Protestant Action Group
Encyclopedia
The names Protestant Action Force (PAF) and, less commonly, Protestant Action Group (PAG) were used by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) to avoid taking blame for attacks during "The Troubles
" in Northern Ireland
. The names were first used by the UVF in 1974, and have since been used to claim the killings of at least 41 civilians.
The names were used to claim responsibility for the following attacks:
1970s
1980s
1990s
It was first used by a loyalist
organisation from the 1920s. The original PAG was formed by Protestant unionists
in Dunmanway
, County Cork
, affiliated to the Anti-Sinn Féin League and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. The IRA suspected this group of passing on intelligence to British forces during the War of Independence.
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
" in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The names were first used by the UVF in 1974, and have since been used to claim the killings of at least 41 civilians.
The names were used to claim responsibility for the following attacks:
1970s
- 10 October 1974: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in NewtownabbeyNewtownabbeyNewtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course...
, County AntrimCounty AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. - 11 October 1974: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Brougham Street, BelfastBelfastBelfast 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...
. - 18 October 1974: Exploding a bomb outside a Catholic school in Belfast, injuring 12 people (including children).
- 18 October 1974: Shooting two Catholic street-sweepers in Belfast.
- 27 October 1974: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian near PortadownPortadownPortadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, County Armagh. His body was found in a farmyard off Mullantine Road. - 8 November 1974: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Byron Street, Belfast. This was claimed as retaliation for the Guildford pub bombings.
- 9 November 1974: Shooting dead two Catholic civilians in TemplepatrickTemplepatrickTemplepatrick is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast, and halfway between the towns of Ballyclare and Antrim. It had a population of 1,556 in the 2001 Census. It is also close to Belfast International Airport and the village has several hotels...
, County Antrim. - 12 November 1974: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Carolan Road, Belfast.
- 20 November 1974: A gun attack on Falls Bar at Aughnamullan, County Tyrone. A Catholic civilian was killed and another wounded. This was claimed as retaliation for the killing of Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster ConstabularyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) officer in CraigavonCraigavonCraigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
earlier that day. - 5 April 1975: Bombing McLaughlin's bar in Belfast. Two Catholic civilians were killed.
- 21 April 1975: Killing three Catholic civilians with a booby trapBooby trapA booby trap is a device designed to harm or surprise a person, unknowingly triggered by the presence or actions of the victim. As the word trap implies, they often have some form of bait designed to lure the victim towards it. However, in other cases the device is placed on busy roads or is...
bomb near DungannonDungannonDungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
, County TyroneCounty TyroneHistorically 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...
. - 22 April 1975: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
- 27 April 1975: Shooting dead three Catholic civilians in BlearyBlearyBleary is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is close to the County Armagh border; near Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown. In the 2001 Census its population was counted as part of Craigavon...
, County DownCounty Down-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. - 14 May 1975: An attempted bomb attack on the Catholic-owned Hill Tavern in Belfast. A 15 lb bomb was thrown into the pub but the security guard kicked it outside before it exploded. Seven were hurt by the blast.
- 21 May 1975: Blowing up the Christian Brothers Past Pupils Union building on Antrim Road, Belfast.
- 22 May 1975: Killing a Catholic civilian on Hightown Road, Newtownabbey. He was killed by a booby-trap bomb hidden in a flask at the building site where he was working.
- 23 May 1975: Shooting dead two Catholic civilians in a flat in Mount Vernon, Belfast. The two brothers had been playing cards with Protestant friends. The gunmen told them to lie face-down and shot them in the back of the head.
- 19 June 1975: Killing a Catholic civilian with a bomb on Great Patrick Street, Belfast.
- 20 June 1975: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Ballymena Street, Belfast.
- 22 June 1975: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in GreenislandGreenislandGreenisland is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies 7 miles north-east of Belfast and 3 miles south-west of Carrickfergus. The village is on the coast of Belfast Lough and is named after a tiny islet to the west, the Green Island....
, County Antrim. - 24 August 1975: Shooting dead two Catholic civilians near NewtownhamiltonNewtownhamiltonNewtownhamilton is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Tullyvallan and the barony of Upper Fews. It is part of the Newry and Mourne District Council area...
, County ArmaghCounty Armagh-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
.
1980s
- 24 October 1982: Killing a Catholic civilian in Belfast. He was kidnapped and beaten-to-death in an alley off Brookmount Street.
- 25 October 1982: Shooting dead a civilian Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
member in ArmaghArmaghArmagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
. - 20 November 1982: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in DundonaldDundonaldDundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
, County Down. This was claimed as retaliation for the killing of Lenny MurphyLenny MurphyHugh Leonard Thompson Murphy, who commonly went by the name Lenny , was an Ulster loyalist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Murphy was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force and leader of the infamous Shankill Butchers a gang which became notorious for its torture and murder of Catholic men...
, one of the "Shankill ButchersShankill ButchersThe Shankill Butchers is the name given to an Ulster loyalist gang, many of whom were members of the Ulster Volunteer Force . The gang conducted paramilitary activities during the 1970s in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was most notorious for its late-night kidnapping, torture and murder of random...
". It vowed to kill another three Catholics to avenge his death. - 23 April 1983: Exploding bomb in the Hole-in-the-Wall pub in Belfast, which was frequented by Catholics. There were no injuries.
- 29 October 1983: Shooting dead a civilian Workers' PartyWorkers' Party of IrelandThe Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
member in Greencastle, Belfast. - 8 November 1983: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in Armagh. In 1986, four members of the British Army's Ulster Defence RegimentUlster Defence RegimentThe Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
(UDR) – the "UDR FourUDR FourThe UDR Four were four members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who were convicted of the murder of Adrian Carroll in 1983. Adrian Carroll was the brother of the Sinn Féin councillor Tommy Carroll.Three of the UDR soldiers were acquitted on appeal in 1992...
" – were convicted of the murder. - 5 December 1983: Shooting dead an Irish National Liberation ArmyIrish National Liberation ArmyThe Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
volunteer in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. - 31 October 1984: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian at his home on Mountainview Drive, Belfast.
- 23 November 1984: Shooting dead a civilian Sinn Féin member in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
- 10 July 1986: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Snugville Street, Belfast.
- 14 July 1986: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in Ligoniel, Belfast.
- 19 July 1986: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian on Antrim Road, Belfast.
- 16 September 1986: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in the grounds of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church on Crumlin RoadCrumlin RoadThe Crumlin Road is a main road in north-west Belfast, Northern Ireland. The road runs from north of Belfast City Centre for about four miles to the outskirts of the city. It also forms part of the longer A52 road.-Lower Crumlin Road:...
, Belfast. This was claimed as retaliation for the killing of UVF member John BinghamJohn BinghamJohn Armor Bingham was a Republican congressman from Ohio, America, judge advocate in the trial of the Abraham Lincoln assassination and a prosecutor in the impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson...
two days before. - 17 September 1986: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian in Smithfield, Belfast.
- 15 May 1988: A gun attack on Avenue Bar, Union Street, Belfast. Three Catholic civilians were killed.
- 8 August 1988: Shooting dead two Catholic civilians in Belfast.
- 10 March 1989: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian security guard outside Orient Bar on Springfield Road, Belfast.
1990s
- 7 January 1990: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian taxi driver. He was found dead in his car at Aghacommon near Lurgan, County Armagh.
- 6 October 1990: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian at Oxford Island, County Armagh.
- 24 October 1990: Shooting dead a Catholic civilian taxi driver near MoyMoy-Places:* Loch Moy, a loch south of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.** Moy, Highland, a village beside Loch Moy** Moy Hall, also near the loch and the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Mackintosh** Rout of Moy, an event in the Jacobite rising of 1745...
, County Tyrone. This was claimed as retaliation for the killing of Protestant taxidriver in Belfast. - 28 March 1991: Shooting dead three Catholic civilians in CraigavonCraigavonCraigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
, County Armagh. This was claimed as retaliation for the alleged shooting and wounding of a Protestant woman.
It was first used by a loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
organisation from the 1920s. The original PAG was formed by Protestant unionists
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
in Dunmanway
Dunmanway
Dunmanway is a town in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant republican, for whom the trophy of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, affiliated to the Anti-Sinn Féin League and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. The IRA suspected this group of passing on intelligence to British forces during the War of Independence.