assault rifle

Tiger’s Bay

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“UFF 3rd battalion, E company.” “Welcome to loyalist Tiger’s Bay.”

The tiger was used in a 1988 mural in Hogarth Street/Adam Street without any mention of a flute band or paramilitary gang. The tiger here is flanked by two UDA/UFF gunmen in balaclavas and bomber jackets.

Cultra Street, north Belfast

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00447

RHC C Company East Belfast

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A Red Hand Commando volunteer kneels in a garland of poppies. The quote on the left – “It’s not for glory or riches that we fight but for our people” – is based on the Declaration Of Arbroath and seen also in south Belfast (For Freedom Alone) and in Bangor (Remember Them Who Gave Their All). The Declaration was also used on one of the series of murals that can be seen, in part, to the left of the image above – see Ulster’s Freedom Corner.

The quote on the right – “Ulster’s destiny is in our hands; our grip is tight; we’ll never let go.” – appears to be original to the RHC.

Tower Street, east Belfast, replacing a version that had a solid white background.

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00454

Ballybeen RHC

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“Ballybeen C Coy East Belfast”, “Lamh dearg abu”, “It is not for glory or riches that we fight but for our people. We will always protect our community.” The first part of the quotation is based on the Declaration Of Arbroath (see also this RHC C Coy mural in east Belfast); “we will always protect our community” is original.

Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald

(In some images of this mural, the top scroll says simply “Ballybeen”.)

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00435

Release The Political Hostages

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“We have achieved peace, we have maintained peace – now stop the injustice: release our political hostages.” “Dedicated to Mark Rice”, a Tullycarnet resident who was jailed for 20 years for possession of an assault rifle used in the attack on Sean Graham bookmakers on the Ormeau Road in February 1992 (Relatives For Justice). To the left of centre, a red fist smashes through an Irish Tricolour; a Tricolour is also worn by the volunteer in the crosshairs.

Granton Park, Tullycarnet, Dundonald

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy
T00431

Shankill Eddie

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A Visual History page details the various appearances of Eddie The Head in his guise as a Red Coat soldier-cum-UDA volunteers. In this Shankill Eddie, he carries an assault rifle and an Ulster Banner as he marches over the graves of “E[ddie] Copeland”, “S[ean] Kelly”, and “S[tephen] Larkin”. The three are IRA volunteers: Kelly, along with Thomas Begley, bombed Frizzell’s fish shop on the Shankill Road in 1993 – Kelly survived; Copeland was injured during an attack on Begley’s wake; Larkin made an attempt on the life of Johnny Adair in 1993.

There is also a Visual History page for the murals painted in the era of Johnny Adair’s C company, of which this is one.

Hopewell Crescent, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T01178

Spike Chases Adams

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Spike (the dog from Tom & Jerry) wears a Union Flag t-shirt and brandishes an assault rifle as he chases Sınn Féın’s Gerry Adams, wearing a Celtic top, out of Belfast and towards Dublin, in front of the UDA murals at (D00971) and behind (D00969) the KFC.

This is one of the murals painted in the era of Johnny Adair’s C company.

Hopewell Crescent, lower Shankill, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2000 Paddy Duffy (no date given)
T01190