Editing Ulster Volunteer Force (section)

===Post-ceasefire activities===

====1994–2005====
More militant members of the UVF who disagreed with the ceasefire, broke away to form the [[Loyalist Volunteer Force]] (LVF), led by [[Billy Wright (loyalist)|Billy Wright]]. This development came soon after the UVF's Brigade Staff in Belfast had stood down Wright and the Portadown unit of the Mid-Ulster Brigade, on 2 August 1996, for the killing of a Catholic taxi driver near Lurgan during Drumcree disturbances.<ref name="UVF leadership">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uvf-disbands-unit-linked-to-taxi-murder-1307867.html "UVF disbands unit linked to taxi murder"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214334/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uvf-disbands-unit-linked-to-taxi-murder-1307867.html |date=3 March 2016 }} ''The Independent'', 3 August 1996; Retrieved 18 October 2009</ref>

[[File:Carrickfergus.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A UVF mural in [[Carrickfergus]]]]

There followed years of violence between the two organisations. In January 2000 UVF Mid-Ulster brigadier [[Richard Jameson (loyalist)|Richard Jameson]] was shot dead by a LVF gunman which led to an escalation of the UVF/LVF feud. The UVF was also clashing with the UDA in the summer of 2000. The feud with the UDA ended in December following seven deaths. Veteran anti-UVF campaigner [[Raymond McCord]], whose son, Raymond Jr., a Protestant, was beaten to death by UVF men in 1997, estimates the UVF has killed more than thirty people since its 1994 ceasefire, most of them Protestants.{{citation needed|date=October 2009}} The feud between the UVF and the LVF erupted again in the summer of 2005. The UVF killed four men in Belfast and trouble ended only when the LVF announced that it was disbanding in October of that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4393664.stm |date=31 October 2005 |access-date=29 July 2009 |publisher=BBC News |title='Cautious welcome' for LVF move |archive-date=16 December 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216130355/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4393664.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 14 September 2005, following [[2005 Belfast riots|serious loyalist rioting]] during which dozens of shots were fired at riot police and the British Army, the [[Northern Ireland Secretary]] [[Peter Hain]] announced that the [[Her Majesty's Government|British government]] no longer recognised the UVF ceasefire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4243652.stm |date=14 September 2005 |access-date=29 July 2009 |publisher=BBC News |title=Hain says UVF ceasefire is over |archive-date=12 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060612231400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4243652.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2006–2010====
On 12 February 2006, ''[[The Observer]]'' reported that the UVF was to disband by the end of 2006. The newspaper also reported that the group refused to decommission its weapons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1708038,00.html |title=The Observer |publisher=Observer.guardian.co.uk |date=12 February 2006 |access-date=29 July 2009 |location=London |first=Henry |last=McDonald |archive-date=13 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313121852/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1708038,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 2 September 2006, [[BBC News]] reported the UVF might be intending to re-enter dialogue with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, with a view to decommissioning of their weapons. This move came as the organisation held high-level discussions about its future.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5306670.stm |date=2 September 2006 |access-date=29 July 2009 |publisher=BBC News |title=Empey heralds possible UVF move |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923161229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5306670.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 3 May 2007, following recent negotiations between the [[Progressive Unionist Party]] (PUP) and Irish [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] and with [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] (PSNI) Chief Constable [[Sir Hugh Orde]], the UVF made a statement that they would transform to a "non-military, civilianised" organisation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618365.stm |title=UVF Statement |publisher=BBC News |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=17 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917171448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618365.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> This was to take effect from midnight. They also stated that they would retain their weaponry but put them beyond reach of normal volunteers. Their weapons stock-piles are to be retained under the watch of the UVF leadership.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0503/uvf.html |title=RTÉ News – Statement Imminent |publisher=RTÉ.ie |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602205850/http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0503/uvf.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618177.stm |title=Statement Imminent |publisher=BBC News |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818042245/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618177.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618371.stm |title=Statement Released |publisher=BBC News |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009024135/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6618371.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2008, the UVF was accused of involvement in [[vigilante]] action against alleged criminals in Belfast.<ref>Henry McDonald [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2239941,00.html Law and order Belfast-style as two men are forced on a 'walk of shame'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116095312/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2239941,00.html |date=16 January 2008 }}, ''The Observer'', 13 January 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref>

In 2008, a loyalist splinter group calling itself the "Real UVF" emerged briefly to make threats against Sinn Féin in County Fermanagh.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sf-condemns-real-uvf-death-threats-1.828026 |title=SF condemns 'Real UVF' death threats |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=23 March 2019 |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928000739/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sf-condemns-real-uvf-death-threats-1.828026 |url-status=live }}</ref><!--Incorrect link removed>-->

In the twentieth IMC report, the group was said to be continuing to put its weapons "beyond reach", (in the group's own words) to downsize, and reduce the criminality of the group. The report added that individuals, some current and some former members, in the group have, without the orders from above, continued with "localised recruitment", and although some continued to try and acquire weapons, including a senior member, most forms of crime had fallen, including shootings and assaults. The group concluded a general acceptance of the need to decommission, though there was no conclusive proof of moves towards this end.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/documents/uploads/Twentieth%20Report.pdf |title=412882_HC 1112_Text |access-date=29 July 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218015532/http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/documents/uploads/Twentieth%20Report.pdf |archive-date=18 December 2008}}</ref>

In June 2009 the UVF formally decommissioned their weapons in front of independent witnesses as a formal statement of decommissioning was read by [[Dawn Purvis]] and [[Billy Hutchinson]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8121842.stm 'Loyalist Weapons "put beyond use"'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923161239/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8121842.stm |date=23 September 2021 }} – BBC News, 27 June 2009</ref> The IICD confirmed that "substantial quantities of firearms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices" had been decommissioned and that for the UVF and RHC, decommissioning had been completed.<ref>[http://www.nio.gov.uk/report_of_the_independent_international_commission_on_decommissioning.pdf 'Report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218162439/http://www.nio.gov.uk/report_of_the_independent_international_commission_on_decommissioning.pdf |date=18 February 2010}} – IICD, 4 September 2009</ref>

====2010–2019====
The UVF was blamed for the shotgun killing of expelled RHC member Bobby Moffett on the Shankill Road on the afternoon of 28 May 2010, in front of passers-by including children.<ref name="moffett">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101019203637/http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/documents/uploads/Twenty-Fourth%20Report.pdf Twenty-Fourth Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission]}}</ref> The [[Independent Monitoring Commission]] stated Moffett was killed by UVF members acting with the sanction of the leadership.<ref name="moffett" /> The [[Progressive Unionist Party]]'s condemnation, and [[Dawn Purvis]] and other leaders' resignations as a response to the Moffett shooting, were also noted.<ref name="moffett" /> Eleven months later, a man was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of the UVF's alleged second-in-command [[Harry Stockman (loyalist)|Harry Stockman]], described by the ''[[Belfast Telegraph]]'' as a "senior Loyalist figure".<ref name="btmoffett">{{Cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/man-critical-after-stabbing-in-tesco-28609640.html |title=Man critical after stabbing in Tesco |newspaper=Belfasttelegraph |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712175828/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/man-critical-after-stabbing-in-tesco-28609640.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bbcmoffett">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20353108 |title=David Madine admits trying to kill loyalist Harry Stockman |work=BBC News |date=16 November 2012 |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712162824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20353108 |url-status=live }}</ref> Fifty-year-old Stockman was stabbed more than 10 times in a supermarket in Belfast; the attack was believed to have been linked to the Moffett killing.<ref name="btmoffett" /><ref name="bbcmoffett" />

On 25–26 October 2010, the UVF was involved in rioting and disturbances in the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey with UVF gunmen seen on the streets at the time.<ref name="Rathcoole">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11636056 |publisher=BBC News |title=Police say UVF gunman seen in Rathcoole during trouble |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916150204/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11636056 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Moffett">{{cite news |author=28 15 May:49:41 BST 2010 |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/UVF-linked-to-brutal-killing.6328552.jp |title=UVF linked to brutal killing – Local |newspaper=News Letter |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-date=4 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804004100/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/UVF-linked-to-brutal-killing.6328552.jp |url-status=live }}</ref>

On the night of 20 June 2011, riots involving 500 people erupted in the [[Short Strand]] area of East [[Belfast]]. They were blamed by the PSNI on members of the UVF, who also said UVF guns had been used to try to kill police officers.<ref name=BoE>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/is-uvfrsquos-lsquobeast-in-the-eastrsquo-behind-new-wave-of-riots-16015101.html Is UVF’s ‘Beast in the East’ behind new wave of riots?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626033646/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/is-uvfrsquos-lsquobeast-in-the-eastrsquo-behind-new-wave-of-riots-16015101.html |date=26 June 2011 }}, ''[[Belfast Telegraph]]'', 23 June 2011</ref> The UVF leader in East Belfast, who is popularly known as the "Beast of the East" and "Ugly Doris" also known as by real name Stephen Matthews, ordered the attack on Catholic homes and a church in the Catholic enclave of the Short Strand. This was in retaliation for attacks on Loyalist homes the previous weekend and after a young girl was hit in the face with a brick by Republicans.<ref name=BoE/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/news/attack-on-girl-blamed-for-trouble-16015238.html |title=Attack on girl blamed for trouble |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020121943/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/community-telegraph/east-belfast/news/attack-on-girl-blamed-for-trouble-16015238.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A dissident Republican was arrested for "the attempted murder of police officers in east Belfast" after shots were fired upon the police.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13894198 |title=BBC News – Man held over East Belfast police murder bid |publisher=BBC News |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=1 September 2011 |archive-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828071749/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13894198 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2011, a UVF flag flying in [[Limavady]] was deemed legal by the PSNI after the police had received complaints about the flag from nationalist politicians.<ref>[http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/uvf_flag_is_legal_cops_1_2834359 UVF flag is legal-Cops] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133716/http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/uvf_flag_is_legal_cops_1_2834359 |date=7 July 2011 }} ''Derry Journal''</ref>

During the [[Belfast City Hall flag protests]] of 2012–13, senior UVF members were confirmed to have actively been involved in orchestrating violence and rioting against the PSNI and the Alliance Party throughout Northern Ireland during the weeks of disorder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u.tv/news/UVF-members-behind-flag-trouble/88468242-4c5a-4e07-a3c4-3dba8ad46ed4|title=UVF members 'behind flag trouble'|work=u.tv|access-date=20 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129151851/http://www.u.tv/news/UVF-members-behind-flag-trouble/88468242-4c5a-4e07-a3c4-3dba8ad46ed4|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Much of the UVF's orchestration was carried out by its senior members in East Belfast, where many attacks on the PSNI and on residents of the Short Strand enclave took place.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} There were also reports that UVF members fired shots at police lines during a protest.<ref name=McKittrick130107>{{cite news |last=McKittrick |first=David |date=7 January 2013 |title=Surge in Belfast violence blamed on resurgent UVF |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/surge-in-belfast-violence-blamed-on-resurgent-uvf-29011837.html |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055659/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/surge-in-belfast-violence-blamed-on-resurgent-uvf-29011837.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The high levels of orchestration by the leadership of the East Belfast UVF, and the alleged ignored orders from the main leaders of the UVF to stop the violence has led to fears that the East Belfast UVF has now become a separate loyalist paramilitary grouping which doesn't abide by the UVF ceasefire or the Northern Ireland Peace Process.<ref name=McAleese130111>{{cite news |last=McAleese |first=Deborah |date=11 January 2013 |title=The Beast from East Belfast could put an end to flags violence right now... but he won't |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/the-beast-from-east-belfast-could-put-an-end-to-flags-violence-right-now-but-he-wont-29013680.html |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=31 July 2014 |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052645/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/the-beast-from-east-belfast-could-put-an-end-to-flags-violence-right-now-but-he-wont-29013680.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/06/24/east-belfast-uvf-mission-accomplished/|title=East Belfast UVF: Mission Accomplished?|work=Slugger O'Toole|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129023640/http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/06/24/east-belfast-uvf-mission-accomplished/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2013, the policing board announced that the UVF was still heavily involved in gangsterism despite its ceasefire. Assistant chief constable Drew Harris in a statement said "The UVF are subject to an organised crime investigation as an organised crime group. The UVF very clearly have involvement in drug dealing, all forms of gangsterism, serious assaults, intimidation of the community."<ref name="BBC News" />

In November 2013, after a series of shootings and acts of intimidation by the UVF, Police Federation Chairman Terry Spence declared that the UVF ceasefire was no longer active. Spence told Radio Ulster that the UVF had been "engaged in murder, attempted murder of civilians, attempted murder of police officers. They have been engaged in orchestrating violence on our streets, and it's very clear to me that they are engaged in an array of mafia-style activities. "They are holding local communities to ransom. On the basis of that, we as a federation have called for the respecification of the UVF [stating that its ceasefire is over]."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/18/ulster-volunteer-force-ceasefire-police |title=Ulster Volunteer Force is no longer on ceasefire, police warn |author=Henry McDonald |work=The Guardian |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=20 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074149/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/18/ulster-volunteer-force-ceasefire-police |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2017, [[Gary Haggarty]], former UVF commander for north Belfast and south-east Antrim, pleaded guilty to 200 charges, including five murders.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40379903 |title=Gary Haggarty: Ex-senior loyalist pleads guilty to 200 terror charges |date=23 June 2017 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2017-06-23 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024162220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40379903 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 March 2019, eleven alleged UVF members were arrested during a total of 14 searches conducted in Belfast, [[Newtownards]] and [[Comber]] and the suspects, aged between 22 and 48, were taken into police custody for questioning. Officers from the PSNI's Paramilitary Crime Task Force also seized drugs, cash and expensive cars and jewellery in an operation carried out against the criminal activities of the UVF crime gang.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/police-seize-drugs-and-arrest-11-during-raids-on-east-belfast-uvf-37942445.html |title=Police seize drugs and arrest 11 during raids on east Belfast UVF |work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=2019-06-24 |archive-date=25 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625021622/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/police-seize-drugs-and-arrest-11-during-raids-on-east-belfast-uvf-37942445.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/nine-men-charged-after-east-belfast-uvf-police-raids-37943520.html |title=Nine men charged after east Belfast UVF police raids |work=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=2019-06-24 |archive-date=25 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625021622/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/nine-men-charged-after-east-belfast-uvf-police-raids-37943520.html |url-status=live }}</ref>