Alex Kerr (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
Alex Kerr is a Northern Irish
former loyalist
paramilitary. Kerr was a brigadier in the Ulster Defence Association
(UDA) before becoming one of the two founders of the Loyalist Volunteer Force
(LVF). He is no longer active in loyalism.
estate in the south-west of Belfast
. From this centre of UDA activity Kerr established his power base as South Belfast brigadier. The position had been held by John McMichael
until he was killed in 1987 when Jackie McDonald
was chosen as McMichael's replacement by Andy Tyrie
. McDonald was not trusted by the rest of the leadership however and he was removed less than a year later following his arrest for extortion, allowing Kerr to become the new brigadier. Kerr was on good terms with Johnny Adair
, and in July 1992 he provided a bolt-hole in Taughmonagh from which Adair and his men were to launch an attack on PIRA
commander Brian Gillen
's Finaghy Road North home. The attack did not take place however as the C Company unit had been observed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary
since leaving the Shankill Road and were all subsequently arrested.
In the spring of 1991 the UDA aligned with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and its subsidiary group, the Red Hand Commando to establish the Combined Loyalist Military Command
(CLMC). This was a group designed to co-ordinate military activity and hold ad hoc discussions about political strategy. Liaison officers were appointed to the new body by each of the three groups and Kerr was chosen as the UDA's military representative. Each group also appointed a political liaison officer with Kerr joined by Ray Smallwoods
in this function.
In early 1994 the UDA's Inner Council was made up of its six brigadiers - Kerr for South Belfast, Adair for West Belfast
, Tom Reid for North Belfast, Gary Matthews for East Belfast, Billy McFarland for County Londonderry
and north County Antrim
and Joe English
for Southeast Antrim
. At the time English was attempting to build support for a ceasefire declaration by the Combined Loyalist Military Command. In this endeavour he was supported Reid and Matthews but opposed vehemently by Adair. Along with McFarland, Kerr represented a middle group who demonstrated general agreement with English but also expressed sympathy for Adair's position that a recent upturn in UDA activity was winning the struggle against the IRA for them. For his part Kerr was sympathetic to the adoption of a "doomsday" scenario in which Ireland would be repartitioned
with Catholics sent to the western bank of the River Bann
or an enclave in West Belfast with both areas given over the Republic of Ireland
. The rest of Northern Ireland would become an autonomous region within the United Kingdom
.
following the 1995 publication of the Framewroks document that preceded the Belfast Agreement
, as he saw this document as bringing about a united Ireland
by stealth. Kerr became strongly disenchanted with the strategy of the Ulster Democratic Party
and argued that they, and their UVF-linked allies in the Progressive Unionist Party
, were simply being used by the British government in order to get Sinn Féin
into a devolved government.
Seeking to begin an internal campaign against the agreement Kerr initially targeted the UDP, having supporters write "Ulster Drugs Party" on the walls of The Village area of Donegall Road
, a stronghold of the South Belfast Brigade. Soon Kerr ramped up his approach by giving interviews to the press in which he called for the development of a new strategy opposed to the Frameworks and a possible return to violence. On 2 June 1995 nine UDA prisoners, including Greysteel massacre
perpetrators Torrens Knight
and Stephen Irwin, came out in support of Kerr and were eventually moved to another wing of the Maze prison under orders from Johnny Adair, who was on remand at the time and was at that point still committed to the UDP's strategy.
Kerr became a regular face at the Drumcree conflict
where he was often in the company of Billy Wright
; before long the two were closely linked due to their shared distaste for the strategy of the loyaiist political parties. As part of the protests a mechanical digger appeared on the loyalist side and rumours circulated that the machine was armour plated and was to be driven at the security forces. The same rumours also put Kerr in the driving seat of the vehicle. Pictures were broadcast in 1996 of the two men directing rioters on Drumcree hill against the security forces, and the CLMC decided to act against the pair after Wright's ally Clifford McKeown shot and killed a Catholic taxi driver on 1 July. The UDA acted swiftly to expel Kerr and his supporters from their membership. Indeed they even sent a hit squad to his new base in Cookstown
; although this attempt at assassination failed when they were intercepted by the RUC. The UVF however were more recalcitrant about expelling Wright which almost caused a rift until the UVF accepted the UDA's point of view and expelled Wright. Both men were placed under death sentences. Jackie McDonald replaced Kerr, becoming for the second time, leader of the South Belfast Brigade.
. This group won the support of Jackie Mahood, a former UVF prisoner and PUP spokesman, who wanted to Wright to try to take control of the UVF. Mahood also sought to bring in Jim Spence
from the West Belfast UDA, although he declined due to his mistrust of Wright. The new group however did win the support of Ulster Independence Movement
activists Kenny McClinton
, Clifford Peoples and some other Protestant fundamentalists who disagreed with the paths being taken by mainstream loyalism. Red Hand Commando dissident Frankie Curry
also expressed his support for the new group although he declined to join, instead creating his own flag of convenience, the Red Hand Defenders
, as a cover for his own activity as well as that of any dissident who chose to use the name. The formal judgement of the CLMC, which expelled Wright and Kerr and passed death sentences on them officially, completed the split. Kerr joined Wright, head of the local Orange Order Harold Gracey and Democratic Unionist Party
MP William McCrea
on a platform in Portadown
hours before the deadline for him to leave Northern Ireland or face death was due to expire. A bomb was thrown through the window of Kerr's parents' house as soon as the deadline expired.
Within the LVF Kerr quickly became close to Mark "Swinger" Fulton
and the two worked together in order to try to convince Wright of the desirability of a closer relationship with the UDA. Seeking to demonstrate the capabilites of the new group, Kerr invited the media to an LVF show of strength at Annahilt
in autumn 1996 but the publicity proved counterproductive as the RUC arrived and arrested everybody at the scene. Kerr was held on remand in HMP Maghaberry after the incident.
Kerr was not released from prison until 1998 when he initially settled in the LVF stronghold of Portadown
, claiming that his time in paramilitarism was over. Soon afterwards however Kerr fled the town under cover of darkness and left with his family for England
. Fulton, who had succeeded to the leadership of the LVF following Wright's 1997 killing by the INLA
, was pursuing Kerr's earlier idea of a close relationship with the UDA. He felt, however, that Kerr, who was still seen as a dissident by the UDA, was damaging the prospects of that happening and as such Kerr was out of favour with the new LVF leader. The UDA's South Belfast brigade claimed that Kerr had been working for Special Branch
although this denied by the UVF's miliary liaison officer on the CLMC who claimed that, despite being opposed to the LVF, he believed that Kerr was a "true believer" and that the informer tag was simply "black propaganda".
Kerr's current whereabouts are unknown; although in 2009 UDA commander Jackie McDonald stated that Kerr, along with Johnny Adair and John White
, could never return to Northern Ireland without being killed.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
paramilitary. Kerr was a brigadier in the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA) before becoming one of the two founders of the Loyalist Volunteer Force
Loyalist Volunteer Force
The Loyalist Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed by Billy Wright in 1996 when he and the Portadown unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force's Mid-Ulster Brigade was stood down by the UVF leadership. He had been the commander of the Mid-Ulster Brigade. The...
(LVF). He is no longer active in loyalism.
Ulster Defence Association
Kerr made his home on the TaughmonaghTaughmonagh
Taughmonagh is a small housing estate in South West Belfast, Northern Ireland, within the civil parishes of Drumbeg and Shankill, and barony of Belfast Upper. When the area was first built, the houses consisted of very basic, small, prefabricated aluminium bungalows. The area was regenerated and...
estate in the south-west of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. From this centre of UDA activity Kerr established his power base as South Belfast brigadier. The position had been held by John McMichael
John McMichael
John "Big John" McMichael was a leading Northern Irish loyalist who rose to become the most prominent figure within the Ulster Defence Association as the Deputy Commander and leader of its South Belfast Brigade. He was also commander of the organisation's cover name, the "Ulster Freedom Fighters"...
until he was killed in 1987 when Jackie McDonald
Jackie McDonald
John "Jackie" McDonald is a senior Northern Irish loyalist and the incumbent Ulster Defence Association brigadier for South Belfast, having been promoted to the rank by former UDA commander Andy Tyrie in 1988, following John McMichael's killing by the Provisional IRA in December 1987...
was chosen as McMichael's replacement by Andy Tyrie
Andy Tyrie
Andrew "Andy" Tyrie is an Ulster loyalist and served as commander of the Ulster Defence Association during much of its early history...
. McDonald was not trusted by the rest of the leadership however and he was removed less than a year later following his arrest for extortion, allowing Kerr to become the new brigadier. Kerr was on good terms with Johnny Adair
Johnny Adair
Jonathan Adair, better known as Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is the former leader of the "C Company", 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade of the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" . This was a cover name used by the Ulster Defence Association , an Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation...
, and in July 1992 he provided a bolt-hole in Taughmonagh from which Adair and his men were to launch an attack on PIRA
Pira
Pira may refer to:* Pira, Victoria, locality in Victoria, Australia* Pira, Tarragona, Spain* Pira District, Huaraz Province, Peru* Pira, Peru, capital of Pira District* Provisional Irish Republican Army...
commander Brian Gillen
Brian Gillen
Brian "Ginger" Gillen is a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and also a member of the IRA Army Council....
's Finaghy Road North home. The attack did not take place however as the C Company unit had been observed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
since leaving the Shankill Road and were all subsequently arrested.
In the spring of 1991 the UDA aligned with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and its subsidiary group, the Red Hand Commando to establish the Combined Loyalist Military Command
Combined Loyalist Military Command
The Combined Loyalist Military Command was an umbrella body for loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland set up in the early 1990s, recalling the earlier Ulster Army Council and Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee....
(CLMC). This was a group designed to co-ordinate military activity and hold ad hoc discussions about political strategy. Liaison officers were appointed to the new body by each of the three groups and Kerr was chosen as the UDA's military representative. Each group also appointed a political liaison officer with Kerr joined by Ray Smallwoods
Ray Smallwoods
Raymond "Ray" Smallwoods was a Northern Ireland politician and sometime leader of the Ulster Democratic Party. A leading member of John McMichael's south Belfast Brigade of the Ulster Defence Association , Smallwoods later served as a leading adviser to the UDA's Inner Council...
in this function.
In early 1994 the UDA's Inner Council was made up of its six brigadiers - Kerr for South Belfast, Adair for West Belfast
UDA West Belfast Brigade
The UDA West Belfast Brigade is the section of the Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Defence Association based in the western quarter of Belfast in the Greater Shankill area...
, Tom Reid for North Belfast, Gary Matthews for East Belfast, Billy McFarland for County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
and north County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
and Joe English
Joe English (loyalist)
Joe English is a former Ulster loyalist activist. English was a leading figure in both the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Democratic Party and was instrumental in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace process. He is a native of the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey, Northern...
for Southeast Antrim
UDA South East Antrim Brigade
The UDA South East Antrim Brigade was one of the six paramilitaries of the Ulster Defence Association . It operated in County Antrim, mainly in Newtownabbey, Larne and Antrim. The Guardian has identified it as "one of the most dangerous factions"...
. At the time English was attempting to build support for a ceasefire declaration by the Combined Loyalist Military Command. In this endeavour he was supported Reid and Matthews but opposed vehemently by Adair. Along with McFarland, Kerr represented a middle group who demonstrated general agreement with English but also expressed sympathy for Adair's position that a recent upturn in UDA activity was winning the struggle against the IRA for them. For his part Kerr was sympathetic to the adoption of a "doomsday" scenario in which Ireland would be repartitioned
Repartition of Ireland
The repartition of Ireland has been suggested as a possible solution to the Troubles. It implies that the essential problem was that the partition of Ireland was gerrymandered, and as a result Northern Ireland contains a large Irish nationalist minority...
with Catholics sent to the western bank of the River Bann
River Bann
The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland, the total length being 80 miles . The river winds its way from the south east corner of Northern Ireland to the north west coast, pausing in the middle to widen into the enormous Lough Neagh...
or an enclave in West Belfast with both areas given over the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The rest of Northern Ireland would become an autonomous region within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Split from the UDA
Kerr lost faith in the Northern Ireland peace processNorthern Ireland peace process
The peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a...
following the 1995 publication of the Framewroks document that preceded the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
, as he saw this document as bringing about a united Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
by stealth. Kerr became strongly disenchanted with the strategy of the Ulster Democratic Party
Ulster Democratic Party
The Ulster Democratic Party was a small loyalist political party in Northern Ireland. It was established in June 1981 as the Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party by the Ulster Defence Association to replace their New Ulster Political Research Group...
and argued that they, and their UVF-linked allies in the Progressive Unionist Party
Progressive Unionist Party
The Progressive Unionist Party is a small unionist political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed from the Independent Unionist Group operating in the Shankill area of Belfast, becoming the PUP in 1979...
, were simply being used by the British government in order to get Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
into a devolved government.
Seeking to begin an internal campaign against the agreement Kerr initially targeted the UDP, having supporters write "Ulster Drugs Party" on the walls of The Village area of Donegall Road
Donegall Road
The Donegall Road runs from Shaftesbury Square in Belfast city centre to the Falls Road in west Belfast. It is bisected by the Westlink, and the largest part of the road, prior to the Westlink junction, is predominantly unionist...
, a stronghold of the South Belfast Brigade. Soon Kerr ramped up his approach by giving interviews to the press in which he called for the development of a new strategy opposed to the Frameworks and a possible return to violence. On 2 June 1995 nine UDA prisoners, including Greysteel massacre
Greysteel massacre
The Greysteel massacre took place on the evening of 30 October 1993 in Greysteel, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Three members of the Ulster Defence Association , a loyalist paramilitary group, attacked a crowded pub with firearms, killing eight civilians and wounding thirteen...
perpetrators Torrens Knight
Torrens Knight
Torrens Knight is a Northern Ireland loyalist and alleged police informer, who belonged to the "North Antrim & Londonderry Brigade" of the Ulster Defence Association . He was part of the UDA unit that carried out the Greysteel massacre where eight people lost their lives...
and Stephen Irwin, came out in support of Kerr and were eventually moved to another wing of the Maze prison under orders from Johnny Adair, who was on remand at the time and was at that point still committed to the UDP's strategy.
Kerr became a regular face at the Drumcree conflict
Drumcree conflict
The Drumcree conflict or Drumcree standoff is an ongoing dispute over a yearly parade in the town of Portadown, Northern Ireland. The dispute is between the Orange Order and local residents. The residents are currently represented by the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition ; before 1995 they were...
where he was often in the company of Billy Wright
Billy Wright (loyalist)
William Stephen "Billy" Wright was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the period of violent religious/political conflict known as "The Troubles". He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s...
; before long the two were closely linked due to their shared distaste for the strategy of the loyaiist political parties. As part of the protests a mechanical digger appeared on the loyalist side and rumours circulated that the machine was armour plated and was to be driven at the security forces. The same rumours also put Kerr in the driving seat of the vehicle. Pictures were broadcast in 1996 of the two men directing rioters on Drumcree hill against the security forces, and the CLMC decided to act against the pair after Wright's ally Clifford McKeown shot and killed a Catholic taxi driver on 1 July. The UDA acted swiftly to expel Kerr and his supporters from their membership. Indeed they even sent a hit squad to his new base in Cookstown
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
; although this attempt at assassination failed when they were intercepted by the RUC. The UVF however were more recalcitrant about expelling Wright which almost caused a rift until the UVF accepted the UDA's point of view and expelled Wright. Both men were placed under death sentences. Jackie McDonald replaced Kerr, becoming for the second time, leader of the South Belfast Brigade.
Loyalist Volunteer Force
Kerr and Wright however defied the ban and instead pooled their followers into a new anti-peace process organisation to be called the Loyalist Volunteer ForceLoyalist Volunteer Force
The Loyalist Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed by Billy Wright in 1996 when he and the Portadown unit of the Ulster Volunteer Force's Mid-Ulster Brigade was stood down by the UVF leadership. He had been the commander of the Mid-Ulster Brigade. The...
. This group won the support of Jackie Mahood, a former UVF prisoner and PUP spokesman, who wanted to Wright to try to take control of the UVF. Mahood also sought to bring in Jim Spence
Jim Spence (loyalist)
Jim Spence is a Northern Irish former loyalist activist. Spence became notorious for his time in the Ulster Defence Association , serving two spells as Brigadier in West Belfast...
from the West Belfast UDA, although he declined due to his mistrust of Wright. The new group however did win the support of Ulster Independence Movement
Ulster Independence Movement
The Ulster Independence Movement was an Ulster nationalist political party founded on 17 November 1988. The group emerged from the Ulster Clubs, after a series of 15 public meetings across Northern Ireland...
activists Kenny McClinton
Kenny McClinton
Kenneth McClinton is a Northern Irish pastor and sometime political activist. During his early years McClinton was an active member of the Ulster Defence Association...
, Clifford Peoples and some other Protestant fundamentalists who disagreed with the paths being taken by mainstream loyalism. Red Hand Commando dissident Frankie Curry
Frankie Curry
Frankie Curry nicknamed "Pigface", was an Ulster loyalist who was involved with a number of paramilitary groups during his long career...
also expressed his support for the new group although he declined to join, instead creating his own flag of convenience, the Red Hand Defenders
Red Hand Defenders
The Red Hand Defenders is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1998 by loyalists who opposed the Belfast Agreement and the loyalist ceasefires. Its members were drawn mostly from the Ulster Defence Association and Loyalist Volunteer Force...
, as a cover for his own activity as well as that of any dissident who chose to use the name. The formal judgement of the CLMC, which expelled Wright and Kerr and passed death sentences on them officially, completed the split. Kerr joined Wright, head of the local Orange Order Harold Gracey and Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
MP William McCrea
William McCrea (politician)
Robert Thomas William McCrea is a politician from Northern Ireland, and a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.-Career:...
on a platform in Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
hours before the deadline for him to leave Northern Ireland or face death was due to expire. A bomb was thrown through the window of Kerr's parents' house as soon as the deadline expired.
Within the LVF Kerr quickly became close to Mark "Swinger" Fulton
Mark Fulton (loyalist)
Mark "Swinger" Fulton was a Northern Irish loyalist. He was the leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force , having taken over its command following the killing of the paramilitary organisation's founder, Billy Wright, in the Maze Prison in 1997 by members of the Irish National Liberation Army .Fulton...
and the two worked together in order to try to convince Wright of the desirability of a closer relationship with the UDA. Seeking to demonstrate the capabilites of the new group, Kerr invited the media to an LVF show of strength at Annahilt
Annahilt
Annahilt is a village in north County Down, Northern Ireland. It is 7.5 miles south of Lisburn, and about 14 miles south-west of Belfast, on the main road between Ballynahinch and Hillsborough. In the 2001 Census the village had a population of 1,148...
in autumn 1996 but the publicity proved counterproductive as the RUC arrived and arrested everybody at the scene. Kerr was held on remand in HMP Maghaberry after the incident.
Kerr was not released from prison until 1998 when he initially settled in the LVF stronghold of Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
, claiming that his time in paramilitarism was over. Soon afterwards however Kerr fled the town under cover of darkness and left with his family for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Fulton, who had succeeded to the leadership of the LVF following Wright's 1997 killing by the INLA
Irish National Liberation Army
The Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
, was pursuing Kerr's earlier idea of a close relationship with the UDA. He felt, however, that Kerr, who was still seen as a dissident by the UDA, was damaging the prospects of that happening and as such Kerr was out of favour with the new LVF leader. The UDA's South Belfast brigade claimed that Kerr had been working for Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
although this denied by the UVF's miliary liaison officer on the CLMC who claimed that, despite being opposed to the LVF, he believed that Kerr was a "true believer" and that the informer tag was simply "black propaganda".
Kerr's current whereabouts are unknown; although in 2009 UDA commander Jackie McDonald stated that Kerr, along with Johnny Adair and John White
John White (loyalist)
John White is a former leading loyalist in Northern Ireland. He was sometimes known by the nickname 'Coco'. White was a leading figure in the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association and, following a prison sentence for murder, entered politics as a central figure in the Ulster Democratic...
, could never return to Northern Ireland without being killed.