Young Newton

“In proud memory of comrades A. Petherbridge, G. Reid, K. Watters, W. Warnock, R. Warnock. [In memory of our fallen comrades. We forget them not. Terrae filius. East Belfast brigade UDA-UFF.] At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. Young Newton.” “UDA East Belfast. Ulster Freedom Fighters. Quis separabit.”

The fine condition of the murals suggests that the missing wording (on the plinth) has yet to be added. A very low wall to the right of frame reads “Formed to fight for the right to remain in the United Kingdom.”

All five of the named volunteers died in the early 1970s: Petherbridge 1973-02-07, Reid 1974-02-26, Watters 1974-02-17, W Warnock 1972-10-16, and R Warnock 1972-09-13. Young Newton was an east Belfast “tartan” gang (History Ireland) and then part of the UYM (WP).

Fraser Pass (later Pitt Place), east Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00246 [T00253]

Ulster’s Finest

There are two unusual features of this UVF mural in Monkstown: the six volunteers are unmasked – so, this is not a “hooded gunman” mural – and two of the volunteers – the pair in the centre carrying, though not aiming, Uzis – are female. As far as we know, this is the only PUL mural showing armed females. (See the Visual History page on women in murals and muraling.)

The records of this mural are contradictory – this image in the Paddy Duffy Collection is dated April, 1997; other, less reliable, sources give 1999 as the date of its creation and say it was plastered over in 1996 (Xitter). All of this confusion, and its limited appearance in the various collections, suggests that this was a short-lived mural, perhaps because the Uzis, assault rifles, and RPG were being brandished next to Hollybank primary school.

Hollybank Park, Monkstown, Newtownabbey

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00230

Private William McFadzean VC

William McFadzean was awarded the VC medal for throwing himself on a fallen box of grenades on the first day of the Battle Of The Somme. The battles listed to either side are: “Ypres, Fricourt, Cambrai, Thiepval, Messines, Beaucourt, Rossieres, Beaumonthamel, Langemarck,” and, “Somme, Albert, Flanders, St Quentin, Bailleul, Grandcourt, Courtrai, Passchendaele, Schwaben Redoubt”.

The gates are decorated with modern assault rifles.

Mount Vernon Park, north Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1998/1997 Paddy Duffy
T00262 T00259

Sandy Row UDA

“Sandy Row South Belfast” UDA/UFF volunteers in balaclavas and camo gear fire a funeral volley “in proud memory of our fallen comrades. We forget them not – at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

Boyne Court, Sandy Row, south Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00252

Benson Kingsberry

The orange lily makes a rare appearance in a paramilitary mural. The hooded gunmen are from the UFF/UDA. Volunteer Stephen “Benson” Kingsberry is remembered in the panel on the left of the house. He died from consuming tainted ecstasy (perhaps distributed by the UVF). 

Kilburn Street, south Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00250

McFadzean And Miller

The UVF’s William Millar (here given as “Miller”) was ambushed, along with Bobby Morton, by the RUC on the 16th of March 1983 – Millar died and Morton was injured (Long Kesh Inside Out). His death is put in parallel with the WWI service of William McFadzean, who won the VC for throwing himself on a fallen box of grenades on the first day of the Battle Of The Somme. The McFadzean family home (Rubicon) is only half a mile away from this mural.

Cappagh Gardens, Cregagh, Castlereagh

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00243r

War Or Peace?

“War or peace, north or south.” A hooded gunman from “Seymour Hill UFF” stands with his back to an explosion on O’Connell Street, Dublin.

“To the politicians: words are not enough for the peace and freedom of the children and the people of Ulster – “deeds and actions”. To our freedom-fighters: the supreme sacrifice is to lay down your life for your country. Some have given everything, others have yet to give.” The same wording (with “volunteers” instead of “freedom-fighters”) appears in a UVF mural in east Belfast.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00215

No 5 Platoon

“No 5 platoon, A company, 1st battalion, Shankill, west Belfast”. Hooded gunmen crouch in front of a St Andrew’s Saltire and an Ulster Banner, with a UVF flag on top.

A plaque “in memory of a true soldier, Big Bill Campbell” was later added (see the Peter Moloney Collection).

Northland Street, west Belfast

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00214