Are loyalist paramilitaries still a thing? Like as in actually active rather than just being activists or whatever? Is it still religiously motivated, identitarian (like Gibraltar) or just tribalism?
All are still active but fractured and factions are still involved serious criminality. All kinda have their own territories and strongholds. All the groups still have access to weapons and even acquired new ones even though they've meant to be decommissioned.
I'll sum it up as best i can.
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) & Red Hand Commando (RHC): The UVF and RHC still exist but at a reduced scale, they're trying involve themselves in peaceful community work and some are involved with the left wing PUP (progressive unionist party).
However members and ex members are still involved in criminality, sectarian riots and shootings.
Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters (UDA//UFF): While the UFF is no longer effectively in existence but the UDA still is. Today the UDA is extremely fractured, volatile with no central leadership and still involved in criminality like drug dealing, extortion, pimping and Sectarian and Racist attacks.
The South East Antrim Brigade of the UDA is splintered and in the middle of a internal feud that has claimed the lives of a couple of people over the last few months.
How ever "mainstream" elements of the UDA such as the South Belfast Brigade is still trying the push the organization to a more peaceful, community role like what the UVF are trying to do.
Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF): Elements of the LVF still exist even after being effectively destroyed in a feud with the UVF, what ever is left of the LVF has no real presence outside of their few strongholds such as Lurgan, Ballycraigy estate in Antrim and Eastvale estate in Dungannon.
The LVF is still heavily involved in criminality such as drug dealing and extortion, and still heavily involved in Racist and Sectarian violence.
It possibly still has connections with British Neo Nazi groups such as Combat 18, Blood & Honor and the Racial Volunteer Force.
Orange Volunteers (OV): Only really exists in Stoneyford village, still heavily involved in sectarian attacks such as committing arson/vandalism on Catholic Churches and GAA fields and Intimidating catholics out of the surrounding area.
The leader is a pedo who claims to have been set up by MI5.
The OV is heavily infiltrated at the moment.
Ulster Resistance(UR): still possibly sitting on a large stockpile of weapons.
the group is very secretive and hasn't been officially heard from since the late 80's, nobody know if it still exists or not.
everybody!