THE Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), which yesterday issued the threat to "citizens of the Republic" if the Government continues to "interfere" in the affairs of Northern Ireland, is the creation of the imprisoned Portadown loyalist, Billy Wright.
Wright played a prominent role last year at Drumcree, associating openly with leading unionist and Orange figures although it was an open secret that he was the head of a local loyalist gang which had been responsible for some of the worst acts of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
Until last year Wright was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), but he was expelled from the organisation after members of his unit shot dead a Catholic taxi-driver, Mr Michael McGoldrick, in Co Armagh during last July's Drumcree stand-off.
Wright, who courted publicity and was said by associates to revel in tales of his notoriety, joined forces with the former south Belfast commander of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a man who had also been expelled from his organisation after differences with other figures in the UDA.
Wright and this man brought together a group of up to 20 men and laid on a number of late-night displays for journalists last year. One of these was interrupted by the RUC and a number of men, including the ex-UDA man, were arrested. They received light sentences, as only imitation firearms were found at the scene. They are due to be released later this month.
Other members of the group were arrested in connection with arms finds and an attempted robbery in mid-Ulster and are awaiting trial. Altogether there are 15 LVF prisoners in the Maze. The group has a troubled relationship with other loyalists and threatened prison staff during a dispute over accommodation.
The LVF has attracted some of the most sectarian elements of the main loyalist organisations, the UDA and UVF.
One ex-UVF man from south Antrim is believed to have joined the LVF and is suspected of being involved in the murder of the GAA official, Mr Sean Brown (61), in Bellaghy, Co Derry, on May 12th last.
Mr Brown was beaten savagely and shot before being driven about 10 miles to Randalstown, Co Antrim, where he was shot dead. It is understood Mr Brown was tortured, being stabbed and burned with cigarettes before being killed. This type of murder had not happened in Northern Ireland for several years.
The group claimed responsibility for planting a bomb in an alley of the main street in Dundalk on May 26th last. The device was crude but was said by gardai to contain a stick of commercial explosive.
In June, the LVF was included in the list of proscribed organisations in the North along with the IRA Continuity Army Council (CAC) group, which is associated with the splinter republican party, Republican Sinn Fein.
Wright was imprisoned two months ago for threatening the life of a woman, a Protestant neighhour, during an argument.
However, it is understood he has continued to hold influence over the organisation, using a mobile telephone from inside the prison.
It is suspected the group has grown despite Wright's imprisonment, attracting former members of the UDA and UVF as well as some of the non- aligned loyalists who have been involved in the protests of the last year.
It is suspected a number of LVF figures were involved in the Saturday night protests outside the Catholic church in Ballymena until recently, when Mass was suspended for the summer.
Loyalist sources say the LVF is currently headed by an associate of Wright's, another former UVF man who lives in Portadown. It has been thought likely the group will engage in sectarian violence inside Northern Ireland, but aside from the minor foray into Dundalk it had not previously shown any sign of carrying out attacks inside the Republic.
Some loyalist sources have speculated the group could intend targeting politicians or other figures from the Republic who have been acting as "observers" at some of the contentious loyalist march routes.