16 Facts About Sammy Duddy

Sammy Duddy later became a leading member of the Ulster Political Research Group, which provided political advice to that organisation.

Sammy Duddy's father was originally from Derry but had settled in Belfast and served in the B Specials during World War II.

Sammy Duddy attended a local secondary modern school where he displayed a talent for writing, and would often compose valentines for his classmates in return for Dinky cars or pens.

At the age of 15, Sammy Duddy was apprenticed to a letterpress printer.

Sammy Duddy was initially known in Belfast for his drag queen act, performing in the city's clubs and pubs as "Samantha".

Sammy Duddy's costume consisted of a long, black wig, fishnet tights, prosthetic breasts and heavy make-up.

Sammy Duddy joined the paramilitary organisation, the Ulster Defence Association in 1971, the year it was formed.

Sammy Duddy, who was known as a literate and well-spoken individual from his involvement in the Westland housing association, was in the early 1970s employed by then UDA leader Andy Tyrie to work as part of his staff at the UDA headquarters at 254A Shankill Road.

Sammy Duddy rose to prominence within the organisation in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he served as the UDA's public relations officer along with Hester Dunn.

Sammy Duddy went on to serve as the editor of UDA magazine Ulster for a time and in 1983 published a book of his poetry entitled Concrete Whirlpools of the Mind which received praise for its sensitive treatment of the problems for young working-class men drawn into violence.

Sammy Duddy was briefly a suspect in the UDA killing of Catholic lawyer, Pat Finucane in 1989; UDA brigadier Ken Barrett was later convicted of the shooting.

Sammy Duddy was charged with possession of classified security force documents which had been passed to the UDA and contained the names of republicans which the UDA used to target Provisional IRA members.

Sammy Duddy retired from active loyalism in the 1990s, but was recalled by the UPRG to help rebuild their image after the collapse of the Ulster Democratic Party and the split from Johnny Adair and John White.

Sammy Duddy was the North Belfast representative for the UPRG.

Sammy Duddy died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on 17 October 2007, aged 62, after suffering a massive heart attack.

Sammy Duddy's name was given to the Sammy Duddy Conflict Transformation Centre, the headquarters of the North Belfast UPRG on York Road.