ten years in prison.
While in the Maze prison, Sayers studied to become a legal clerk. He was released in 1999, and gained employment at Taylor & Co solicitors in Belfast
. In this role, he worked on legal cases for Johnny Adair
, but his employer lost his licence to practice law in 2003, while facing bankruptcy proceedings. In 2005, Sayers was charged with the theft of more than £700,000, and of dishonestly obtaining a mortgage.
In 2006, Sayers was declared personally bankrupt for failing to pay overdue taxes, while, in 2009, he was fined for leaving waste on land in County Fermanagh
, despite orders to clean up the site.
Sayers' daughter, Diana, won the Miss Northern Ireland
title in 2003.
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
who served as brigadier of the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
's (UDA) Mid Ulster Brigade in the 1980s.
Sayers ran a small business in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, and became involved in unionist politics, joining Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
's Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
(DUP). He stood for the party in Mid Ulster
Mid Ulster (Assembly constituency)
Mid Ulster is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
, taking 4,454 first-preference votes, but narrowly missed election.
In the late 1970s, Sayers left the DUP and became active in the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA). He was quickly appointed Brigadier of its Mid Ulster Brigade. He stood for election to Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council is a local council in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area is about , making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland with a population of just over...
in 1981
Northern Ireland local elections, 1981
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland in 1981.-Overall:-Belfast:...
, as an independent unionist, but came bottom of the poll, with only 74 votes. He also ran Borderline Security, which acted as a front for the UDA. In 1987, the investigative journalist Roger Cook
Roger Cook (journalist)
Roger Cook is an investigative presenter, reporter and broadcaster.- Early life :His parents were New Zealanders, but he was was brought up in Australia, and began his career with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and newsreader on both radio and television.In 1968, he moved to...
filmed Sayers attempting to extort money from a reporter posing as a businessman. This was broadcast the following year as an episode of The Cook Report
The Cook Report
The Cook Report was a British current affairs television programme shown on ITV, produced for the network by Central Television from 1987 to 1998.-History:...
, and was considered extremely embarrassing by the UDA, not least because it showed Sayers struggling with basic arithmetic. He was tried at Belfast Crown Court in 1989, and sentenced to ten years in prison.
While in the Maze prison, Sayers studied to become a legal clerk. He was released in 1999, and gained employment at Taylor & Co solicitors in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. In this role, he worked on legal cases for Johnny Adair
Johnny Adair
Jonathan Adair, better known as Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is the former leader of the "C Company", 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade of the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" . This was a cover name used by the Ulster Defence Association , an Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation...
, but his employer lost his licence to practice law in 2003, while facing bankruptcy proceedings. In 2005, Sayers was charged with the theft of more than £700,000, and of dishonestly obtaining a mortgage.
In 2006, Sayers was declared personally bankrupt for failing to pay overdue taxes, while, in 2009, he was fined for leaving waste on land in County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, despite orders to clean up the site.
Sayers' daughter, Diana, won the Miss Northern Ireland
Miss Northern Ireland
Miss Northern Ireland is a beauty pageant, the winner of which goes on to compete in the Miss World pageant.Before 1999, the winner of Miss Anton Northern Ireland would have to compete in the Miss United Kingdom competition and win it in order to be applicable to compete in the Miss World competition...
title in 2003.