Ulster Independence Party
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Independence Party was an Ulster nationalist
political party
.
The group was founded in October 1977 by the supporters of a document issued the previous year, Towards an Independent Ulster. The group initially claimed the support of the paramilitary
Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee
, but soon faded from view.
One of the party's leading members was John McKeague
, who in 1979 became a founder and deputy leader of the Ulster Independence Association. McKeague was killed by the INLA
in 1982, by which point the group appears to have been moribund.
Ulster nationalism
Ulster nationalism is the name given to a school of thought in Northern Irish politics that seeks the independence of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom without becoming part of the Republic of Ireland, thereby becoming an independent sovereign state separate from England, Scotland and Wales...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
The group was founded in October 1977 by the supporters of a document issued the previous year, Towards an Independent Ulster. The group initially claimed the support of the 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....
Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee
Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee
The Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee was set up in 1974 in the aftermath of the Ulster Workers Council Strike, in order to facilitate meetings and policy co-ordination between the Ulster Workers Council, the loyalist paramilitaries and the political representatives of...
, but soon faded from view.
One of the party's leading members was John McKeague
John McKeague
John McKeague was a prominent Ulster loyalist who founded the paramilitary group the Red Hand Commando in 1972. Authors on the Troubles in Northern Ireland claim that McKeague, a homosexual, was a paedophile who abused young boys during the Kincora Boys' Home scandal and was a long-time agent of...
, who in 1979 became a founder and deputy leader of the Ulster Independence Association. McKeague was killed 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....
in 1982, by which point the group appears to have been moribund.