Paddy Duffy Collection

A New Opportunity For Peace

1997-04-012025-10-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This high wall is in front of the Sınn Féın offices (Connolly House) on the Andersonstown Road, west Belfast. Along the top is a list of concerns being pressed in the on-going peace process: “Roısín McAliskey, preconditions, Drumcree 95-96-?, Dunloy, Ormeau Rd, Garvaghy, Loyalists no ceasefire, Lee Clegg, RUC – no change. A new opportunity for peace – Bóthar Bhaıle Andarsan for all inclusive talks.”

Gerry Adams stood for Sınn Féın in Belfast West in the 1997 UK general election, regaining the seat from the SDLP’s Joe Hendron with 56% of the poll (WP). He is wearing a green ribbon, emblem of the campaign to release republican POWs.

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00210

Private William McFadzean VC

1997-01-012025-10-23Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

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Copyright © 1998/1997 Paddy Duffy
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Sandy Row UDA

1997-01-012025-10-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“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

1997-01-012025-10-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

The Ulster People’s Soldiers

1997-01-012025-10-19Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Homage to the 36th (Ulster) Division and the Ulster Volunteers/YCV. The UVF emblem is cut off at either end.

St Patrick’s Walk, east Belfast

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Copyright © 1997 Paddy Duffy
T00249 [T00256]

McFadzean And Miller

1996-09-012025-10-17Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

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

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Copyright © 1996 Paddy Duffy
T00243r

Cloughfern Young Conquerors

1996-09-012025-10-11Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Hooded UDA gunmen at the entrance to the Rathfern estate.

There is also Cloughfern Young Conquerors flute band mural on the other side of Knockenagh Avenue, Newtownabbey.

Cloughfern Young Conquerors

1996-09-012025-10-09Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

From left to right: “Drumcree – no surrender”, Britannia with a Union Flag and an Ulster Banner shield, Ulster Young Militants, UDA, UFF, “South East Antrim Brigade”, “Cloughfern Young Conquerors [Fb] est. 1973″ with the flag of independent Northern Ireland, and a pair of hooded gunmen flanking a wreath “dedicated in rememberance [sic] of Gerry Evans”. Evans was killed by the INLA on April 27th, 1994, shot at his shop in the Northcott centre. (Lost Lives 3472. Sutton describes Evans as a “civilian”.)

Painted by “Artists Hazey / Neeky” in Knockenagh Avenue, Newtownabbey

War Or Peace?

1996-09-012025-10-08Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

“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.