The Ulster Young Militants (UYM) are considered to be the youth wing of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. Commonly known as the Young Militants or UYM, the group formed in 1974 when the Troubles were at their height.[1] Their motto is "terrae filius", Latin for "son of the land". Their numbers are unknown, but are mainly concentrated in the Belfast area, particularly east and south Belfast.
The UYM had its origins in the "Tartan Gangs" of the early 1970s, unofficial loyalist street gangs who gained their name from the tartan scarves and flash of tartan they wore on their denim jackets.[2] The tartan was said to commemorate the 1971 Scottish soldiers' killings by the Provisional IRA.[2][3] Author Ian S. Wood has also suggested that the fashion may have been inspired by the Bay City Rollers[4] although it has been noted elsewhere that the Bay City Rollers did not take off until 1974 (by which time the Tartan Gangs were well established) and the band's following tended more towards the teenage girl market.[5] The main activities of the Tartan Gangs were the intimidation of Roman Catholic families in loyalist areas of Belfast and, on weekends, attacks on Catholic youths and businesses in Belfast city centre.[6] These gangs included "The Shankill Young Tartan", "Ardcarn Boot Boys", "Ballybeen Riot Squad" and the "Young Newton" from the Ballymacarrett area of East Belfast.[7] In the Shankill Road area, the Tartan Gang quickly came under UDA control and served as their youth movement, although elsewhere in the city they remained independent and during a series of riots in the east in 1972 they proved notoriously difficult for the UDA leadership to control.[3] In East Belfast, some Tartan Gang members known to John McKeague formed the basis of the Red Hand Commando when he established that group in 1972.[8] During the Ulster Workers' Council strike of 1974, Tartan Gangs roamed the streets of Belfast, ensuring compliance with the stoppage called by the Ulster Workers' Council.[9] The Tartans would form the first of three major youth subcultures that formed the basis of the UYM, the others being skinheads in the early 1980s[10] and "spides" in the 1990s.[11]
Although the exact date of formal establishment of the UYM as an official group attached to the UDA is unknown it is estimated to have been around 1974.[1] The group was initially restricted to 16-year-olds although demand for membership became so high following the Combined Loyalist Military Command ceasefire of 1994 that the age limit was dropped to fourteen.[12] Many prominent loyalists are believed to have been members of the UYM before joining the UDA, including Johnny Adair[13] and John Gregg,[14] whilst Jim Gray,[15]Billy "Twister" McQuiston[16] and Michael Stone were Tartan Gang members.[6] Adair and a number of friends, including Sam McCrory, joined the UYM as a group in 1987.[17]
A UYM flag flying in the rural village of Broughshane, County Antrim.
In 2021 following the Irish Sea border protests in South and North Belfast, the UYM allegedly re-emerged, after five nights of rioting and the breaking open the gates of the Belfast peace wall a Facebook message appeared showing the UYM being encouraged to work with the YCV to march through West Belfast, a Catholic area of the city.[18]
Activitiesedit
The UYM attached to the UDA West Belfast Brigade soared in number under Johnny Adair and in 2000 they played a leading role in helping to drive Ulster Volunteer Force members and supporters out of the Lower Shankill as part of a loyalist feud between the two paramilitary groups.[19] Their involvement was such that Jack McKee, a born-again Christian preacher noted for his anti-paramilitary activity, reported that in secondary schools around the Shankill some pupils had to be let out at different times and from different gates depending on whether they were members of the UYM or the Young Citizen Volunteers.[20]
Later, members have been involved in rioting, particularly during the marching season and at interface areas.[21] The group was particularly active in this respect in the Tiger's Bay area, where they were deployed by the UDA to attack homes in the neighbouring nationalist New Lodge and Newington areas.[22] One local member, Glen Branagh (a distant relative of the actor Kenneth Branagh), died in these clashes when, on 11 November 2001, a pipe bomb he was holding exploded in his hand whilst he stood with fellow UYM members on the Duncairn Gardens interface area.[23] They have also been blamed for arson attacks on Catholic schools and churches. In 1999 the UYM was behind over 230 pipe bomb attacks in the UDA South East Antrim Brigade area alone.[24]
According to the University of Ulster'sCAIN Project, the group were responsible for one death during the conflict. In 2001 members of the UYM attacked and killed Trevor Lowry in Newtownabbey, believing him to be a Roman Catholic. It was later discovered that Lowry was a Protestant.[25] Of the two convicted for his murder one, Harry Speers, was significantly over the usual UYM age limits but was in fact commander of the Glengormley UYM and had direct responsibility for preparing UYM members for the transition to the UDA.[26] However, as well as Lowry's murder, according to Henry McDonald and Jim Cusack, a UYM member also killed the UDA's Stephen Audley on 17 March 1991 after the pair fought over a handgun at a party, with the weapon discharging during the struggle and killing Audley.[27]
Wood, Ian S. Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA, Edinburgh University Press, 2006
January 01, 1970
ulster, young, militants, considered, youth, wing, ulster, defence, association, ulster, loyalist, paramilitary, group, northern, ireland, commonly, known, young, militants, group, formed, 1974, when, troubles, were, their, height, their, motto, terrae, filius. The Ulster Young Militants UYM are considered to be the youth wing of the Ulster Defence Association UDA an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland Commonly known as the Young Militants or UYM the group formed in 1974 when the Troubles were at their height 1 Their motto is terrae filius Latin for son of the land Their numbers are unknown but are mainly concentrated in the Belfast area particularly east and south Belfast UYM mural on Ulster s Freedom Corner Newtownards Road Belfast Contents 1 Development 2 Activities 3 See also 4 ReferencesDevelopment editThe UYM had its origins in the Tartan Gangs of the early 1970s unofficial loyalist street gangs who gained their name from the tartan scarves and flash of tartan they wore on their denim jackets 2 The tartan was said to commemorate the 1971 Scottish soldiers killings by the Provisional IRA 2 3 Author Ian S Wood has also suggested that the fashion may have been inspired by the Bay City Rollers 4 although it has been noted elsewhere that the Bay City Rollers did not take off until 1974 by which time the Tartan Gangs were well established and the band s following tended more towards the teenage girl market 5 The main activities of the Tartan Gangs were the intimidation of Roman Catholic families in loyalist areas of Belfast and on weekends attacks on Catholic youths and businesses in Belfast city centre 6 These gangs included The Shankill Young Tartan Ardcarn Boot Boys Ballybeen Riot Squad and the Young Newton from the Ballymacarrett area of East Belfast 7 In the Shankill Road area the Tartan Gang quickly came under UDA control and served as their youth movement although elsewhere in the city they remained independent and during a series of riots in the east in 1972 they proved notoriously difficult for the UDA leadership to control 3 In East Belfast some Tartan Gang members known to John McKeague formed the basis of the Red Hand Commando when he established that group in 1972 8 During the Ulster Workers Council strike of 1974 Tartan Gangs roamed the streets of Belfast ensuring compliance with the stoppage called by the Ulster Workers Council 9 The Tartans would form the first of three major youth subcultures that formed the basis of the UYM the others being skinheads in the early 1980s 10 and spides in the 1990s 11 Although the exact date of formal establishment of the UYM as an official group attached to the UDA is unknown it is estimated to have been around 1974 1 The group was initially restricted to 16 year olds although demand for membership became so high following the Combined Loyalist Military Command ceasefire of 1994 that the age limit was dropped to fourteen 12 Many prominent loyalists are believed to have been members of the UYM before joining the UDA including Johnny Adair 13 and John Gregg 14 whilst Jim Gray 15 Billy Twister McQuiston 16 and Michael Stone were Tartan Gang members 6 Adair and a number of friends including Sam McCrory joined the UYM as a group in 1987 17 nbsp A UYM flag flying in the rural village of Broughshane County Antrim In 2021 following the Irish Sea border protests in South and North Belfast the UYM allegedly re emerged after five nights of rioting and the breaking open the gates of the Belfast peace wall a Facebook message appeared showing the UYM being encouraged to work with the YCV to march through West Belfast a Catholic area of the city 18 Activities editThe UYM attached to the UDA West Belfast Brigade soared in number under Johnny Adair and in 2000 they played a leading role in helping to drive Ulster Volunteer Force members and supporters out of the Lower Shankill as part of a loyalist feud between the two paramilitary groups 19 Their involvement was such that Jack McKee a born again Christian preacher noted for his anti paramilitary activity reported that in secondary schools around the Shankill some pupils had to be let out at different times and from different gates depending on whether they were members of the UYM or the Young Citizen Volunteers 20 Later members have been involved in rioting particularly during the marching season and at interface areas 21 The group was particularly active in this respect in the Tiger s Bay area where they were deployed by the UDA to attack homes in the neighbouring nationalist New Lodge and Newington areas 22 One local member Glen Branagh a distant relative of the actor Kenneth Branagh died in these clashes when on 11 November 2001 a pipe bomb he was holding exploded in his hand whilst he stood with fellow UYM members on the Duncairn Gardens interface area 23 They have also been blamed for arson attacks on Catholic schools and churches In 1999 the UYM was behind over 230 pipe bomb attacks in the UDA South East Antrim Brigade area alone 24 According to the University of Ulster s CAIN Project the group were responsible for one death during the conflict In 2001 members of the UYM attacked and killed Trevor Lowry in Newtownabbey believing him to be a Roman Catholic It was later discovered that Lowry was a Protestant 25 Of the two convicted for his murder one Harry Speers was significantly over the usual UYM age limits but was in fact commander of the Glengormley UYM and had direct responsibility for preparing UYM members for the transition to the UDA 26 However as well as Lowry s murder according to Henry McDonald and Jim Cusack a UYM member also killed the UDA s Stephen Audley on 17 March 1991 after the pair fought over a handgun at a party with the weapon discharging during the struggle and killing Audley 27 See also editFianna Eireann Young Citizen VolunteersReferences editNotes a b CAIN a b Taylor p 81 a b McDonald amp Cusack p 26 Wood p 5 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 45 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 a b Michael Stone None Shall Divide Us John Blake Publishing 2003 p 23 The Most Unpretending of Places A History of Dundonald County Down by Peter Carr Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine Martin Dillon The Trigger Men Mainstream Publishing 2003 p 109 Wood p 39 McDonald amp Cusack p 171 McDonald amp Cusack p 347 Wood p 258 TCM Breaking News Archived 2007 03 10 at the Wayback Machine Wood p 40 Jim Gray Taylor pp 90 91 McDonald amp Cusack p 172 Elms Victoria 12 April 2021 Northern Ireland The role of social media in stirring up unrest news sky com Retrieved 15 October 2021 McDonald amp Cusack p 326 McDonald amp Cusack p 339 Nuzhound McDonald amp Cusack p 344 McDonald amp Cusack p 346 Wood p 233 Telegraph Wood p 265 McDonald amp Cusack pp 187 188 Bibliography McDonald Henry and Cusack Jim UDA Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror Penguin Ireland 2004 Taylor Peter Loyalists London Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 1999 Wood Ian S Crimes of Loyalty A History of the UDA Edinburgh University Press 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ulster Young Militants amp oldid 1216043156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
