Orange Volunteers

A Loyalist paramilitary group formed in the early 1970s which was associated with the Orange Order. The group was headed by Bob Marno an ex-serviceman. At one time the OV was the second largest Loyalist paramilitary group after the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The OV was also associated with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The organisation was involved in the Ulster Workers Council strike of 1974 and it also supported the Loyalist strike of 1977. The OV was believed to have ceased to exist during the 1980s. During 1998 a Loyalist paramilitary group using the name Orange Volunteers (OV) claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on Catholics and Catholic property. It is believed the new group is made up of dissident Loyalists, from a number of other paramilitary organisations, who are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement. It is believed that the OV are comprised of former members of the Loyalist Voluntee Force (LVF) and also elements of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). The OV appeared on the scene at approximately the same time as the Red Hand Defenders (RHD) another group of dissident Loyalists who are opposed to the peace Agreement. The police have expressed the opinion that the OV and the RHD share the same membership. On Tuesday 19 January 1999 David Ervine, then leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), claimed on BBC Radio Ulster that the OV was largely made up of Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) members and was a combination of Protestant fundamentalists and drug dealers. Membership: The RHD and the OV are the most recent Loyalist paramilitary organisations and both came to prominence in 1998. A number of commentators believe the two groups draw on the same pool of support which may number several dozen. Arsenal: Both organisations have used home-made 'pipe bombs' (or blast bombs), but also appear to have access to grenades and hand guns. (See also: Red Hand Defenders.)