Real Ulster Freedom Fighters

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The Real Ulster Freedom Fighters, otherwise known as the Real UFF, is a dissident loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was founded in early 2007 by former members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) /Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). [1] They reportedly committed 24 attacks from 2009 to 2011 in County Antrim. [2] They are believed to number fewer than 50 members.

Contents

On 30 March 2023 a new 'Real Ulster Freedom Fighters' announced its formation. This movement also split from the UDA. [3]

Much of its membership and the organisation itself have been accused of being involved in criminality and has been ostracized by much of the loyalist movement, with them being blamed for bringing heroin into Newtownards [4] They have also been accused of asking the New IRA for protection in prison in return they would give them information on police officers locations, and even offered to offer them safehouses in Down if the attack were to take place there. [5]

Formation

The group announced its existence on 1 April 2007, shortly after the St Andrews Agreement. [1] In a statement, the group said:

We have had enough of people telling us what to do - if the opportunity arises we will take out the entire UDA leadership because they are selling us out. Protestant areas are still awash with drugs and we are not going to stand by while so-called loyalists line their pockets. [1]

The group claimed to have drawn-up a "death list" that included: [1]

The Real UFF also claimed to have an arsenal that includes rocket launchers, AK-47 assault rifles, handguns, pipe bombs, coffee-jar bombs and under-car booby-trap devices. [1] However it is unknown if these weapons are still in their possession.

They were said by Sunday Life to be an alliance between former supporters of Gary "Smickers" Smyth and others who had been close to the Shoukri brothers. [1]

The current RUFF is said to be run by, and involved with Adrian Price, a known criminal who is involved in feuds with loyalist groups.[ citation needed ]

Timeline of attacks

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Peace process in for a R.U.F.F time". Sunday Life. 1 April 2007.
  2. ↑ "Loyalists attack Catholic, Polish families". Irish Republican News. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Ards and North Down: Expelled members of UDA have named themselves as UFF in loyalist gang feud". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Undercover cops bugged homes of loyalists at centre of Co Down drugs feud". SundayWorld.com. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Feuding loyalists setting up cops for murder in return for prison protection from New IRA". SundayWorld.com. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pipe bomb thrown at home". UTV News. 24 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Family targeted in pipe bomb attack". Belfast Newsletter. 25 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "Antrim family escapes unhurt after attack". RTÉ News. 24 July 2009.
  9. ↑ "'Real UFF' claim Antrim bomb". Belfast Newsletter. 25 September 2009.
  10. ↑ "Small bomb made safe in North". Irish Times. 25 September 2009.
  11. ↑ "Antrim attack deemed sectarian". Belfast Newsletter. 15 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "Kelly receives another death threat". Belfast Telegraph. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Gerry Adams warned of another threat to his life". Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Two escape Antrim gun attack". UTV News. 13 March 2010.
  15. ↑ "Pipe bomb sparks Antrim alert". UTV News. 11 August 2010.
  16. ↑ "Loyalists behind pipe bomb attack". Belfast Newsletter. 11 August 2010.
  17. ↑ "Officers probe trio of pipe bombs". Belfast Telegraph. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
  18. ↑ "Real UFF blamed for school bomb". UTV. 6 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Loyalists blamed for bomb blast attack on west Belfast house". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. 2 November 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Grenade attack stuns PSNI - Irish Republican News - Mon, Nov 8, 2010" . Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Pipe bomb left at Polish couple's home in Steeple, Antrim". BBC News. 12 October 2011.
  22. ↑ "Former DUP candidate John Smyth refused bail on explosives charges". BBC News. 27 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Ex-DUP man jailed over pipe bomb attack". u.tv. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "'Viable' pipe bomb found in Steeple". Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Blast bomb victim 'lucky to be alive'". u.tv. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "North Down loyalists flee to Fermanagh in fear of their lives over feud". MSN . Archived from the original on 23 May 2023.
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