What is Ulster Volunteer Force?
The '''Ulster Volunteer Force''' ('''UVF''') is a [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] [[paramilitary]] (civilians trained as soldiers) group based in [[Northern Ireland]]. It was formed in 1966. Its name comes from the UVF of [[World War I]]. The Ulster Volunteer Force was started as a [[Protestant]]/[[Unionism in Ireland|Unionist]] [[militia]] (citizen military force) in 1912 to oppose the [[Home Rule]] campaign for a separate [[Ireland|Irish]] [[parliament]]. Many UVF members formed the 36th (Ulster) Division that fought with the [[British Army]] in [[World War I]]. The [[Progressive Unionist Party]] is the political wing of the outlawed Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando. Although the PUP is called a loyalist fringe party, it has more moderate unionist views than any of the traditional unionist parties. ==Crimes== During [[the Troubles]] in Northern Ireland (1969-1998), the UVF carried out many attacks: *In 1971, they [[McGurk's Bar bombing|bombed McGurk's Bar]] in [[Belfast]] which was in a mostly [[Catholic]] area of the city. The blast killed 15 Catholics and destroyed the building. *In 1974, they [[Dublin and Monaghan bombings|placed three]] [[car bomb]]s in the centre of [[Dublin]] and another in [[Monaghan]], which were deliberately exploded at [[rush hour]] to kill as many people as possible. The bombs killed 33 people and injured over 300, making it the worst atrocity of the conflict. *In 1975, they [[Miami Showband killings|shot dead three members]] of [[the Miami Showband]], a popular [[showband]] from Dublin, as they were travelling home from doing a show in [[County Down]], Northern Ireland. *In 1994, they [[Loughinisland massacre|attacked a bar]] in [[Loughinisland]] County Down and fired on the customers. The attack killed six Catholics and injured five others. *Following the murder of a Catholic taxi driver in [[Portadown]] in July 1996, the Mid-Ulster Brigade of the UVF was expelled. They immediately set up the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF). ==Ceasefire and decommissioning== After a conti