John McMichael
| John McMichael | |
|---|---|
John McMichael
|
|
| Born | January 9, 1948 Lisburn, County Antrim Northern Ireland, UK |
| Died | December 22, 1987 (aged 39) Lisburn, County Antrim Northern Ireland, UK |
| Cause of death | Multiple injuries resulting from a car bomb explosion |
| Burial place | New Blaris Cemetery, Lisburn |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | "Big John" |
| Occupation | publican |
| Known for |
Ulster Defence Association brigadier "Ulster Freedom Fighters" commander Leader of the Ulster Democratic Party |
| Notable work |
Beyond the Religious Divide Common Sense: Northern Ireland – An Agreed Process |
| Political party | Ulster Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis McMichael Shirley McDowell |
| Children |
Gary McMichael Saul McMichael |
| Parent(s) | John McMichael Annie McMichael |
John "Big John" McMichael (9 January 1948 – 22 December 1987) was a leading Northern Ireland loyalist who rose to become the most prominent and charismatic figure within the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) as the Deputy Commander and leader of its South Belfast Brigade. He was also commander of the organisation's cover name, the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF), overseeing an assassination campaign against prominent republican figures whose details were included in a notorious "shopping list" derived from leaked security forces documents. The UDA used the UFF name when it wished to claim responsibility for attacks, thus allowing it to remain a legal paramilitary organisation until August 1992 when it was proscribed by the British Government.
McMichael held political office as leader of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) from 1981 until his death. He was killed outside his home by a booby-trap car bomb which was carried out by the Provisional IRA. There were allegations that members within the UDA had colluded with the IRA in his death by passing on vital information about him and his activities, enabling the IRA to target his car.
John McMichael was born in Lisburn, County Antrim on 9 January 1948, one of the children of John and Annie McMichael. He came from a working-class background, and was brought up in the Church of Ireland religion. He had married twice and was the father of two sons, Gary and Saul.
McMichael, who owned and operated the "Admiral Benbow" pub in his native Lisburn, initially rose to prominence in the UDA in the 1970s as the commander of the South Belfast Brigade and a member of its Inner Council, where he became known for his belief in the unique identity of Ulster Protestants, as well as his talent as an organiser. He had taken over command of the South Belfast UDA from Sammy Murphy, who had also led the Sandy Row unit. According to McDonald and Cusack, Murphy appeared to have been a commander rather than brigadier. Described as the UDA's most "effective and strategic leader", McMichael helped establish a political think tank called the New Ulster Political Research Group in 1977, and served as its chairman. He also assisted in the composition of a document entitled Beyond the Religious Divide which promoted independence for Northern Ireland along with a constitutional Bill of Rights—acceptable to both nationalists and unionists—as the "only hope of achieving a united Northern Ireland". This was the first step on the UDA's road to political development. He was a supporter of the ideas of Ian Adamson a paediatrician, and subsequently a Unionist politician, who self-funded a series of books and pamphlets about the alleged ancient origins of Ulster people as a separate ethnic group to the Irish.
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