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Red Hand Commando
| Red Hand Commando (RHC) | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Leaders | Ronnie "Flint" McCullough, John McKeague, Winston Churchill Rea, William "Plum" Smith, "Brigade Staff" |
| Dates of operation | 1970 – 2007/2009 (declared ceasefire in October 1994, ended armed campaign in May 2007, disarmed by 2009) |
| Group(s) | Red Hand Youth (youth wing) Progressive Unionist Party (political representation) |
| Headquarters | Belfast |
| Active regions | Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland |
| Ideology | British unionism Ulster loyalism Anti-Catholicism Anti-Irish sentiment |
| Size | Small |
| Allies |  Ulster Volunteer Force |
| Opponents |  Irish republicansIrish nationalists |
The Red Hand Commando[1] (RHC) is a small secretive Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland that is closely linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Its aim was to combat Irish republicanism – particularly the Irish Republican Army (IRA) – and to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom.[2] The Red Hand Commando carried out shootings and bombings, primarily targeting Catholic civilians.[3][4] As well as allowing other loyalist groupings to claim attacks in their name, the organisation has also allegedly used the cover names "Red Branch Knights" and "Loyalist Retaliation and Defence Group".[5] It is named after the Red Hand of Ulster, and is unique among loyalist paramilitaries for its use of an Irish language motto, Lámh Dearg Abú, meaning 'red hand to victory'.[6][7][8]
Writing in early 1973, Martin Dillon characterized the Red Hand Commando thus: "the composition of this group was highly selective, and it was very secret in its operations. Its membership was composed in the main of Protestant youths – the Tartans who roamed the streets at night looking for trouble. These youths longed for action, and McKeague let them have it."[citation needed]
The Red Hand Commando was the only major loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland not to have its ranks heavily penetrated by a so-called supergrass or informant during the early 1980s; this was attributed to the group's secrecy (described as an "enigma") and opaque structure.[9]
The RHC is a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000.[10] The Red Hand Commando made a failed application in September 2017 to be removed from the list of proscribed organisations in the UK.[11]
- ^ "Red Hand Commando (RHC), Cain: Abstracts of Organisations". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ Mulvenna, Gareth (2016). Tartan Gangs and Paramilitaries: The Loyalist Backlash. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-78138-325-4.
- ^ The Milwaukee Journal, 13 August 1974
- ^ "CAIN Index of Deaths". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
- ^ Sunday Life, 7 May 1995
- ^ Mulvenna, Gareth. Tartan Gangs and Paramilitaries: The Loyalist Backlash. Oxford University Press, 2016. p.215. Quote: "Ronnie McCullough adopted the motto 'Lamh Dearg Abu' for the RHC – an Irish phrase which means 'Red hand to victory'".
- ^ De Brun, Fionntan. Belfast and the Irish language. Four Courts Press, 2006. p.157. Quote: "UVF members learned the Irish language while in jail and the RHC adopted the Irish motto 'Lamh Dearg Abu' ('red hand for ever')".
- ^ "Red Hand Commando flags with Irish language slogan flown" Archived 23 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Irish News. 23 July 2018.
- ^ Fortnight Magazine, Issue 200, p. 9-10. Fortnight Publications, 1984.
- ^ "Proscribed Organisations". Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11, sched. 2). UK Public General Acts. 20 July 2000. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013.
- ^ "Loyalist Red Hand Commando applies to be legalised". BBC News. 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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