In The Love Of Our Country

“In the love of our country, some have give[n] something, some have give[n] everything, others have yet to give. Quis separabit. UDA/UFF.” UYM mural with a crudely drawn hooded-gunman. There is “RIRA” graffiti in three places.

Albion Street, Sandy Row, south Belfast

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Copyright © 1998 Paddy Duffy
T00264

Release Our Prisoners

The scroll on the left between the emblems of the UDA, UYM, UFF and the Ulster banner reads, “In memory of our freedom fighters who fought and died for Ulster. It was not for glory they fought nor honour or riches but freedom alone which no good man should lose but with his life.” There is a pair of manacled red fists above the central UFF emblem, which itself rests on a free-floating outline of Northern Ireland superimposed with the Ulster banner. On the right is a crouching volunteer from A battalion, from south Belfast’s Sandy Row.

Linfield Road, south Belfast

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Copyright © 1998 Paddy Duffy
T00247

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

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00246 [T00253]

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

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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

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00250

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.

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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

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00214

D Company, Ballysillan

The writing on the stone reads, “In memory of Lt Col John Bingham, murdered 14th Sept 86” and “In memory of Major Thomas Stewart, murdered 29th Oct 96”. The volunteers in hoods are divided between active service and graveside memorial: two stand behind their downward-pointing rifles, two assume crouching positions with rifles pointed.

D company (Ballysillan), 1st battalion, UVF

Ballysillan Road, north Belfast

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00232

Gone But Not Forgotten

“This mural is a memorial to the volunteers of A Coy 1st Batt who served the Shankill community so bravely during the years of conflict. Gone but not forgotten.” The flags being held on either side are of the Shankill Protestant Boys (1st battalion, Ulster Volunteers) and the USSF.

Canmore Street, Shankill, west Belfast. Paddy Duffy’s British Telecom van is parked on the Shankill, to the right of the image.

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00223