Protestant paramilitaries

Protestant paramilitaries are militant groups composed mainly of Protestant unionists in Northern Ireland, aiming to maintain Northern Ireland’s union with Britain and oppose Irish nationalist groups seeking unification with Ireland. These groups often used violence or intimidation during the Troubles (late 1960s–1998) to defend their community’s political and religious identity. Examples include the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA). While ceasefires and peace agreements have reduced their activity, they remain a part of Northern Ireland’s complex history of sectarian conflict.