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Billy Hutchinson

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Billy Hutchinson
President of theProgressive Unionist Party
Assumed office
14 June 2023
LeaderRussell Watton
Preceded byHugh Smyth
Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
In office
15 October 2011 – 14 June 2023
DeputyJohn Kyle
Russell Watton
Preceded byBrian Ervine
Hugh Smyth(Interim)
Succeeded byRussell Watton
Member of
Belfast City Council
In office
22 May 2014 – 20 May 2023
Preceded byHugh Smyth
Succeeded byRon McDowell
ConstituencyCourt
In office
21 May 1997 – 5 May 2005
Preceded byFred Rodgers
Succeeded byFred Cobain
ConstituencyOldpark
Member of theNorthern Ireland Assembly
forBelfast North
In office
25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded byNew creation
Succeeded byKathy Stanton
Personal details
Born
William Hutchinson

1955 (age 68–69)
Shankill,Belfast,Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyProgressive Unionist Party
OrganizationUlster Volunteer Force(UVF)
Criminal chargeMurder

Billy "Hutchie" Hutchinson(born 1955) is a Northern IrishUlster Loyalistpolitician and activist who served as leader of theProgressive Unionist Party(PUP) from 2011 to 2023, now serving as party president. He was aBelfast City Councillor,representingOldparkfrom1997to2005,and thenCourtfrom2014to2023.Hutchinson was aMember of the Northern Ireland Assembly(MLA) forBelfast Northfrom1998to2003.Before this, he had been a member of theUlster Volunteer Force(UVF) and was a founder of their youth wing, theYoung Citizen Volunteers(YCV).

UVF activity[edit]

A native of theShankill Road,Belfast,Hutchinson took part in a series of riots in the area, during which Shankill dwellers clashed with residents of the neighbouringnationalistUnity Flats area. Members of the UVF fired shots at Unity Flats and it was around this time Hutchinson became a member of the organisation, describing his part in the rioting as "my initiation" into the UVF.[1]A strong supporter ofLinfield F.C.,Hutchinson would often lead his fellow Shankill-based supporters in throwing stones and singing loyalist songs at the Unity Flats as they returned from the club'sWindsor Parkhome of theLisburn Road.These young loyalists formed the basis of the reformed YCV, which Hutchinson played a leading role in re-establishing in the early 1970s.[2]Hutchinson was in charge of recruitment for this group in its early years, aided byBilly Spence.[3]

In October 1974, Hutchinson and a fellow YCV member, Thomas Winstone, drove up Northumberland Street (which links the Shankill to the neighbouringFalls Road, Belfast,arepublicanarea) at 7:30 in the morning. They came upon two Catholic men, Michael Loughran and Edward Morgan, walking to work and shot and killed them both. Both men were arrested soon afterwards and were both charged with murder to which they pleaded guilty, receiving life sentences. Hutchinson had been the driver of the car whilst Winstone was the shooter. Both men were aged nineteen at the time of their attack.[4]

In prison[edit]

Sent to prison inLong Keshin 1975, Hutchinson, like many other young UVF inmates, came under the influence ofGusty Spence,a founder of the modern UVF who had begun a conversion to political methods. Hutchinson had already known Spence as the two had spoken on a few occasions during 1972 when Spence, aided by his nephewFrankie Curry,had escaped from prison for a few months.[5]Hutchinson had served as Spence's bodyguard briefly and had been in his company the day Spence was recaptured.[6]In the prison Hutchinson, along with the likes ofDavid Ervine,Eddie Kinner,Billy MitchellandWilliam "Plum" Smith,was convinced by Spence that loyalism needed to develop a more political side to its agenda and Spence encouraged these younger members to become involved in this development.[7]In 1977 when Spence advocated a policy of dialogue with republicans, Hutchinson and Mitchell co-authored a letter to UVF members on the outside endorsing Spence's call.[8]Whilst in prison Hutchinson took a degree insocial sciencesand a diploma in town planning.[4]with theOpen University.[9]

Spence resigned from the UVF in 1978 and, after a period of collective leadership by the "officers commanding" of each prison compound, Hutchinson succeeded him as leader of the UVF in Long Kesh. This arrangement did not last long, as the UVF prisoners had grown tired of the strict disciplinary regime initiated by Spence which Hutchinson attempted to continue.[10]However, before long the extreme lack of discipline that then ensued became too much for several senior figures to stand and as a consequence in 1984 Hutchinson took control again, holding the post until his release from prison in 1990.[11]

Hutchinson was also nominated by the UVF as their point of contact withJohn de Chastelainand theIndependent International Commission on Decommissioningand he helped to ensure the eventual decommissioning of some UVF weapons in 2009.[12]This was despite the fact that Hutchinson had been a noted sceptic on the issue and had criticisedDavid Trimblebecause of it, arguing that his insistence on republican decommissioning was in fact damaging the peace process.[13]

Progressive Unionist Party[edit]

Soon after his release from prison Hutchinson became active in theProgressive Unionist Party(PUP) and began working towards the establishment of theNorthern Ireland peace process.During the early 1990s Hutchinson andDavid Ervinebecame more familiar faces in the media, presenting loyalist political demands. Both men were influenced by the example ofSinn Féin,who had demonstrated that an articulate media presence could ensure that paramilitary groups' demands might be heard.[14]Hutchinson and Ervine in particular became close personal friends as well as colleagues and also enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Hutchinson being a Linfield-supporting west Belfast man and Ervine from the east of the city and aGlentoran F.C.fan.[15]Along with Spence and Ervine, Hutchinson was a strong advocate of moves towards peace and he played a leading role in helping to convince UVF commanders to endorse theCombined Loyalist Military Commandceasefire in 1994.[16]Following the announcement of the ceasefire Hutchinson was part of a six-man delegation representing the PUP and theUlster Democratic Party(UDP) that toured the United States.[17]

Hutchinson became known as a strong supporter of the peace process, not least during an incident in Northwest Belfast in the summer of 1996. Protestants in the loyalist enclave of Torrens – a small area between the mainly nationalist Oldpark and Cliftonville roads – had been involved in a stand-off with Catholics in neighbouringArdoyneand this had escalated when a number ofProvisional IRAmembers entered Ardoyne to protect residents.[according to whom?]Members of the UVF then entered Torrens, having retrieved weapons (including anAK-47) from an arms dump, and a clash between the two groups looked imminent. When Hutchinson learned of this he entered Torrens and convinced the UVF members to put down their weapons, even standing in front of the AK-47 wielder to prevent him approaching Ardoyne. The weapon was removed and the UVF left the area with the incident defusing as a result.[18]He also spoke at an event in the nationalistBogsidearea ofDerry,during which he expressed support for the possibility of non-executive cross-border bodies before posing for pictures with local Sinn Féin activist Robin Perceval.[19]

PUP leader[edit]

In October 2011 Billy Hutchinson was elected leader of theProgressive Unionist Partyat the party's annual conference in succession toBrian Ervine.[20]In this role Hutchinson took a leading role in the December 2012campaign of protestsand road blockades by loyalists followingBelfast City Councilpassing a resolution to end the practice of flying theUnion flagfromBelfast City Hallall year round and instead to limit its use to certain designated days. Hutchinson suggested that the process by which the vote was held may not have been legal and on 15 December stated that he would make an announcement about a legal challenge in the "next few days".[21]

In 2013, Hutchinson announced his intention to run in both forthcoming council and parliamentary elections. He claimed that he would focus his attentions onSouth Antrim.[22]

After losing his council seat at the2023 local elections,Hutchinson resigned as PUP leader the following month, succeeded by Russell Watton.

Elections[edit]

Hutchinson was a candidate for the PUP inNorth Belfastin the 1996 election to theNorthern Ireland Forum.[23]He was not elected although the PUP managed to win two seats in the interim body. He returned as North Belfast candidate for the1998 electionto the newNorthern Ireland Assemblyand was elected to this body. Hutchinson lost his seat in the2003 electionafter theDemocratic Unionist Partyand Sinn Féin took an extra seat each.[24]

He ran again in North Belfast at the2016and2022elections, but was unsuccessful in returning to the Assembly.

Hutchinson ran for the PUP in the1997 local government electionand was elected toBelfast City Councilas a representative of theOldpark District Electoral Area,topping the poll among unionist candidates in this area.[25]He retained the seat in2001but lost it in2005toFred Cobainof theUlster Unionist Party.[26]

At the2014 Northern Ireland local elections,Hutchinson returned to Belfast City Council, this time as a representative for theCourtDEA, succeeding former PUP Leader,Hugh Smyth.He topped the poll, with 1674 first preference votes, and successfully retained his seat in the2019 local elections.

In the2023 local elections,he lost his seat to theTraditional Unionist Voice(TUV) candidate, leaving the PUP with no representation on Belfast City Council.

2000 feud[edit]

In 2000 Hutchinson was caught up in aloyalist feudthat broke out between the UVF and theWest Belfast Brigadeof theUlster Defence Association(UDA). The roots of Hutchinson's involvement lay three years earlier in the immediate aftermath of the killing ofLoyalist Volunteer Force(LVF) leaderBilly Wrightby theIrish National Liberation Army(INLA). Wright had been close to the West Belfast UDA and as a result their leading hitmanStephen McKeagshot up a Catholic bar in the Cliftonville Road in retaliation.

The UDA encouraged the LVF to claim the attack but when the claim was made Hutchinson refuted it and placed the blame on the UDA. He received a strong rebuke for this from the UDP'sJohn White,who accused Hutchinson of working with Sinn Féin and theSDLPagainst the UDA.[27]The war of words had ignited despite the fact that Hutchinson and White had enjoyed a close friendship in prison.[28]

After violent clashes between members of both groups on the Shankill Road the UVF shot and killed two men close to the UDA's West Belfast leadership,Jackie CoulterandBobby Mahood.The UDA BrigadierJohnny Adairwas enraged by this development and, seeing Hutchinson being interviewed about the feud on television, phoned one of his deputiesJim Spence,who lived near Hutchinson, and allegedly told him to "go and shoot him right now". Spence told Adair he would but delayed as he wanted to end the feud with as little bloodshed as possible whilst his phone had been tapped byRUC Special Branchwho were able to warn Hutchinson. As a result, the attack did not occur.[29]On 31 October of that same year, Bertie Rice, a friend of Hutchinson and a voluntary worker at his constituency office, was shot and killed by members of the UDA's North Belfast Brigade who were close to Adair.[30]

Subsequent activity[edit]

In October 2007 Hutchinson was arrested in connection with the August 2005 murder of Catholic teenager Thomas Devlin. A protest followed outside the police station in which he was being held although ultimately Hutchinson was released without charge. Hutchinson was at the time a community worker in the Mount Vernon estate on Belfast'sShore Road,the area in which it was thought the killers were based.[31]

In July 2010 he attended a protest at anAsdastore on theShore Road, Belfastregarding the sacking of an employee. The employee was dismissed due to a complaint about him making a remark construed as promoting the loyalist song,The Sash.After an appeal the employee was reinstated.[32][33]

In March 2014, in an interview with theBelfast Newsletter,Hutchinson was quoted as saying that he had "no regrets" about his past in relation to the random murders of his two Catholic victims in 1974, claiming that he had helped to prevent aunited Irelandby his actions.[34]

Beliefs[edit]

Hutchinson has often stressed the importance of the working class nature ofloyalismand has argued in favour of socialism. His declared support for socialism also came in for strong criticism from thenUVF Mid-Ulster Brigadecommander Billy Wright whose virulent opposition toleft-wing politicshelped to push him away from the mainstream UVF.[35]John Gregg,Brigadier of theUDA South East Antrim Brigadeand, like Wright, a man with close links to far right groups in England, was also a strong critic of Hutchinson and accused him of thinking "like a republican".[36]Hutchinson has conceded that some of his ideas were influenced by contact withOfficial IRAmembers with whom he studied in prison.[37]

In a 2020 interview, Hutchinson stated, "I justify everything I did in the Troubles. To stay sane, I have to."[38]

Hutchinson is anatheist[39]and has never been a member of theOrange Order.[40]

Writing[edit]

Hutchinson's memoir,My Life in Loyalism,is published by Merrion Press in November 2020.[41]

References[edit]

  1. ^Taylor, Peter (2000).Loyalists.London: Bloomsbury. p. 72.
  2. ^Taylor,Loyalists,pp. 81–82
  3. ^Garland, Roy(2001).Gusty Spence.Oxford: Blackstaff Press. p. 52.
  4. ^abTaylor,Loyalists,p. 140
  5. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,p. 143
  6. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,p. 153
  7. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,pp. 174–175
  8. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,p. 217
  9. ^"Billy Hutchinson – Open University Digital Archive".Open University.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2021.Retrieved3 May2020.
  10. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,p. 230
  11. ^Garland,Gusty Spence,pp. 234–235
  12. ^"Loyalist paramilitary groups start weapons decommissioning".Belfast Telegraph.27 June 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2012.Retrieved3 May2020.
  13. ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 307
  14. ^Jim Cusack & Henry McDonald,UVF,Poolbeg, 1997, pp. 294–295
  15. ^Henry Sinnerton,David Ervine: Uncharted Waters,p. 100
  16. ^Cusack & McDonald,UVF,p. 320
  17. ^Henry McDonald & Jim Cusack,UDA – Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror,Penguin Ireland, 2004, p. 275
  18. ^Cusack & McDonald,UVF,p. 345
  19. ^Cusack & McDonald,UVF,pp. 323–324
  20. ^"Hutchinson elected PUP leader".UTV.15 October 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2013.
  21. ^McKeown, Lesley-Anne (15 December 2012)."Billy Hutchinson: Union flag 'may soon fly again' at Belfast City Hall".Belfast Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2021.Retrieved11 May2021.
  22. ^Purdy, Martina (29 August 2013)."PUP discuss strategies for council and European elections".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 16 September 2018.Retrieved3 May2020.
  23. ^"1996 Forum Elections: Candidates in North Belfast".Ark.Archivedfrom the original on 22 August 2009.Retrieved3 May2020.
  24. ^Nicholas (3 June 1998)."North Belfast".Ark.Archivedfrom the original on 8 August 2007.Retrieved3 May2020.
  25. ^Sinnerton,David Ervine,p. 196
  26. ^Dr Nicholas Whyte."Belfast City Council Elections 1993–2011".Ark.ac.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2018.Retrieved3 May2020.
  27. ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 296
  28. ^Lister & Jordan,Mad Dog,p. 278
  29. ^David Lister & Hugh Jordan,Mad Dog: The Rise and Fall of Johnny Adair and 'C' Company,Mainstream, 2004, pp. 291–293
  30. ^Lister & Jordan,Mad Dog,p. 295
  31. ^'Hutchinson released from custody'Archived22 October 2007 at theWayback MachinefromThe News Letter
  32. ^"100 people stage protest at Asda store in north Belfast".BBC News.17 July 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2021.Retrieved11 May2021.
  33. ^"Asda reinstates Sash remark employee but denies bowing to protest".Belfast Telegraph.21 July 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2021.Retrieved11 May2021.
  34. ^McBride, Sam (19 March 2014)."My murder of two Catholics helped prevent united Ireland – PUP leader Billy Hutchinson".News Letter.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2015.Retrieved10 June2017.
  35. ^Cusack & McDonald,UVF,p. 350
  36. ^Susan McKay,Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People,Blackstaff Press, 2005, p. 91
  37. ^Sinnerton,David Ervine,p. 116
  38. ^McClements, Freya."Billy Hutchinson: 'I justify everything I did in the Troubles. To stay sane, I have to'".The Irish Times.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2020.Retrieved21 November2020.
  39. ^"Our flag stays red, white and blue?".Socialist Review Contents.December 1999.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2007.Retrieved11 May2021.
  40. ^Sinnerton,David Ervine,p. 211
  41. ^"My Life in Loyalism".Irish Academic Press.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2020.Retrieved28 July2020.

External links[edit]

Northern Ireland Assembly
New assembly MLAforBelfast North
1998–2003 		Succeeded by
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