Ulster Constitution Defence Committee
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Constitution Defence Committee (UCDC) was established in Northern Ireland
in April 1966. The UCDC was the governing body of the loyalist
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
(UPV). The UCDC coordinated parades, counter demonstrations, and paramilitary
activities, in order to maintain the status quo of the government, lead a campaign against the reforms of Terence O'Neill
, and stymie the civil rights movement.
, Terence O'Neill
, who began his term in 1963, was trying to modernize industry to stave off an economic depression. This modernization brought foreign industry to Northern Ireland and threatened the Protestant, Unionist, power base. The Unionists held 90 percent of the jobs but foreign industries were hiring Catholics, thus reducing the strength of the Protestants. In 1965, Terence O’Neill also invited and met with Sean Lemass, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland
, to promote economic cooperation. The Unionists regarded the Republic of Ireland as the enemy and a report from Brian McConnell
, the Home Affairs Minister, said there was a new IRA campaign of subversion.
Ian Paisley
, a fundamentalist Presbyterian who was politically active, joined the Orange Order and supported the Unionist Party platform. The fundamentalists were associated with ‘traditional Unionism,’ that supported the Protestant power base with its advantages in jobs, housing, and political power. The ecumenical, liberal movement within Protestantism was thought to be aligning with the political elite and with the Catholics, thereby threatening the advantages enjoyed by working-class Protestants. Ian Paisley’s attempt to put four candidates into an election ended up with him withdrawing them when he identified the need for an electoral machine to obtain votes in the Westminster general election.(Boulton 34)
Noel Doherty
, a member of Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
since 1956, was also a printer who with Paisley formed the Puritan Printing Company and created the first edition of the Protestant Telegraph
in May 1966. Doherty was a great admirer or Gusty Spence
, a member of the Ulster Protestant Action. Spence was a much harder character who recreated the Ulster Volunteer Force
(UVF) in March 1966, just prior to the creation of the UCDC. Doherty would propose the political vehicle Ian Paisley needed but Doherty’s motives were more aligned with Spence than with Paisley. Doherty used his position of trust with Paisley and began to organise a network of the ‘Ulster Protestant Volunteer Corps’ about two months prior to the creation of the UCDC.
(UPV), which was a loyalist paramilitary group, into local branches, which were called divisions. The UPV was under the governance of the UCDC, binding it by a constitution which condemned illegal violence.(Boulton 38). Only Protestants were allowed to join and Roman Catholics along with members of the RUC were automatically excluded.
Despite the UCDC’s disassociation with violence and illegal activities, divisions of the UPV under control of the UCDC were linked with petrol bomb attacks on Catholic schools, shops, bars and homes in the Spring of 1966.(Coogan 49,50) The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigated. Five of these attacks were in April and the 1st week of May.
Noel Doherty facilitated the Loughgall division of the UPV and Gusty Spence
’s Shankill Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) working together.(Boulton 41) Doherty introduced a quarryman who supplied the explosive, gelignite and detonators to members of the UVF. (Boulton 42)
A murder outside a bar known as the Malvern Arms was investigated and the UCDC, led by Ian Paisley was implicated but he denied any knowledge. Gusty Spence, Hugh McClean and Robert Williamson from the UVF, shot four barmen they presumed were IRA men. Off duty RUC men were in the back room of the bar and arrests were made. The three gunmen were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Terrence O’Neill banned the UVF under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act of 1932. The UCDC and the UPV were not banned but O’Neill made many attempts to tie the organizations together, implying that Ian Paisley was the leader. Ian Paisley denied any connection with the UVF. He and James McConnell, the vice-chairman of the UCDC, expelled Doherty from the UCDC.(Boulton 54) Four days after the murder conviction, Noel Doherty was sentenced to two years on an explosive charge. The quarryman who supplied the explosives, Jim Marshall was fined £200.
Ian Paisley was sent to jail on 19 July 1966 for refusing to sign a pledge of good behaviour after the Presbyterian General Assembly Riot. As a result, protests, parades and riots ensued. On Paisley’s release on 19 October , his supporters celebrated all over Protestant Belfast. A public opinion poll indicated that 200,000 of Ulster’s million Protestants considered themselves as potential Paisley supporters.
Early clashes between Catholics and Protestants were reported on 7 March 1967.
The first civil rights march was scheduled for August 24, 1968. It was supposed to proceed from Coalisland to Dungannon by going through Market Square and the town centre. The UCDC/UPC convinced the police to re-route the march through the Catholic part of town. The marchers were met at the outskirts of Dungannon by the police and a large group made up mainly by the Ulster Protestant Volunteers. The police managed to keep both groups apart but were abused by both sides. At the conclusion of the demonstration, the executives of the UCDC thanked the UPV members for their support and stated that, “The policy of the UCDC, through the UPC, has been and will continue to be to confront the enemy at every opportunity.” (Boulton 69)
The next civil rights march was banned as it was supposed to parade through part of Derry within the city walls. This was considered ‘sacred’ ground by the Protestants and not only the UPV but by all the unionists and the police. The marchers ignored the order and were confronted by the RUC riot squad where 90 marchers and 18 police were injured.
“Meanwhile, students at Queens University here announced they would hold a rally of about 1,500 people to protest reported police brutality. A rival meeting was planned by the Ulster (Northern Ireland) Constitution Defense Committee.”
Another NICRA demonstration in Belfast on October 9, 1968 was blocked by a crowd led by Ian Paisley. Derry was the site of numerous other civil rights marches and counter marches by the UCDC/UPV. The battles were having a political impact and Terrence O’Neill was a central figure in supporting the reforms to try and control the situation between the civil rights groups and the UCDC/UPV along with other Protestant groups.
, Terence O'Neill
, in the late 1960s.(Coogan 51)
The reforms requested were as follows:
O’Neill proposed reforms that resembled those requested but the proposal toned down the requests leaving neither side satisfied. The UPV issued a statement that inflamed the situation.
O’Neill resigned in April, 1969 after he was nearly defeated in his area by Ian Paisley.
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...
in April 1966. The UCDC was the governing body of the 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...
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
The Ulster Protestant Volunteers were a loyalist and fundamentalist Christian paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. They were active between 1966 and 1969 and closely linked to the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee , established by Ian Paisley in 1966.The UPV launched a bombing campaign to...
(UPV). The UCDC coordinated parades, counter demonstrations, and paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
activities, in order to maintain the status quo of the government, lead a campaign against the reforms of Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
, and stymie the civil rights movement.
Background
The fourth Prime Minister of Northern IrelandPrime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
, Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
, who began his term in 1963, was trying to modernize industry to stave off an economic depression. This modernization brought foreign industry to Northern Ireland and threatened the Protestant, Unionist, power base. The Unionists held 90 percent of the jobs but foreign industries were hiring Catholics, thus reducing the strength of the Protestants. In 1965, Terence O’Neill also invited and met with Sean Lemass, the Prime Minister of 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,...
, to promote economic cooperation. The Unionists regarded the Republic of Ireland as the enemy and a report from Brian McConnell
Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell
Robert William Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell was an Ulster Unionist MP in the Northern Ireland House of Commons....
, the Home Affairs Minister, said there was a new IRA campaign of subversion.
Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
, a fundamentalist Presbyterian who was politically active, joined the Orange Order and supported the Unionist Party platform. The fundamentalists were associated with ‘traditional Unionism,’ that supported the Protestant power base with its advantages in jobs, housing, and political power. The ecumenical, liberal movement within Protestantism was thought to be aligning with the political elite and with the Catholics, thereby threatening the advantages enjoyed by working-class Protestants. Ian Paisley’s attempt to put four candidates into an election ended up with him withdrawing them when he identified the need for an electoral machine to obtain votes in the Westminster general election.(Boulton 34)
Noel Doherty
Noel Doherty
Noel Doherty was a Northern Irish loyalist activist who was close to Ian Paisley during his early years in politics. He served as leader of the Ulster Protestant Volunteers and was imprisoned for his involvement in procuring explosives for that movement.-Early years:As a young man in school...
, a member of Ian Paisley’s Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
The Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
since 1956, was also a printer who with Paisley formed the Puritan Printing Company and created the first edition of the Protestant Telegraph
Protestant Telegraph
The Protestant Telegraph was a Northern Irish newspaper founded by Noel Doherty and Ian Paisley on February 13th 1966. It was noted for its Protestant fundamentalism and its attacks on the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland and the moderates within the Ulster Unionist Party, as typified...
in May 1966. Doherty was a great admirer or Gusty Spence
Gusty Spence
Augustus Andrew "Gusty" Spence was a leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force and a leading loyalist politician. One of the first UVF members to be convicted of murder, Spence was a senior figure in the organisation for over a decade but later renounced violence and joined the Progressive Unionist...
, a member of the Ulster Protestant Action. Spence was a much harder character who recreated the Ulster Volunteer Force
Ulster Volunteer Force
The Ulster Volunteer Force is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in late 1965 or early 1966 and named after the Ulster Volunteer Force of 1913. The group's volunteers undertook an armed campaign of almost thirty years during The Troubles...
(UVF) in March 1966, just prior to the creation of the UCDC. Doherty would propose the political vehicle Ian Paisley needed but Doherty’s motives were more aligned with Spence than with Paisley. Doherty used his position of trust with Paisley and began to organise a network of the ‘Ulster Protestant Volunteer Corps’ about two months prior to the creation of the UCDC.
Organization
Ian Paisley met with fellow loyalists including Noel Doherty in April, 1966 where he discussed a proposal by Doherty to create the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee. Paisley was made the Chairman and a "12-man united society of Protestant patriots pledged by all lawful methods to uphold and maintain the constitution of Northern Ireland" (also known as "the 12 disciples”) was created. Doherty was made the Secretary.(Boulton 34-36)UCDC Debut
The public debut of the UCDC took place on the Shankill Road (West Belfast) on April 17, 1966, in the form of a parade led by Ian Paisley and Noel Doherty. Members of both Doherty’s and Spence’s newly created organizations participated in the parade and were publicly thanked by Paisley.Organizing the UPV
In May 1966, the UCDC decided to organize Doherty’s Ulster Protestant VolunteersUlster Protestant Volunteers
The Ulster Protestant Volunteers were a loyalist and fundamentalist Christian paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. They were active between 1966 and 1969 and closely linked to the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee , established by Ian Paisley in 1966.The UPV launched a bombing campaign to...
(UPV), which was a loyalist paramilitary group, into local branches, which were called divisions. The UPV was under the governance of the UCDC, binding it by a constitution which condemned illegal violence.(Boulton 38). Only Protestants were allowed to join and Roman Catholics along with members of the RUC were automatically excluded.
Activities
Noel Doherty made it difficult to separate the activities of the UCDC/UPV from the activities of the UVF. He asked members of the UVF and the Armagh Free Presbyterian Church to attend a meeting where the Loughgall division of the UPV would be created. During the meeting both guns and gelignite were discussed, along with reprisals against the IRA. Doherty chaired the meeting but Ian Paisley was not there, and later denied any knowledge, which was supported by Doherty.Despite the UCDC’s disassociation with violence and illegal activities, divisions of the UPV under control of the UCDC were linked with petrol bomb attacks on Catholic schools, shops, bars and homes in the Spring of 1966.(Coogan 49,50) The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) investigated. Five of these attacks were in April and the 1st week of May.
Noel Doherty facilitated the Loughgall division of the UPV and Gusty Spence
Gusty Spence
Augustus Andrew "Gusty" Spence was a leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force and a leading loyalist politician. One of the first UVF members to be convicted of murder, Spence was a senior figure in the organisation for over a decade but later renounced violence and joined the Progressive Unionist...
’s Shankill Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) working together.(Boulton 41) Doherty introduced a quarryman who supplied the explosive, gelignite and detonators to members of the UVF. (Boulton 42)
Disassociation with the UVF
Paisley organized a picket against a liberal church parade on April 6, 1966. He felt that the church supported Terrence O’Neill’s political viewpoint which Paisley opposed. The parade went through a catholic area and a riot broke out (the Presbyterian General Assembly riot). Four policemen were badly injured which began an open hostility between the RUC and Paisley. The Orange Order, the liberal Presbyterian Church and official unionism disassociated themselves from Paisley and said his organizations "represent a definace of lawful authority no less serious in essence that that of the IRA."A murder outside a bar known as the Malvern Arms was investigated and the UCDC, led by Ian Paisley was implicated but he denied any knowledge. Gusty Spence, Hugh McClean and Robert Williamson from the UVF, shot four barmen they presumed were IRA men. Off duty RUC men were in the back room of the bar and arrests were made. The three gunmen were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Terrence O’Neill banned the UVF under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act of 1932. The UCDC and the UPV were not banned but O’Neill made many attempts to tie the organizations together, implying that Ian Paisley was the leader. Ian Paisley denied any connection with the UVF. He and James McConnell, the vice-chairman of the UCDC, expelled Doherty from the UCDC.(Boulton 54) Four days after the murder conviction, Noel Doherty was sentenced to two years on an explosive charge. The quarryman who supplied the explosives, Jim Marshall was fined £200.
Ian Paisley was sent to jail on 19 July 1966 for refusing to sign a pledge of good behaviour after the Presbyterian General Assembly Riot. As a result, protests, parades and riots ensued. On Paisley’s release on 19 October , his supporters celebrated all over Protestant Belfast. A public opinion poll indicated that 200,000 of Ulster’s million Protestants considered themselves as potential Paisley supporters.
Early clashes between Catholics and Protestants were reported on 7 March 1967.
Counter Demonstrations
The Northern Ireland civil rights movement was founded in February, 1967. It was made up from three distinct social groups: the Catholic middle class; the students of Queen’s University; and the working class in the Catholic ghettos. It also included the remnants of the old IRA. The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA), chaired by Mrs. Betty Sinclair was slow starting. When it did start marching, the result was bloody clashes with the various Protestant organizations. (Boulton 66-67)The first civil rights march was scheduled for August 24, 1968. It was supposed to proceed from Coalisland to Dungannon by going through Market Square and the town centre. The UCDC/UPC convinced the police to re-route the march through the Catholic part of town. The marchers were met at the outskirts of Dungannon by the police and a large group made up mainly by the Ulster Protestant Volunteers. The police managed to keep both groups apart but were abused by both sides. At the conclusion of the demonstration, the executives of the UCDC thanked the UPV members for their support and stated that, “The policy of the UCDC, through the UPC, has been and will continue to be to confront the enemy at every opportunity.” (Boulton 69)
The next civil rights march was banned as it was supposed to parade through part of Derry within the city walls. This was considered ‘sacred’ ground by the Protestants and not only the UPV but by all the unionists and the police. The marchers ignored the order and were confronted by the RUC riot squad where 90 marchers and 18 police were injured.
“Meanwhile, students at Queens University here announced they would hold a rally of about 1,500 people to protest reported police brutality. A rival meeting was planned by the Ulster (Northern Ireland) Constitution Defense Committee.”
Another NICRA demonstration in Belfast on October 9, 1968 was blocked by a crowd led by Ian Paisley. Derry was the site of numerous other civil rights marches and counter marches by the UCDC/UPV. The battles were having a political impact and Terrence O’Neill was a central figure in supporting the reforms to try and control the situation between the civil rights groups and the UCDC/UPV along with other Protestant groups.
Reforms
The UCDC was used to lead the campaign against the reforms of the Prime Minister of Northern IrelandPrime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
, Terence O'Neill
Terence O'Neill
Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
, in the late 1960s.(Coogan 51)
The reforms requested were as follows:
- Reform the voting precincts call Derry wards.
- One-man, one-vote
- A reformed system of housing allocations
- Abolition of the Special Powers Act
- Appointment of an Ombudsman
O’Neill proposed reforms that resembled those requested but the proposal toned down the requests leaving neither side satisfied. The UPV issued a statement that inflamed the situation.
Bombings
A series of bomb attacks against local power and water distribution were attributed to the UCDC/UPC and the outlawed UVF. The attacks were considered to cause civil disruption with the result to force Terrence O’Neill to resign. Court trials found most of the defendants not-guilty so the attacks could not be linked to one or more Protestant extremist groups.O’Neill resigned in April, 1969 after he was nearly defeated in his area by Ian Paisley.
External links
- Anthony Babington,"Military Intervention in Britain: From the ...", 1990, Google Book Search
- Margaret O'Callaghan - Dr. O'Donnell, "The Northern Ireland Government, the 'Paisleyite Movement' and Ulster Unionism in 1966", Informaworld, Irish Political Studies, Volume 21, Issue 2 June 2006 , pages 203 - 222
- Brian Dooley,"Black and Green: The Fight for Civil Rights in Northern Ireland...", 1998, Google Book Search
- Jacqueline Dana, "A Brief History of Orangeism in Ireland", 1998, Larkspirit.com