1977-84 UDA South Belfast Brigade

mcmichael depicted on mural in roden street

with south belfast formalised brigade, lisburn-based john mcmichael emerged brigadier and, due closeness uda leader andy tyrie, became 1 of prominent figures within wider movement. following heavy activity of years before, under guidance of mcmichael , tyrie uda slowed down run of killings. responsible deaths of 3 catholics in 1977 , 2 in 1978, significant reduction.

this changed in 1979, when group of commando units formed within uda under name ulster defence force (udf), in order take advantage of british intelligence corps documents uda had obtained detailing whereabouts of several republican leaders. although udf officially outside uda s brigade structure under overall command of mcmichael , included several of trusted south belfast brigade lieutenants within ranks. notable action udf, attack on home of bernadette mcaliskey, carried out south belfast members of udf, including mcmichael s closest confidante ray smallwoods. tom graham of lisburn , andrew watson seymour hill, dunmurry, both parts of south belfast brigade area, subsequently convicted , imprisoned along smallwoods attack. when news of army intelligence list being in uda possession leaked press during trial, udf project abandoned amid awkward questions military-uda collusion. mcmichael amongst number of uda leaders arrested during subsequent investigations collusion, although no charges brought against him. mcmichael candidate in belfast south by-election, 1982, south belfast brigade scaled down role.