Northern Ireland - Belfast - Loyalist Red Hand Defenders mural

On a brick wall is a painted red hand that grips an Armalite automatic weapon which has been painted on to a street wall of a house off the protestant Shankhill Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The red hand is actually better-known as The Red Hand Defenders (RHD), a Northern Irish paramilitary 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 (largely those who once belonged to the now disbanded 2nd Battalion, C Company) and Loyalist Volunteer Force, most of whom are still part of the latter organisation.

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Filename: belfast_murals002-26-09-1996_1.jpg
Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 3016x1989 / 496.6KB; http://www.bakerpictures.com; Belfast Britain British Northern Ireland graffiti irish politics province sectarian six counties terrorism threatening troubles urban Protestant Shankhill Road Loyalist painted mural wall backdrop propaganda political hardliners paramilitary RHD Red Hand armalite grip gripping fist symbol weapon firearm gun hand threat Ireland brick terrorist Ulster Troubles UDA armed defence attack strength strong confidence
Contained in galleries: Richard Baker - All pics

On a brick wall is a painted red hand that grips an Armalite automatic weapon which has been painted on to a street wall of a house off the protestant Shankhill Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The red hand is actually better-known as The Red Hand Defenders (RHD), a Northern Irish paramilitary 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 (largely those who once belonged to the now disbanded 2nd Battalion, C Company) and Loyalist Volunteer Force, most of whom are still part of the latter organisation.