Samuel McCormick was a Northern Irish loyalist who served from 1973 until the 1980s as the brigadier for the Ulster Defence Association's (UDA) East Belfast Brigade. He had taken over the command following the shooting death of its former leader Tommy Herron.
In September 1973, powerful East Belfast leader Tommy Herron was kidnapped and subsequently shot dead during an internal Ulster Defence Association (UDA) feud.[1] Although Andy Tyrie was the UDA's commander, there was intense rivalry between Herron and former UDA leader (and the organisation's founder), Charles Harding Smith. Upon Herron's killing, McCormick was appointed to succeed him as leader of the East Belfast Brigade. He was viewed as a disciplinarian with a bland, colourless personality. This suited the UDA leadership who felt that he presented a staid, responsible image in direct contrast to the flamboyantly corrupt Herron.[2] He was a loyal supporter of Tyrie and when Harding Smith placed Tyrie under house arrest in his Glencairn home McCormick arranged for the UDA Chairman to be moved across Belfast to a new house in the east of the city.[3]
His tenure as brigadier got off to an uneasy start. In February 1974, following UDA colonel Ned McCreery's release from internment, there was a raucous celebration held by him and his supporters which immediately escalated into a riot. The volatile McCreery and his men waged a gun battle in the streets of east Belfast against the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army, resulting in the deaths of two men. One of the dead men, civilian Gary Reid, was a cousin of footballer George Best.[4] McCormick, however, resolutely gained the upper hand by clamping down on the rioters. He soon restored order from the earlier mayhem, and under his stern command, the formerly chaotic brigade became one of the most disciplined units in the entire UDA.[4]
McCormick was arrested in 1982, along with leader Andy Tyrie, South Belfast brigadier John McMichael, and several other UDA associates. The RUC had seized documents at the UDA headquarters which contained the names and addresses of senior law enforcement and judiciary figures.[5] The case against McCormick was never brought to trial. Andy Tyrie was the only person out of those arrested who was actually tried in court. The case subsequently fell apart when the defence argued that the UDA headquarters was used by many people, therefore it could not be shown with any degree of certainty as to whom the documents actually belonged.[6] McCormick stood down as East Belfast brigadier sometime in the 1980s and was replaced by Billy Elliot.
Referencesedit
^Taylor, Peter (1999). Loyalists. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. p.114
^McDonald, Henry & Cusack, Jim (2004): UDA - Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror. Dublin: Penguin Ireland. p.68
^Steve Bruce, The Red Hand, Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 105
^ abMcDonald, Henry & Cusack, Jim (2004). UDA - Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror. Dublin: Penguin Ireland. p.70
sammy, mccormick, samuel, mccormick, northern, irish, loyalist, served, from, 1973, until, 1980s, brigadier, ulster, defence, association, east, belfast, brigade, taken, over, command, following, shooting, death, former, leader, tommy, herron, birth, namesamue. Samuel McCormick was a Northern Irish loyalist who served from 1973 until the 1980s as the brigadier for the Ulster Defence Association s UDA East Belfast Brigade He had taken over the command following the shooting death of its former leader Tommy Herron Sammy McCormickBirth nameSamuel McCormickAllegianceUlster Defence Association UDA RankBrigadierUnitEast Belfast BrigadeConflictThe TroublesEast Belfast UDA brigadier editIn September 1973 powerful East Belfast leader Tommy Herron was kidnapped and subsequently shot dead during an internal Ulster Defence Association UDA feud 1 Although Andy Tyrie was the UDA s commander there was intense rivalry between Herron and former UDA leader and the organisation s founder Charles Harding Smith Upon Herron s killing McCormick was appointed to succeed him as leader of the East Belfast Brigade He was viewed as a disciplinarian with a bland colourless personality This suited the UDA leadership who felt that he presented a staid responsible image in direct contrast to the flamboyantly corrupt Herron 2 He was a loyal supporter of Tyrie and when Harding Smith placed Tyrie under house arrest in his Glencairn home McCormick arranged for the UDA Chairman to be moved across Belfast to a new house in the east of the city 3 His tenure as brigadier got off to an uneasy start In February 1974 following UDA colonel Ned McCreery s release from internment there was a raucous celebration held by him and his supporters which immediately escalated into a riot The volatile McCreery and his men waged a gun battle in the streets of east Belfast against the Royal Ulster Constabulary RUC and British Army resulting in the deaths of two men One of the dead men civilian Gary Reid was a cousin of footballer George Best 4 McCormick however resolutely gained the upper hand by clamping down on the rioters He soon restored order from the earlier mayhem and under his stern command the formerly chaotic brigade became one of the most disciplined units in the entire UDA 4 McCormick was arrested in 1982 along with leader Andy Tyrie South Belfast brigadier John McMichael and several other UDA associates The RUC had seized documents at the UDA headquarters which contained the names and addresses of senior law enforcement and judiciary figures 5 The case against McCormick was never brought to trial Andy Tyrie was the only person out of those arrested who was actually tried in court The case subsequently fell apart when the defence argued that the UDA headquarters was used by many people therefore it could not be shown with any degree of certainty as to whom the documents actually belonged 6 McCormick stood down as East Belfast brigadier sometime in the 1980s and was replaced by Billy Elliot References edit Taylor Peter 1999 Loyalists London Bloomsbury Publishing Plc p 114 McDonald Henry amp Cusack Jim 2004 UDA Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror Dublin Penguin Ireland p 68 Steve Bruce The Red Hand Oxford University Press 1992 p 105 a b McDonald Henry amp Cusack Jim 2004 UDA Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror Dublin Penguin Ireland p 70 McDonald amp Cusack UDA p 123 McDonald amp Cusack UDA p 124 Other officesPreceded byTommy Herron Ulster Defence Association East Belfast Brigadier1973 1980s Succeeded byBilly Elliot Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sammy McCormick amp oldid 1082793388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
