24 Facts About Davy Payne

Davy Payne was first in command of the Shankill Road brigade of the Ulster Freedom Fighters, which was the "cover name" of the militant branch of the UDA.

Davy Payne was arrested after being stopped at a Royal Ulster Constabulary checkpoint while driving the "scout" car for his UDA colleagues whose cars' boots contained large caches of weapons imported from Lebanon.

Davy Payne was convicted and sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Davy Payne's family belonged to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.

Davy Payne remained a member of the church in adulthood and regularly attended services at the Martyrs' Memorial Church, the group's headquarters on the Ravenhill Road in south-east Belfast.

Davy Payne was one of the original members of the Ulster Defence Association when it was formed from Ulster loyalist vigilante groups in September 1971.

Davy Payne, who had been a supporter of Gusty Spence and had rioted in 1966 following Spence's arrest, had been a member of both the Ulster Volunteer Force and Tara but took his entire "team" over to the UDA upon that organisation's foundation.

Davy Payne became commander of the UDA's C Company, 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade, afterwards he commanded the Shankill Road brigade of the Ulster Freedom Fighters, which was the "cover name" of the UDA's militant branch.

Davy Payne was described as the UDA's most violent and feared killer, and was a member of the Orange Order, belonging to the Old Boyne Island Heroes Lodge.

Davy Payne was said to have invented the notorious "romper rooms" where the UDA interrogated and tortured their victims.

Davy Payne served as the UDA's "Provost-Marshall", the officer in charge of maintaining internal discipline.

Davy Payne was described by Wood as having been a friend of Tyrie.

Davy Payne went to those people and told them I was under his protection and I have no doubt this saved my life.

In June 1973, Davy Payne reportedly took part in the double killing of Social Democratic and Labour Party Senator Paddy Wilson and his companion, Irene Andrews, a Protestant.

Davy Payne was never convicted of any of the murders that were attributed to him.

RUC Special Patrol Group officer John Weir alleged that Davy Payne had been involved in the Dublin car bombings on 17 May 1974 in which 26 people in three city-centre explosions were killed.

Davy Payne, when questioned earlier, denied he had been involved in the car bombings, although he admitted to having met Weir in prison.

Davy Payne left the UDA in the mid-1970s over the continuing allegations that he had misappropriated UDA funds.

However, rather than contest the allegations Davy Payne closed down his operations and, having rebuilt his relationship with Tyrie, accepted his invitation to return as North Belfast Brigadier.

Tyrie reportedly worried that the Brigade was making no money and feared a small group of members who were carrying out a series of sectarian murders under their own steam and felt that Davy Payne could restore order to the area.

Davy Payne was not popular with many local members, who resented his bullying techniques.

At the head of a small convoy of vehicles, Davy Payne was driving the "scout" car for his UDA colleagues whose own cars' boots contained the UDA's share of a large consignment of weapons which had been smuggled from Lebanon and destined for loyalist paramilitaries.

Fibres from Davy Payne's clothing were found on the weapons, and his name had been used as a reference for hiring the cars.

Davy Payne died of a heart attack in March 2003 at the age of 54.