UDA. [5], Gregg was sentenced to 18 years in prison; however, he only served nine years before he was released in 1993. [12] As the oldest member, English usually chaired the meetings of this Inner Council, although he often struggled to control UDA West Belfast Brigade brigadier Johnny Adair. "Drugs is the big one. Will the Windsor Framework be enough for the DUP? They have a number of supply lines. [54] Two men were subsequently charged with the murder. Senior members of South East Antrim UDA want to take out the UVF man who they believe gave up their drug dealers. [6] The Irish News described the brigade as 'powerful' and at one time being 'the most bloody and murderous gang operating within the paramilitary organisation'. The organisation is now in the grip of a committee of senior paramilitary veterans with Fisher forced to toe the line. It is claimed they control "100%" of an illegal drugs network in south-east Antrim, Northern Ireland. 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And now it's emerged the UVF heavy has also given a separate list of UDA-linked dealers to the cops. (I.R.A) History & Background. games. He is currently recovering at his mother's home in the Rathcoole estate after last week's beating. match. [32], When the taxi stopped at traffic lights close to the motorway, it was rammed by another taxi which had been hijacked earlier on the Shankill Road. "They will extort, they will assault, they will hold back their community in order to sustain their own business," he said. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. From the 1990s until his shooting death in 2003 by rival associates, Gregg served as brigadier of the UDA's South East Antrim Brigade. John Gregg (1957 1 February 2003) was a senior member of the UDA/UFF loyalist paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland. Gregg was married with one son and two stepdaughters. "[1], Following his release from prison, Gregg returned to Rathcoole, where he again became an important figure, taking a central role in the illegal drug trade, with his Rathcoole stronghold a centre of narcotics. Under Fisher, the South East Antrim Brigade became close to the Shoukri brothers, who commanded the neighbouring North Belfast Brigade before being expelled from the UDA in June 2006. [6] When asked by the BBC in prison if he regretted anything about the shooting, his reply was, "Only that I didn't succeed. . Amongst the Brigade's most notorious attacks during the Troubles was the attempted killing of Sinn Fin president Gerry Adams in 1984. Home. Sources in Carrickfergus say that while he retains the . Widely known as a man with a fearsome . e views and opinions expressed in this documentary/ies and page are soley intended to educate and provide background information to those interested in the Troubles of Northern Ireland. The UVF man who is accused of touting - who we can't identify for legal reasons - went around the Rathcoole estate and other loyalist areas close by demanding cash payments from alleged drug dealers recently. [18], Despite the continuing activity of his brigade, and his own earlier maiming, Gregg shared the reluctance of other brigadiers about what he saw as a coming war between the UVF and West Belfast brigadier Johnny Adair. In late August, Adair had even managed to have Gregg stood down as Brigadier for "not being militant enough" and replaced by one of Adair's own associates. [29] The shootings raised some anger on the Shankill, where the three were well-liked figures, and Adair sought to exploit this as a method of getting rid of Gregg. Sources have told us the crime boss is a man under intense pressure. In the later 1980s Snoddy took ill with cancer and many of his duties as brigadier were filled by his ally Joe English. [34] A bomb attack on Adair's house on 8 January 2003 was blamed on Gregg by John White. Watch: Peter Crouch sings the Fields of Athenry with Liverpool fans in Dublin pub, We need government and we need it now Mary Lou McDonald. [69] "The vast majority of it comes in from down south, from one of the well-known crime gangs down there. [14] Later in the year, English was forced to confront Adair about rumours that Adair was considering attending an Inner Council meeting armed in order to eliminate the other five brigadiers and assume sole control of the UDA. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. Gregg when explaining his family background, revealed that his father, regarded as a quiet man, had trust in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and British Army but joined the loyalist vigilante groups set up around the start of the Troubles ostensibly to protect the Protestant community from attacks by republicans. His organisation has come under intense scrutiny from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force and he is known to be anxious to get out of the crime business before he is scooped. Such was the ferocity of the attack the victim urinated himself while pleading for his life. The secretive mobster looks gaunt and has been described as 'haunted', Fisher is losing his grip on the crime gang. He said there were about 2,000 members of the UDA in the south east Antrim . In October 2002, Gregg was one of the brigadiers who passed the resolution expelling Adair from the UDA for his involvement in the non-fatal shooting of Jim Gray. He sought to portray Gregg as unstable and thuggish and spread a rumour that he was about to be replaced as brigadier. [57] Fisher was subsequently identified by the Sunday Life as brigadier, with the paper accusing him of ordering the shooting of Horner. [23] Trevor Lowry (aged 49) was beaten to death in Glengormley by UDA members under Gregg's command on 11 April 2001 after he was mistaken for a Catholic. Belfast Books Thanks for promoting my book mate. [43] The decommissioning was completed at the same time as that of the republican Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA). [67], Threats against journalists and politicians, Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, "Drugs seized in searches linked to South East Antrim UDA", "South East Antrim UDA: 'A criminal cartel wrapped in a flag', "UDA member speaks out about threats and criminality - BBC News", "UDA rebels decommission and condemn McDaid killing", "EXECUTED: Fourth feud killing in four days as loyalist assassins murder UVF man in his flat. She was killed in 2005 and her remains hidden by the son of a veteran member of the Red Hand Commando - a UVF-affiliated group. Gregg, seated in the backseat, was hit at close range and died instantly. "These people are completely ruthless, I believe that it would put my life in danger," he said. Golden Brown The Stranglers: Iconic Songs & the story behind them. The Carrick UDA boss, like his counterpart in Monkstown, the other major loyalist housing area in this part of south-east Antrim, is a minor criminal and drug dealer, who has risen to the position . Watch: Peter Crouch sings the Fields of Athenry with Liverpool fans in Dublin pub, Former minister Nichola Mallon says Windsor Framework receiving positive welcome from businesses, Senior police officer referred to watchdog over alleged rape comments, Over 150 Presbyterian members sign letter criticising incoming moderators comments on ordination of women, Hancock hugely disappointed and sad after WhatsApp messages sent to newspaper. "It is notoriously difficult to leave," a senior loyalist source told us. [19], In late 2001, Gregg's reign of terror in Rathcoole, where drug dealing, knee-capping and savage beatings were the norm, was challenged by local British Labour Party Councillor Mark Langhammer, who also objected to Gregg's close links to neo-Nazi groups in Great Britain. [37], Following the conclusion of the feud with Adair the UDA reconstituted its ceasefire in what they christened the "Gregg initiative". It's believed he fears sparking a new intra-loyalist feud, piling even more pressure on the faction which has been facing a police crackdown. [24], Gregg was not close to Johnny Adair but sympathised with his uncompromising attitudes and his anti-UVF views. He later became part of the UDA South East Antrim Brigade. The UDA South East Antrim Brigade was previously one of the six brigades of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and are heavily involved in the drug trade. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. However, in the second half of 2002 he was dragged into the conflict after Adair made him a target in his own attempts to take full control of the UDA. Fisher associates subjected Simms to a punishment shooting after he was found with his hands in the till. A DEPOSED UVF boss is suspected of stealing more than 250,000 from the terror gang over the past five years. Martin Quinn is the brother of the murdered Glenn Quinn, who was beaten to . Each were accused of taxing drug dealers and stealing tens of thousands of pounds from UVF coffers. That same night Jackie McDonald's men raided the lower Shankill and ran those members of C Company that had remained loyal to Adair, who was still in prison, out of the city. [38], Gregg was married with one son and two stepdaughters. [26], Adair ignored the expulsion, erecting "West Belfast UDA - Business as Usual" banners on the Shankill Road, whilst continuing his struggles with the remaining brigadiers, Gregg in particular. Greggs 18-year-old son Stuart and another man were also in the vehicle but neither sustained injuries in the shooting attack. They have also asked for an end to historic prosecutions for UVF killings that took place before 2010. During the course of the melee a Shankill Protestant Boys member managed to gouge out Greggs eye, although it is also claimed that Gregg lost his eye due to a fight with republicans at the same parade. The UDA member claimed the paramilitary group was heavily involved in serious crime in the south east Antrim area . Martin Quinn says the family has been threatened by the South East Antrim UDA for speaking out, Security sources say the South East Antrim UDA has over 2,000 members, Police intelligence says the South East Antrim UDA is involved in the supply of drugs, Rev Philip McAlister officiated at the funeral of Geordie Gilmore, a BBC Spotlight programme on the murder of Glenn Quinn. Gregg joined the Ulster Young Militants (UYM), the youth wing of the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association (UDA) at the age of 14. [3], Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, "BBC NEWS | Programmes | Panorama | John "Grug" Gregg", "Loyalists on brink of war as UDA chief is shot dead | UK news", "Assassin is kicked out of top UDA post | UK news", "Retaliation inevitable - Just a matter of when", "UDA leaders son gets record payout UTV News", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Gregg_(loyalist)&oldid=1118219468, This page was last edited on 25 October 2022, at 19:42. An interaction, or dismiss a notification indicates a way to close an,. For the DUP shooting after he was about to be replaced as brigadier were filled by his ally English! Home in the Rathcoole estate after last week 's beating 18-year-old son and... Sympathised with his hands in the shooting attack spread a rumour that he was found with hands! 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