198:
Birch sits on the board of the east
Belfast charity Charter NI. The charity is chaired by Dee Stitt, a close ally of Jackie McDonald and convicted armed robber who is head of the UDA in North Down and number two to Birch in the East Belfast Brigade. In late 2016 the charity was chosen to manage £1.7
143:
and had reportedly told a meeting of East
Belfast UDA members that their weapons would not be handed in. Subsequently, however, Birch revised his position and a cache of East Belfast Brigade weapons were given up for decommissioning.
231:, over allegations relating to the theft of weapons by West Belfast Brigade members from an East Belfast Brigade cache. According to reports Birch and Kincaid had a public argument in an east Belfast carpark over the claims in 2012.
131:
was expelled from the organisation for "treason". As leader, Birch initially purged the East
Belfast UDA of the "Spice Boys", a flamboyant group of racketeers close to Gray. This was later relaxed, with
127:
Birch joined the UDA as a 17-year-old and during his long service he was never imprisoned, in contrast to many of his colleagues. Birch became
Brigadier in 2005, after the flamboyant
649:
227:
in North
Belfast where Bunting's leadership was coming under internal pressure. Individually Birch had a long-standing disagreement with his opposite number in West Belfast,
486:"Diamond Geezers; Project Linked to Dee Stitt Charity I BBC Documentary Tells Story of Three Protestants Trying to Turn Life around after Transforming East Belfast Mural"
199:
million of money from the Social
Investment Fund to be spent in east Belfast, a move that attracted controversy due to the prominent role the UDA plays in the charity.
1388:
1176:
582:
321:"But Chuck Thompson – Who Is Now under a Death Threat from the Terror Gang of Which He Was a Member for 25 Years – Claims Gray Was Not as Bad as People Make Out"
188:
1451:
642:
1202:
1238:
1017:
168:. He stated that the vote had been part of a democratic process and claimed that loyalist rioters were allowing themselves to be "played" by
1456:
1232:
635:
140:
1338:
1403:
179:
Birch is a close friend of Sam "Chalky" White, a DUP activist in east
Belfast and former UDA prisoner. He was in attendance as an
207:
Birch has been associated with the mainstream tendency within the UDA and has maintained close relations with fellow brigadiers
1398:
1343:
1303:
1220:
180:
153:
518:
485:
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551:
320:
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419:
386:
353:
288:
1075:
992:
1418:
1368:
1358:
1190:
710:
1413:
420:"DUP Candidate was a Gunman; Radio Claim Loyalist's Prison Past Former Loyalist Prisoner Denies Any Paramilitary Link"
1128:
987:
658:
212:
62:
909:
823:
173:
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887:
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220:
133:
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1007:
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325:
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1408:
1291:
1214:
1196:
1184:
1084:
1034:
982:
921:
903:
841:
831:
172:. Birch and his close ally David Stitt advocated a move by the UDA towards working more closely with the
1064:
1040:
1029:
1023:
730:
684:
128:
96:
1208:
852:
269:
184:
1373:
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1250:
723:
556:
457:
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165:
1353:
1153:
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805:
1383:
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977:
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253:
208:
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997:
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1440:
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953:
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224:
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971:
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751:
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669:
228:
192:
528:
495:
169:
609:
561:
330:
1279:
938:
915:
787:
462:
429:
396:
363:
298:
1109:
1058:
958:
948:
836:
798:
690:
354:"Terror Gang Secrets; Inside the UDA: Ex-Leader Thompson Lifts Lid on Rackets"
161:
627:
160:
protesters caused widespread disruption after the temporary removal of the
1116:
453:"Forum Says It Will Listen to Anyone. but Action Will Be Months Away"
631:
270:"Angelique Chrisafis reports on the life and death of Jim Gray"
257:
1331:
1260:
1175:
1145:
1101:
1074:
886:
822:
766:
703:
677:
102:
92:
84:
76:
68:
58:
50:
42:
30:
23:
219:. In 2013 this tendency broke relations with the
1389:Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee
183:representative at the inaugural meeting of the
223:and accused it of interfering in a developing
643:
195:in the aftermath of the City Hall flag vote.
8:
176:(DUP) to engage more closely with politics.
136:in particular welcomed back into the fold.
650:
636:
628:
583:Loyalists hold picket as UDA split deepens
387:"All UDA's Brigades to Give Up Their Guns"
20:
1203:Paddy Wilson and Irene Andrews killings
240:
1102:North Antrim & Londonderry Brigade
519:"A Band of Thugs Riven by Infighting"
248:
246:
244:
7:
1239:Attack on James Murray's bookmakers
589:.co.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
550:Barnes, Ciaran (11 December 2016).
115:(born c. 1970) is a Northern Irish
1452:Ulster Defence Association members
1339:Combined Loyalist Military Command
119:paramilitary leader and activist.
14:
451:Macadam, Noel (11 January 2013).
1233:Sean Graham bookmakers' shooting
608:. 12 August 2012. Archived from
1399:Ulster Political Research Group
1344:Loyalist Association of Workers
600:"Loyalist Row Gun Theft Claims"
418:Barnes, Ciaran (9 March 2014).
352:Barnes, Ciaran (22 July 2012).
287:Barnes, Ciaran (29 July 2012).
181:Ulster Political Research Group
154:Belfast City Hall flag protests
1404:Ulster Workers' Council strike
552:"Terror Leaders Abandon Stitt"
329:. 29 July 2012. Archived from
187:, a task force established by
1:
517:Allen, Tony (19 March 2017).
484:Gordon, Ali (12 March 2017).
385:Rowan, Brian (20 June 2009).
254:Flags protest: UDA speaks out
1419:Woodvale Defence Association
1369:Shankill Defence Association
1359:Real Ulster Freedom Fighters
1221:Biddy Mulligan's pub bombing
1191:Top of the Hill bar shooting
1457:Paramilitaries from Belfast
1414:Volunteer (Ulster loyalist)
1473:
993:William "Bucky" McCullough
659:Ulster Defence Association
289:"Jim Got What He Deserved"
203:North Belfast Brigade feud
152:Birch was critical of the
80:UDA East Belfast Brigadier
63:Ulster Defence Association
1429:bold indicates brigadiers
1427:
1076:South East Antrim Brigade
1003:Billy "Twister" McQuiston
696:position abolished (1988)
665:
174:Democratic Unionist Party
1227:Milltown Cemetery attack
998:Stephen "Top Gun" McKeag
806:Andre & Ihab Shoukri
221:UDA West Belfast Brigade
1379:Ulster Democratic Party
18:Northern Irish loyalist
1409:Ulster Young Militants
1215:Dublin Airport bombing
1197:New Lodge Six shooting
933:William "Winkie" Dodds
1053:"Fat" Jackie Thompson
1030:Gary "Smickers" Smyth
1024:Charles Harding Smith
824:South Belfast Brigade
767:North Belfast Brigade
711:Albert "Ginger" Baker
685:Charles Harding Smith
587:The Belfast Telegraph
148:Political development
139:He initially opposed
1209:Murder of Ann Ogilby
888:West Belfast Brigade
731:Jim "Doris Day" Gray
704:East Belfast Brigade
612:on 24 September 2015
465:on 24 September 2015
432:on 24 September 2015
366:on 24 September 2015
333:on 24 September 2015
1374:Ulster Army Council
1245:Castlerock killings
1185:Benny's Bar bombing
1008:James "Sham" Millar
678:Chairmen of the UDA
1394:Ulster nationalism
1364:Red Hand Defenders
1251:Greysteel massacre
1146:Mid-Ulster Brigade
276:. 11 October 2005.
1434:
1433:
1261:Prominent victims
557:Belfast Telegraph
458:Belfast Telegraph
425:Belfast Telegraph
392:Belfast Telegraph
359:Belfast Telegraph
294:Belfast Telegraph
166:Belfast City Hall
110:
109:
51:Years active
1464:
1332:Related articles
1154:Robert John Kerr
652:
645:
638:
629:
622:
621:
619:
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574:
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564:on 25 April 2018
560:. Archived from
547:
541:
540:
538:
536:
531:on 23 April 2018
527:. Archived from
514:
508:
507:
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498:on 25 April 2018
494:. Archived from
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461:. Archived from
448:
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428:. Archived from
415:
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399:on 28 March 2015
395:. Archived from
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362:. Archived from
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317:
311:
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308:
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297:. Archived from
284:
278:
277:
266:
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252:Josephine Long,
250:
21:
1472:
1471:
1467:
1466:
1465:
1463:
1462:
1461:
1437:
1436:
1435:
1430:
1423:
1384:Ulster loyalism
1354:Quis separabit?
1327:
1310:Eddie Fullerton
1256:
1171:
1141:
1129:Billy McFarland
1097:
1070:
988:Alan McCullough
978:Kenny McClinton
882:
860:Jackie McDonald
818:
762:
745:Sammy McCormick
699:
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661:
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625:
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301:on 29 June 2014
286:
285:
281:
268:
267:
263:
251:
242:
237:
213:Billy McFarland
209:Jackie McDonald
205:
158:Ulster loyalist
150:
141:decommissioning
125:
37:
36:
26:
19:
12:
11:
5:
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1301:
1295:
1289:
1286:Ronnie Bunting
1283:
1277:
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1123:Torrens Knight
1120:
1113:
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1095:
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1047:William Stobie
1044:
1037:
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1005:
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985:
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975:
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919:
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910:Jackie Coulter
907:
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873:Ray Smallwoods
870:
867:John McMichael
863:
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189:Peter Robinson
185:Unionist Forum
149:
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134:William Murphy
124:
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108:
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69:Known for
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1447:Living people
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1355:
1352:
1350:
1349:Loyalist feud
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1334:
1330:
1323:
1322:Frankie Curry
1320:
1317:
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1167:Michael Stone
1165:
1163:
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1137:
1136:Andy Robinson
1133:
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981:
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969:
967:
966:
962:
960:
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954:Donald Hodgen
952:
950:
947:
945:
944:Ernie Elliott
942:
940:
937:
935:
934:
930:
928:
927:Frankie Curry
925:
923:
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918:
917:
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911:
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878:Michael Stone
876:
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848:
847:Raymond Elder
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
829:
827:
825:
821:
815:
814:
813:Jimbo Simpson
810:
808:
807:
803:
801:
800:
796:
794:
793:Tommy English
791:
789:
786:
784:
783:
779:
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775:John Boreland
772:
771:
769:
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758:Michael Stone
756:
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275:
271:
265:
262:
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249:
247:
245:
241:
234:
232:
230:
226:
225:loyalist feud
222:
218:
214:
210:
202:
200:
196:
194:
190:
186:
182:
177:
175:
171:
167:
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64:
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57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
33:
29:
22:
16:
1316:Ned McCreery
1304:Gerard Casey
1298:Pat Finucane
1274:John Turnley
1268:Paddy Wilson
1161:Eddie Sayers
1159:
1152:
1134:
1127:
1115:
1108:
1090:
1083:
1063:
1051:
1039:
1022:
1018:Brian Nelson
1013:Wendy Millar
972:Tommy Lyttle
970:
965:Matt Kincaid
963:
931:
914:
902:
897:Johnny Adair
895:
865:
858:
851:
811:
804:
797:
782:John Bunting
780:
773:
752:Ned McCreery
750:
743:
738:Tommy Herron
736:
729:
724:Billy Elliot
722:
716:
715:
670:the Troubles
668:
616:20 September
614:. Retrieved
610:the original
603:
594:
586:
578:
566:. Retrieved
562:the original
555:
545:
533:. Retrieved
529:the original
522:
512:
500:. Retrieved
496:the original
489:
479:
469:20 September
467:. Retrieved
463:the original
456:
446:
436:20 September
434:. Retrieved
430:the original
423:
413:
403:20 September
401:. Retrieved
397:the original
390:
380:
370:20 September
368:. Retrieved
364:the original
357:
347:
337:20 September
335:. Retrieved
331:the original
324:
315:
303:. Retrieved
299:the original
292:
282:
274:the Guardian
273:
264:
229:Matt Kincaid
217:John Bunting
206:
197:
193:Mike Nesbitt
178:
151:
138:
126:
112:
111:
59:Organization
15:
1292:James Craig
1280:Miriam Daly
1085:Joe English
1035:Sammy Smyth
983:Sam McCrory
939:Hester Dunn
922:James Craig
916:Mo Courtney
904:Ken Barrett
842:James Craig
832:David Adams
788:Sammy Duddy
717:Jimmy Birch
693:(1973-1988)
687:(1971-1973)
605:Sunday Life
524:Sunday Life
491:Sunday Life
326:Sunday Life
113:Jimmy Birch
93:Predecessor
43:Nationality
35:James Birch
25:Jimmy Birch
1441:Categories
1110:Glenn Barr
1092:John Gregg
1065:John White
1059:Andy Tyrie
1041:Jim Spence
959:Billy Hull
949:Davy Fogel
837:Joe Bratty
799:Davy Payne
691:Andy Tyrie
235:References
162:Union flag
853:Alex Kerr
170:Sinn Féin
123:Brigadier
106:Incumbent
103:Successor
88:2005–2018
1117:Ken Kerr
129:Jim Gray
117:loyalist
97:Jim Gray
72:Loyalist
54:c. 1987–
1177:Actions
667:during
568:22 June
535:22 June
502:22 June
46:British
38:c. 1970
1324:(1999)
1318:(1992)
1312:(1991)
1306:(1989)
1300:(1989)
1294:(1988)
1288:(1980)
1282:(1980)
1276:(1980)
1270:(1973)
1253:(1993)
1247:(1993)
1241:(1992)
1235:(1992)
1229:(1988)
1223:(1975)
1217:(1975)
1211:(1974)
1205:(1973)
1199:(1973)
1193:(1972)
1187:(1972)
305:16 May
164:from
156:when
77:Title
618:2014
570:2017
537:2017
504:2017
471:2014
438:2014
405:2014
372:2014
339:2014
307:2014
215:and
191:and
85:Term
31:Born
258:BBC
1443::
602:.
585:,
554:.
521:.
488:.
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