The Red Hand: Protestant Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland

Since the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, working-class Protestants have used violence and terror as much as their Catholic counterparts. Yet despite being responsible for half the civilian casualties of the current conflict and having subverted numerous political initiatives, such loyalist paramilitary organizations as the Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Volunteer Force, and the Red Hand Commando have been little studied by scholars. Based on extensive interviews, this is the first comprehensive study of loyalist terrorism. Exploring the history and the aims of the various groups, Professor Bruce examines claims of security force collusion with the loyalists and the use of terror to defend rather than destroy the state.