loyalism

Movement in Northern Ireland that defends the principle of unionism and totally rejects any change in the status or government of Northern Ireland that might threaten its links with the UK. Loyalists will either use violence, or support the use of violence, to ensure that this link is maintained.

The roots of modern loyalist paramilitary groups lie in the Protestant Orange Order established in 1795 and the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in 1912. Both groups had the aim of promoting and defending the link between Ireland and Britain, in opposition to the movements of Irish nationalism and Irish republicanism.

Loyalist paramilitary groups The UVF was set up by the Unionist politician Edward Carson to defend Ulster against the perceived threat of Home Rule. It soon grew into a formidable private army of over 100,000. At the time, the threat of civil war in Ireland was only avoided by the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

Modern loyalists see themselves as the inheritors of the mantle of the 1912 UVF. There are now a number of loyalist paramilitary groups, including the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), and the new Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Allied to these groups are political parties who speak for the terrorists. These include the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP).

Loyalist terrorists involved in violence since ‘the Troubles’ began in the late 1960s have always argued that they are merely defending the Protestant community against the threat posed by republican terrorists such as the IRA. They do not see themselves as instigators of the violence, but as defenders of a threatened community.

Loyalism and the peace process in Northern Ireland Loyalist paramilitary groups responded positively to the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s and declared ceasefires, although these have been broken. Loyalist politicians such as Gary McMichael, of the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP), and David Ervine, of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), were central to ensuring that progress in the peace process met the requirements of the loyalists, as without loyalist support their possible return to violence would have endangered the peace process.

The threat to the peace process posed by loyalist terrorist groups is a major political problem. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the largest unionist party, rejects the use of violence totally. However, the aims of the loyalists and unionists are fundamentally the same. They both want to maintain the link between Northern Ireland and the UK, but their methods are different. The UUP has to tread carefully in its negotiations with the Irish nationalists and republicans in case it is seen to be giving too much ground, as this could drive Ulster Unionist supporters to the more hard-line loyalists.

The ambiguous position of Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) causes more problems when trying to understand this issue. Paisley states that he rejects the use of violence for political gain, yet he has in the past associated with loyalist terrorists. In 1981 he paraded with 500 loyalists who were prepared to use violence to achieve their aims. Paisley supported their actions. Known members of loyalist paramilitary groups such as the UDA have been members and councillors of the DUP. Paisley straddles the border between peaceful unionism and terrorist loyalism.