The Red Hand Defenders (RHD) is a terrorist group formed in 1998 and composed largely of Protestant hardliners from loyalist groups observing a cease-fire. It is composed of members of the Ulster Defence Association and Loyalist Volunteer Force, most of whom are still part of those groups. In January 2002, the group announced all staff at Catholic schools in Belfast and Catholic postal workers were legitimate targets. Despite calls in February 2002 by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) to announce its disbandment, RHD continued to make threats and issue claims of responsibility. In early 2003, the RHD claimed responsibility for killing two UDA members as a result of what is described as loyalist internecine warfare. It also claimed responsibility for leaving a bomb in the offices of Republican Sinn Fein in West Belfast which was later successfully defused. In recent years, the group has carried out numerous pipe bombings and arson attacks against "soft" civilian targets such as homes, churches, and private businesses. In January 2002, the group bombed the home of a prison official in North Belfast. Terrorist redirects here. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) is a loyalist terrorist group in Northern Ireland which broke away from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and was led by the late Billy Wright. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Northern Ireland County: District: Belfast UK Parliament: Belfast North Belfast South Belfast East Belfast West European Parliament: Northern Ireland Dialling Code: 028, +44 28 posttown = Belfast Postal District(s): BT1-BT17, BT29 (part of), BT58 Area: 115 km² Population (2001) Website: www. ... Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) is a minor political party operating in Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Northern Ireland County: District: Belfast UK Parliament: Belfast North Belfast South Belfast East Belfast West European Parliament: Northern Ireland Dialling Code: 028, +44 28 posttown = Belfast Postal District(s): BT1-BT17, BT29 (part of), BT58 Area: 115 km² Population (2001) Website: www. ...

The RHD first came to prominence when it claimed responsibility for a blast bomb attack on 7 September 1998 which killed Frankie O'Reilly, a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer. (This attack occurred during an Orange Order demonstration at Drumcree against the decision not to allow the Order to parade through the Catholic Garvaghy Road area of Portadown, County Armagh.) The group claimed responsibility for the killing of Brian Service (35), a Catholic civilian, on 2 November 1998. The RHD also claimed responsibility for the killing of Rosemary Nelson, a Catholic human rights solicitor, in Lurgan on 15 March 1999. In addition to the killings the RHD has also claimed numerous blast bomb attacks on Catholic families across Northern Ireland. The RHD appeared at around the same time as the Orange Volunteers and initially commentators believed that the same people were involved in both paramilitary groups. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ... Orange parade in Glasgow (1 June 2003) The Orange Institution, more commonly known as the Orange Order, is a Protestant fraternal organisation based predominantly in Northern Ireland and Scotland with lodges throughout the Commonwealth and in Canada and the United States. ... Portadown (Port an Dúnáin in Irish) is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. ... , Portadown (from the Irish: Port an Dúnáin meaning port of the fortress) is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County Town: Armagh Area: 1,254 km² Population (est. ... Rosemary Nelson (born circa 1958; died March 15, 1999) was a prominent solicitor from Northern Ireland. ... The Orange Volunteers (OV) are a break-away Loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. ...

The group has issued statements which seem to take inspiration from the Bible, Deuteronomy Chapter 7,Verse 2: "And the Lord thy God shall have delivered them to thee:thou shalt utterly destroy them.Thou shalt make no league with them,nor show mercy to them...neither shalt thou make marriages with them." This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

According to the Sutton database of deaths at the University of Ulster's CAIN project[1], the RHD was responsible for 8 killings up to 2001. Six of its victims have been civilians, one was a member of the Ulster Defence Association loyalist paramilitaries and one was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The University of Ulster (UU) is a multi-centre university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest single university on the island of Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. ...