Sam McCrory (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
Sam "Skelly" McCrory is a former member of the Ulster Defence Association
(UDA)/"Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF), an Ulster loyalist
paramilitary
organisation. In 2008 he publicly "outed
" himself as gay
, and a gay activist.
In his youth McCrory formed a racist skinhead gang along with future UDA Brigadiers Johnny Adair
and 'Fat Jackie' Thompson. He was knee-capped by the UDA for assaulting a pensioner.
McCrory's first target was Francisco Notarantonio, who was set up by British Army
agent Brian Nelson to divert the UDA from targeting Frederico Scappatici. On 9 October 1987, Notarantonio, a 66 year old who had been interned in 1971, was shot dead at his home in Ballymurphy
.
In July 1992 McCrory, Thompson and two others set off to target Provisional Irish Republican Army
leaders Brian Gillen
and Martin Lynch
. The UDA attackers were ambushed by the British Army on Finaghy Road North on the border between South and West Belfast and were fired upon. McCrory was arrested and received a long prison sentence. He would eventually become the UDA officer in command at the Maze prison and, as such, attended the meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
, Mo Mowlam
, during the peace process
.
After his release, police accused him of involvement in a gun attack on a bar in August 2000 at the start of a feud with the Ulster Volunteer Force.
In November 2008, he appeared in an episode of Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men
- which was dedicated to McCrory's notoriety. In the programme, Danny Dyer
meets McCrory in the Scottish
seaside town of Ayr
, where McCrory is now living. The two visit McCrory's old stomping ground in Belfast
.
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA)/"Ulster Freedom Fighters" (UFF), an Ulster loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisation. In 2008 he publicly "outed
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
" himself as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, and a gay activist.
In his youth McCrory formed a racist skinhead gang along with future UDA Brigadiers Johnny Adair
Johnny Adair
Jonathan Adair, better known as Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is the former leader of the "C Company", 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade of the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" . This was a cover name used by the Ulster Defence Association , an Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation...
and 'Fat Jackie' Thompson. He was knee-capped by the UDA for assaulting a pensioner.
McCrory's first target was Francisco Notarantonio, who was set up by British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
agent Brian Nelson to divert the UDA from targeting Frederico Scappatici. On 9 October 1987, Notarantonio, a 66 year old who had been interned in 1971, was shot dead at his home in Ballymurphy
Ballymurphy
Ballymurphy may refer to:*Ballymurphy, Belfast - an area in Belfast, northern Ireland, known for the Ballymurphy Massacre.*Ballymurphy, County Carlow - a village in County Carlow, Ireland....
.
In July 1992 McCrory, Thompson and two others set off to target Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
leaders Brian Gillen
Brian Gillen
Brian "Ginger" Gillen is a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and also a member of the IRA Army Council....
and Martin Lynch
Martin Lynch
Martin Lynch is a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland and was reportedly a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army Army Council. Not to be confused with the Belfast playwright of the same name, Lynch is alleged to have been the adjutant-general, who had day-to-day control of the IRA...
. The UDA attackers were ambushed by the British Army on Finaghy Road North on the border between South and West Belfast and were fired upon. McCrory was arrested and received a long prison sentence. He would eventually become the UDA officer in command at the Maze prison and, as such, attended the meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, Mo Mowlam
Mo Mowlam
Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament for Redcar from 1987 to 2001 and served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Mowlam's time as Northern...
, during the peace process
Northern Ireland peace process
The peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a...
.
After his release, police accused him of involvement in a gun attack on a bar in August 2000 at the start of a feud with the Ulster Volunteer Force.
In November 2008, he appeared in an episode of Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men
Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men
-External links:* at Virgin 1* at Bravo* at Sky...
- which was dedicated to McCrory's notoriety. In the programme, Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer is an English actor, media personality, and chairman of Greenwich Borough, a non-League football team.-Biography:Daniel John Dyer was born in Custom House, an area of East London, to Antony and Christine Dyer...
meets McCrory in the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
seaside town of Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, where McCrory is now living. The two visit McCrory's old stomping ground in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.