Ray Smallwoods - Death

Death

As UDP chair Smallwoods became a prominent figure as the UDA moved towards a ceasefire and emerged as an articulate voice of loyalist politics. Smallwoods, however, was not to see these developments as he was killed by the Provisional IRA in Lisburn on 11 July 1994. The attack, which occurred in the garden of his house on Lisburn's Donard Drive, was witnessed by his wife Linda.

Smallwoods' killing was one of a series of attacks by the PIRA during the summer of 1994 in which top loyalists and other opponents, such as Martin Cahill, were targeted before the movement went on ceasefire. Smallwoods' killing, as well as the killings of Joe Bratty and Raymond Elder twenty days later, were claimed at the time to be in revenge for the Loughinisland massacre. The attack was condemned by his Progressive Unionist colleague David Ervine as a "totally cynical exercise" given Smallwoods' work towards peace. For their part the IRA claimed that Smallwoods had actually been involved in directing UDA terror. For the UDA Smallwoods was a double loss as he was both an important director of their campaign of violence and also increasingly a moderating influence who was seeking to move the UDA away from violence. His funeral was held on 14 July where Reynolds and Reid were amongst the mourners whilst his pall bearers included Democratic Unionist Party politicians Peter Robinson and Sammy Wilson.

The loyalists decided not to retaliate Smallwoods' murder and instead on 15 July released a statement that had been drafted by Smallwoods shortly before his murder in which the CLMC said it would go on ceasefire if the PIRA did so. He was succeeded as leader of the UDP by Gary McMichael, the son of John McMichael.