History of feuds and massacres

THE Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was established in 1971 as a cover name for several loyalist organisations.

It was the largest of the paramilitary organisations, with thousands of members, and was responsible for around 400 murders between 1971 and 2001 as part of its campaign to “protect” unionist communities from the IRA.

Heavily involved in criminality, including the drug trade, it was behind a string of sectarian killings in the name of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).