Red Hand Commando
| Red Hand Commando (RHC) | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Troubles | |
 RHC badge |
|
| Active | 1972 – 2007/2009 (declared ceasefire in October 1994, ended armed campaign in May 2007, disarmed by 2009) |
| Ideology |
British unionism, Ulster loyalism |
| Leaders |
John McKeague, Winston Churchill Rea, William "Plum" Smith, Billy Elliot, "Brigade Staff" |
| Headquarters | Belfast |
| Area of operations |
Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland |
| Strength | Small |
| Allies | Ulster Volunteer Force |
| Opponents | Irish nationalists |
The Red Hand Commando (RHC) was a small secretive Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, which 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. It is named after the Red Hand of Ulster.
Writing in early 1973, Martin Dillon characterized the Red Hand 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."
To date the Red Hand Commando are the only loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland not to have had a supergrass, or informant in its ranks, believed to be due to its secretive and disciplined nature.
The RHC is a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Much of the group’s past is a mystery. The RHC was formed in 1972 in the Shankill area of west Belfast by John McKeague (who was also involved with Tara), William "Plum" Smith and colleagues from the Shankill Defence Association. Membership was high in the Shankill, east Belfast, Sandy Row, Newtownabbey areas as well as in parts of County Down. In 1972, the RHC agreed to become an integral part of the Ulster Volunteer Force. It kept its own structures but in 'operational' matters agreed to share weapons and personnel and often carried out military operations in the name of the UVF. It was proscribed by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw on 12 November 1973.
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Wikipedia