

CAIN Web Service Paramilitary Feuds in Northern Ireland

- A Chronology of Events

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VIOLENCE: [Menu] [Reading] [Summary] [Background] [Chronology] [Incidents] [Deaths] [Main_Pages] [Statistics] [Sources] Text: Martin Melaugh ... Research: Fionnuala McKenna

Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change This is a draft of a chronology highlighting the paramilitary feuds which have taken place in Northern Ireland from 1971 to 1998 Monday 8 March 1971

Members of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) engaged in a gun battle with members of the Provisional IRA (PIRA). The feud between the two wings of the IRA had been developing ever since the Republic movement split on 11 January 1970. Monday 19 June 1972

Desmond Mackin (37), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in the Cracked Cup Social Club, Leeson Street, Lower Falls, Belfast. Mackin was involved in an altercation with PIRA members, part of an feud between the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) and the Provisionals. Friday 21 July 1972

Joseph Rosato (59), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) at his home, Deerpark Road, Belfast. Rosato was the father of the intended target and the killing was part of a feud between the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) and the PIRA. Saturday 18 May 1974

Joseph Shaw (22), a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead by a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) during a fracas in North Star Bar, North Queen Street, Belfast. The killing was part of a feud between the UDA and the UVF.

Thursday 20 February 1975

A feud began between the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) on one side and the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) on the other. Hugh Ferguson (19), then chairman of Whiterock IRSP, was shot dead at his place of work in Ballymurphy, Belfast. It was believed that the OIRA were responsible for this killing. [There were further incidents on: 25 February 1975, 6 April 1975, 12 April 1975, 28 April 1975, and 5 June 1975, before this particular feud ended.] Saturday 15 March 1975

Two members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) were shot dead in the Alexandra Bar, York Road, Belfast, in an attack by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). These killings were part of a feud between the two Loyalist paramilitary groups. Sunday 6 April 1975

Daniel Loughran (18), then a member of the People's Liberation Army (PLA; later to become the Irish National Liberation Army, INLA), was shot dead at Divis Flats, Belfast, by members of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) in the continuing feud between the OIRA and the INLA. Saturday 12 April 1975

Loyalist paramilitaries killed six Catholic civilians in a gun and bomb attack on the Strand Bar, in the Short Strand area of Belfast.

Paul Crawford (25), then a member of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA), was shot dead on the Falls Road, Belfast. This killing was another in the feud between the OIRA and the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Monday 28 April 1975

Liam McMillan (48), then a member of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA), was shot dead by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the continuing feud between the OIRA and the INLA. Thursday 5 June 1975

Brendan McNamee (22), then a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead by members of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) in the continuing feud between the OIRA and the INLA. Sunday 13 July 1975

Denis Berry (21), then a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was shot dead by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in Belfast. The killing was part of a continuing feud between the UDA and the UVF. Monday 1 September 1975

Two members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) were killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the continuing feud between the two Loyalist paramilitary groups. Wednesday 29 October 1975

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) shot and killed Robert Elliman (27), then a member of the Official IRA (OIRA), in McKenna's Bar in the Markets area of Belfast. [Between 29 October 1975 and 12 November 1975, 11 people were to die in the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Most of those killed were members of the 'official' republican movement.] Friday 31 October 1975

Seamus McCusker, a senior member of Provisional Sinn Féin (SF), was shot dead by the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) on the New Lodge Road, Belfast. Both these killings were part of the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Monday 3 November 1975

James Fogarty (22), who had been a Republican Clubs member, was shot dead at his home in Ballymurphy, Belfast, by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). This killing was part of the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Sunday 9 November 1975

John Kelly (19), then a member of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA), was shot dead by the Provisional IRA (PIRA) in the New Lodge area of Belfast. This killing was part of the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Tuesday 11 November 1975

Four men were killed in the continuing feud between the two wings of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Wednesday 12 November 1975

Michael Duggan (32), then Chairman of the Falls Road Taxi Association, was shot dead in Hawthorne Street, Belfast, by members of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA). This killing was part of the continuing feud between the two wings of the IRA. Saturday 15 November 1975

During a disturbance involving members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) at the Park Bar in Tiger's Bay, Belfast, a Protestant civilian was shot dead. The fracas was part of an ongoing feud between the UDA and the UVF. Satruday 29 November 1975

Archibald Waller (23), then a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead by fellow UVF members in an internal feud. The shooting occurred in the Shankill area of Belfast. Sunday 30 November 1975

Noel Shaw (19), then a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead by fellow UVF members in an internal feud. The shooting occurred in the Shankill area of Belfast. Monday 20 December 1976

Thomas Easton (22), a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), was beaten to death by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in Forthriver Road, Glencairn, Belfast. This killing was part of feud between the UDA and the UVF. Sunday 10 April 1977

John Short (49), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the Turf Lodge area of Belfast. This killing was part of a feud between the Official and Provisional wings of the IRA. Wednesday 27 July 1977

Four people were shot dead and 18 were injured in the continuing feud between the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and members of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA). Sunday 5 September 1982

Brian Smyth (30), who had been a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) until 1978, was shot dead by members of the UVF in Crimea Street, Shankill, Belfast. [This killing was reported as an internal feud but was a personal grudge between Lenny Murphy, who had been leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang known as the 'Shankill Butchers', and Smyth whom Murphy owed money (Dillon, 1990).] Sunday 21 December 1986

Thomas McCartan (31), then a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead by the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) in Andersonstown, Belfast. This was the first killing in an INLA / IPLO feud that was to last until 22 March 1987. Tuesday 20 January 1987

When two Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) members were shot dead by members of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) in Drogheda, County Louth, Republic of Ireland, a feud began between the two organisations. The feud continued until 26 March 1987 with a final death toll of 11. Thursday 26 March 1987

A feud between the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) ended. It had begun with two deaths on 20 January 1987 and in total claimed 11 lives. Saturday 15 October 1988

Jim Craig, a leading member of the Ulster Defense Association (UDA), was shot dead by members of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) in a pub in Belfast. Victor Rainey, an innocent member of the public was also shot dead and four people injured in the same incident. Craig was killed as part of an internal UDA feud. Tuesday 18 August 1992

Jimmy Brown (36), then a member of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO), was shot dead in Belfast at the start of an internal IPLO feud. [It was later revealed that a new group called the Belfast Brigade of the IPLO was responsible for the killing.] Friday 21 August 1992

Hugh McKibben (21), then a member of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO), was shot dead at the Lámh Dhearg Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) social club on the outskirts of Belfast. He was killed by the Belfast Brigade of the IPLO during an internal IPLO feud. Two other men were wounded in the attack. Saturday 31 October 1992

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) shot and killed Samuel Ward (30) who was a member of the 'Belfast Brigade' of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO). The IRA also injured a further eight members of the IPLO. [Following this action the 'Belfast Brigade' announced on 3 November 1992 that it would disband. A similar decision was announced by the Army Council faction of the IPLO based in Dublin on 7 November 1992.] Tuesday 3 November 1992

The 'Belfast Brigade' of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) that it would disband. [This followed an internal feud and the intervention of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 31 October 1992.] Saturday 7 November 1992

The 'Army Council' faction of the Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) that was based in Dublin announced that it was disbanding. [This followed an internal feud and the intervention of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 31 October 1992. Tuesday 30 January 1996

Gino Gallagher (33), believed to be the Chief of Staff of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead in a Social Security Office in the Falls Road, Belfast. [This killing was to mark the beginning of another feud within the INLA. This particular feud ended on 3 September 1996.] Saturday 25 May 1996

Dessie McCleery, then a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) 'GHQ' faction, was shot dead in central Belfast. The killing was part of a continuing INLA feud. Sunday 9 June 1996

Fra Shannon, then a member of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) 'GHQ' faction, was shot dead in west Belfast in a continuing INLA feud. Tuesday 3 September 1996

Hugh Torney, believed to be the former Chief of Staff of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), was shot dead in Lurgan. This killing was part of feud that had begun on 30 January 1996 with the killing of Gino Gallagher. (Hugh Torney's faction later disbanded on 9 September 1996.) Monday 9 September 1996

The 'General Head Quarters' (GHQ) faction of the Irish National Liberation Army announced that the group was disbanding. This decision followed the killing of Hugh Torney on 3 September 1996. This marked the ending of a feud within the INLA which started with the killing of Gino Gallagher on 30 January 1996. This latest feud had claimed six lives. Saturday 25 October 1997

Glen Greer (28), a Protestant man, died in a car-bomb attack in Bangor, County Down. His killing was thought to have been part of a Loyalist feud. Greer was a father of three children and his partner was expecting a fourth child. [The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) blamed the breakdown in the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) ceasefire for this bombing and other violence between the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).] Monday 27 October 1997

Roy Magee, who had helped broker the Loyalist ceasefire in 1994, offered to mediate in the feud between the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). Friday 3 July 1998

William Paul (41), a former member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), was shot dead in what the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) believed was a drugs-related feud among former paramilitaries.

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