Alan McCullough (loyalist): Difference between revisions
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'''Alan McCullough''' (July 1981 – 28 May 2003) was a leading [[Northern Irish]] [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] and a member of the [[Ulster Defence Association]] (UDA). He served as the organisation's military commander for the [[UDA West Belfast Brigade|West Belfast Brigade]]'s notorious C Company which was then commanded by [[Johnny Adair]]. McCullough was suspected of being the hitman in the killing of [[UDA South East Antrim Brigade|South East Antrim]] brigadier [[John Gregg]] in February 2003. Gregg was a rival of Adair's but enjoyed much popularity in the loyalist community on account of his attempted assassination of [[Sinn Fein]] president [[Gerry Adams]] in 1984. The killing provoked outrage amongst the other UDA leaders and as a result Adair and his associates including McCullough were forced to leave Northern Ireland. McCullough returned to [[Belfast]] in April 2003 but a month later he disappeared from his home in the company of two men. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow grave in Mallusk. The UDA claimed responsibilty for the killing using their cover name [[Ulster Freedom Fighters]]. |
'''Alan McCullough''' (July 1981 – 28 May 2003) was a leading [[Northern Irish]] [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] and a member of the [[Ulster Defence Association]] (UDA). He served as the organisation's military commander for the [[UDA West Belfast Brigade|West Belfast Brigade]]'s notorious C Company which was then commanded by [[Johnny Adair]]. McCullough was suspected of being the hitman in the killing of [[UDA South East Antrim Brigade|South East Antrim]] brigadier [[John Gregg]] in February 2003. Gregg was a rival of Adair's but enjoyed much popularity in the loyalist community on account of his attempted assassination of [[Sinn Fein]] president [[Gerry Adams]] in 1984. The killing provoked outrage amongst the other UDA leaders and as a result Adair and his associates including McCullough were forced to leave Northern Ireland. McCullough returned to [[Belfast]] in April 2003 but a month later he disappeared from his home in the company of two men. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow grave in Mallusk. The UDA claimed responsibilty for the killing using their cover name [[Ulster Freedom Fighters]]. |
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==Ulster Defence Assocation== |
==Ulster Defence Assocation== |
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Alan McCullough was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland into a loyalist Protestant family, the youngest of six children. He was brought up in Denmark Street in the Lower [[Shankill Road]] area. His father William "Bucky" McCullough was a prominent UDA member gunned down by the [[Irish National Liberation Army]] (INLA) outside his home on 16 October 1981 when McCullough was three months old.<ref name="cowan">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/jun/02/northernireland.rosiecowan "Family fears for fate of missing loyalist". ''The Guardian''. Rosie Cowan. 2 June 2003] Retrieved 12 May 2011</ref> |
Alan McCullough was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland into a loyalist Protestant family, the youngest of six children. He was brought up in Denmark Street in the Lower [[Shankill Road]] area. His father William "Bucky" McCullough was a prominent UDA member gunned down by the [[Irish National Liberation Army]] (INLA) outside his home on 16 October 1981 when McCullough was three months old.<ref name="cowan">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/jun/02/northernireland.rosiecowan "Family fears for fate of missing loyalist". ''The Guardian''. Rosie Cowan. 2 June 2003] Retrieved 12 May 2011</ref> |
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His family background led him to join the UDA at an early age and he rose in the organisation to become the West Belfast Brigade C Company's military commander holding the rank of lieutenant. He was also a trusted ally of the brigade's leader Johnny Adair.<ref name="cowan"/> |
His family background led him to join the UDA at an early age and he rose in the organisation to become the West Belfast Brigade C Company's military commander holding the rank of lieutenant. He was also a trusted ally of the brigade's leader Johnny Adair.<ref name="cowan"/> Indeed from an early age McCullough had idolised Adair.<ref name=Wood302">Wood, p. 302</ref> |
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Adair's rival John Gregg, the head of the UDA's South East Antrim Brigade was shot dead in a taxi along with Rab Carson after the men had returned to Belfast from watching a [[Rangers F.C.]] football match in [[Glasgow]] on 1 February 2003. The killing took place in the old [[Sailortown, Belfast|Sailortown]] district of Belfast near the docks. Gregg's 18-year-old son Stuart was in the taxi but unhurt in he attack. McCullough was allegedly the gunman who shot Gregg on Adair's behalf. Adair was imprisoned at the time. Gregg enjoyed much popularity within UDA circles on account of his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984. |
Adair's rival John Gregg, the head of the UDA's South East Antrim Brigade was shot dead in a taxi along with Rab Carson after the men had returned to Belfast from watching a [[Rangers F.C.]] football match in [[Glasgow]] on 1 February 2003. The killing took place in the old [[Sailortown, Belfast|Sailortown]] district of Belfast near the docks. Gregg's 18-year-old son Stuart was in the taxi but unhurt in he attack. McCullough was allegedly the gunman who shot Gregg on Adair's behalf. Adair was imprisoned at the time. Gregg enjoyed much popularity within UDA circles on account of his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984. |
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| ⚫ | to Scotland and England. McCullough was among those who quit Northern Ireland. He and his girlfriend went to [[Lancashire]] but by April he was feeling homesick and asked [[Mo Courtney]], Adair's successor as West Belfast brigadier, permission to return to Belfast. McCullough's mother Barbara also allegedly begged Courtney to allow her son to come home. Courtney had also fallen out with Adair despite their previous close friendship. It was suggested that to ingratiate himself with Courtney and the new C Company leadership McCullough launched a shooting attack on Gina Adair's house in [[Bolton]].<ref name="cowan"/> |
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| ⚫ | Following Gregg's killing angry UDA units led by South Belfast brigadier [[Jackie McDonald]] arrived at Adair's Boundary Way home in the Lower Shankill; Adair's wife, Gina, close friend [[John White (loyalist)|John White]] and about 20 supporters were forced to flee to Scotland and England. McCullough was among those who quit Northern Ireland. He and his girlfriend went to [[Lancashire]] but by April he was feeling homesick and asked [[Mo Courtney]], Adair's successor as West Belfast brigadier, permission to return to Belfast. McCullough's mother Barbara also allegedly begged Courtney to allow her son to come home. Courtney had also fallen out with Adair despite their previous close friendship. It was suggested that to ingratiate himself with Courtney and the new C Company leadership McCullough launched a shooting attack on Gina Adair's house in [[Bolton]].<ref name="cowan"/> |
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McCullough returned to Belfast that month. |
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McCullough returned to Belfast that month, having also given Courtney the whereabouts of a drugs haul that had been buried by members of Adair's C Company in the Shankill.<ref name="Wood302"/> |
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==Killing== |
==Killing== |
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On 28 May 2003 he left his mother's house in Denmark Street in the company of two UDA men and he was never seen alive again. The police conducted a manhunt after he was reported missing. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow garve in the Mallusk area of [[Newtownabbey]]. |
On 28 May 2003 he left his mother's house in Denmark Street in the company of two UDA men and he was never seen alive again. The police conducted a manhunt after he was reported missing. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow garve in the Mallusk area of [[Newtownabbey]].<ref name="Wood302"/> |
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The UDA claimed the killing using their cover name "Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF) adding that it was carried out in revenge for his alleged involvement in Gregg's shooting death. |
The UDA claimed the killing using their cover name "Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF) adding that it was carried out in revenge for his alleged involvement in Gregg's shooting death. |
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Prior to McCullough's funeral on 16 June graffiti appeared on the Shankill justifying the murder and threats were also made against his brother Kenny.<ref name="Wood302"/> The funeral itself was attended by several thousand mourners, with McCullough's body removed from his home to the sounds of "[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]'', the anthem of his beloved [[Liverpool F.C.]], and "[[The Best (song)|The Best]]", which had been used as the theme song of the West Belfast Brigade in Adair's heyday.<ref name="Wood302"/> |
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==Aftermath== |
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Courtney and [[Ihab Shoukri]] were arrested for McCullough's murder soon afterwards and whilst charges against Shoukri were quickly dropped McCullough proceeded to trial.<ref>Wood, pp. 302-303</ref> However Courtney was [[Acquittal|acquitted]] of the murder in 2006 after the judge in his [[Diplock court]] trial ruled that there were flaws in the evidence provided by McCullough's family and an anonymous "witness A".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6192612.stm Loyalist cleared on murder charge]</ref> |
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Following his release, the Court of Appeal passed judgement that his acquittal had been unsound and ordered a retrial.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20070128/ai_n17159940/?tag=content;col1 Mo Attacked]</ref> At the retrial Courtney was given an eight year prison sentence after confessing to the [[manslaughter]] of McCullough.<ref name="BBC">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6499027.stm Top loyalist given eight years] from [[bbc.co.uk]]</ref> His version of events, which was accepted by the court, was that Courtney believed he was to be involved only in a [[knee-capping]] of McCullough but that another person present had actually done the killing.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6480247.stm Loyalist admits feud manslaughter]</ref> |
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==Bibliography== |
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*Ian S. Wood, ''Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA'', Edinburgh University Press, 2006 |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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* BBC News |
* BBC News |
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Alan McCullough (July 1981 – 28 May 2003) was a leading Northern Irish loyalist and a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). He served as the organisation's military commander for the West Belfast Brigade's notorious C Company which was then commanded by Johnny Adair. McCullough was suspected of being the hitman in the killing of South East Antrim brigadier John Gregg in February 2003. Gregg was a rival of Adair's but enjoyed much popularity in the loyalist community on account of his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984. The killing provoked outrage amongst the other UDA leaders and as a result Adair and his associates including McCullough were forced to leave Northern Ireland. McCullough returned to Belfast in April 2003 but a month later he disappeared from his home in the company of two men. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow grave in Mallusk. The UDA claimed responsibilty for the killing using their cover name Ulster Freedom Fighters.
Ulster Defence Assocation
Alan McCullough was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland into a loyalist Protestant family, the youngest of six children. He was brought up in Denmark Street in the Lower Shankill Road area. His father William "Bucky" McCullough was a prominent UDA member gunned down by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) outside his home on 16 October 1981 when McCullough was three months old.[1]
His family background led him to join the UDA at an early age and he rose in the organisation to become the West Belfast Brigade C Company's military commander holding the rank of lieutenant. He was also a trusted ally of the brigade's leader Johnny Adair.[1] Indeed from an early age McCullough had idolised Adair.[2]
Adair's rival John Gregg, the head of the UDA's South East Antrim Brigade was shot dead in a taxi along with Rab Carson after the men had returned to Belfast from watching a Rangers F.C. football match in Glasgow on 1 February 2003. The killing took place in the old Sailortown district of Belfast near the docks. Gregg's 18-year-old son Stuart was in the taxi but unhurt in he attack. McCullough was allegedly the gunman who shot Gregg on Adair's behalf. Adair was imprisoned at the time. Gregg enjoyed much popularity within UDA circles on account of his attempted assassination of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in 1984.
Following Gregg's killing angry UDA units led by South Belfast brigadier Jackie McDonald arrived at Adair's Boundary Way home in the Lower Shankill; Adair's wife, Gina, close friend John White and about 20 supporters were forced to flee to Scotland and England. McCullough was among those who quit Northern Ireland. He and his girlfriend went to Lancashire but by April he was feeling homesick and asked Mo Courtney, Adair's successor as West Belfast brigadier, permission to return to Belfast. McCullough's mother Barbara also allegedly begged Courtney to allow her son to come home. Courtney had also fallen out with Adair despite their previous close friendship. It was suggested that to ingratiate himself with Courtney and the new C Company leadership McCullough launched a shooting attack on Gina Adair's house in Bolton.[1]
McCullough returned to Belfast that month, having also given Courtney the whereabouts of a drugs haul that had been buried by members of Adair's C Company in the Shankill.[3]
Killing
On 28 May 2003 he left his mother's house in Denmark Street in the company of two UDA men and he was never seen alive again. The police conducted a manhunt after he was reported missing. On 5 June his body was found in a shallow garve in the Mallusk area of Newtownabbey.[3]
The UDA claimed the killing using their cover name "Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF) adding that it was carried out in revenge for his alleged involvement in Gregg's shooting death.
Prior to McCullough's funeral on 16 June graffiti appeared on the Shankill justifying the murder and threats were also made against his brother Kenny.[3] The funeral itself was attended by several thousand mourners, with McCullough's body removed from his home to the sounds of "You'll Never Walk Alone, the anthem of his beloved Liverpool F.C., and "The Best", which had been used as the theme song of the West Belfast Brigade in Adair's heyday.[3]
Aftermath
Courtney and Ihab Shoukri were arrested for McCullough's murder soon afterwards and whilst charges against Shoukri were quickly dropped McCullough proceeded to trial.[4] However Courtney was acquitted of the murder in 2006 after the judge in his Diplock court trial ruled that there were flaws in the evidence provided by McCullough's family and an anonymous "witness A".[5]
Following his release, the Court of Appeal passed judgement that his acquittal had been unsound and ordered a retrial.[6] At the retrial Courtney was given an eight year prison sentence after confessing to the manslaughter of McCullough.[7] His version of events, which was accepted by the court, was that Courtney believed he was to be involved only in a knee-capping of McCullough but that another person present had actually done the killing.[8]
Bibliography
- Ian S. Wood, Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA, Edinburgh University Press, 2006
References
- ^ a b c "Family fears for fate of missing loyalist". The Guardian. Rosie Cowan. 2 June 2003 Retrieved 12 May 2011
- ^ Wood, p. 302
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
Wood302was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Wood, pp. 302-303
- ^ Loyalist cleared on murder charge
- ^ Mo Attacked
- ^ Top loyalist given eight years from bbc.co.uk
- ^ Loyalist admits feud manslaughter
- BBC News