Tommy Kirkham

Tommy Kirkham is a Northern Ireland loyalist political figure. He was previously associated with the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Political Research Group although he has since been expelled from both groups.

UPRG Activity

Kirkham began as a minor member of the Ulster Democratic Party based in Rathcoole although when this party was dissolved and the UDA Inner Council decided to bring back the UPRG they chose Kirkham as one of the new faces to front the group. [H. McDonald & J. Cusack, "UDA – Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror", Dublin, Penguin Ireland, 2004, p. 366] He became a leading spokesman for the UPRG whilst also serving as an independent on Newtownabbey Borough Council (with the UPRG not registered as a political party). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/799804.stm Loyalist paramilitary flags explosion] ] He is registered as the leader of the Ulster Protestant League, although it is unclear whether or not this organisation exists beyond Kirkham, who is labelled as an Independent Unionist in Newtownabbey. [ [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgnewtownabbey.htm Newtownabbey Borough Council Elections 1993-2005] ] Kirkham remains a councillor in Newtownabbey. [ [http://www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/councillors/party.asp?cat=Council&css=normal&party=7 Councillor Tommy Kirkham] ]

Along with Frank McCoubrey and Frankie Gallagher, Kirham was one of the UPRG's three leading UPRG spokesmen and had been responsible for delivering statements from the UDA. [ [http://republican-news.org/archive/2003/February27/27greg.html The changing face of the UDA?] ] As part of this three man group he met with Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2004, along with UDA leader Jackie McDonald and prisoners' spokesman Stanley Fletcher, in a meeting he described as 'historic, productive and amicable'. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3427709.stm Ahern's loyalist meeting 'amicable'] ] He was also involved in an initiative to move loyalism away from racism, joining David Ervine in backing the Loyalist Commission-led scheme that started up in repsonse to allegations of links between the UDA and Combat 18 and the involvement of the Ulster Volunteer Force in attacks on Belfast's Chinese community. [ [http://www.u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=57656&pt=n Initiative aimed at racism] ]

During the internal struggles within the UDA in late 2002 with regards to the attempts to expel Johnny Adair, Kirkham followed the orthodox anti-Adair line as espoused by his close friend John 'Grug' Gregg. As a consequence of this position his home was targeted for a gun attack by Adair's supporters over Christmas 2002, although no one was injured in the assault. [D. Lister & H. Jordan, "Mad Dog: The Rise and Fall of Johnny Adair and C Company", Edinburgh: Mainstream, 2004, p. 325]

plit and Beyond Conflict

Kirkham eventually split from the UPRG and made his power base in south-east Antrim, where the UDA had drifted from the leadership. Kirkham became head of a new group which he called Beyond Conflict and, as leader of this group, asked for £8 million of government money in order to transform the group into a development agency. [ [http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=77055&pt=n Loyalist group want £8m plus] ] However whilst the government did eventually pledge money to the UPRG [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6478329.stm £1m is confirmed for UDA project] ] no funding was extended to Kirkham's group.

Kirkham's split from the mainstream of the UPRG and UDA would be widened in 2007. The UDA faced a potential feud over the activities of renegade brigadier Andre Shoukri, who was, ironically given Kirkham's previous position, an associate of dissident Johnny Adair, until the movement expelled him in 2007. [ [http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2003/jul2_familiar_faces.php Familiar faces waiting to greet Shoukri in Maghaberry prison] ] Kirkham however, as leader of the south-east Antrim brigade of the UDA, supported Shoukri in his struggles with the UDA leadership and a stand-off between Kirkham and the leaders developed. This came to a head in March 2007 when the expulsion was extended to Kirkham and his associated Gary Fisher. [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2402742.ece UDA expels south east Antrim brigade chiefs] ] Kirkham reacted to the move by vowing to remain in his area. [ [http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Expelled-Kirkham-vows-to-go.2192053.jp Expelled Kirkham vows to go nowhere] ]

Kirkham remains as head of Beyond Conflict and has argued that the group has undertaken eight steps towards demilitarisation, including ending paramilitary activity in his area, working with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and working on cultural diversity programmes. [ [http://www.beyondconflict.net/default.asp?page=News&id=65 Beyond Conflict] ]

ee also

*Ulster Political Research Group
*Ulster Defence Association
*Andre Shoukri

External links

* [http://www.beyondconflict.net/default.asp Beyond Conflict site]

References