Direct Action Against Drugs was a vigilante group in Northern Ireland that claimed responsibility for the killing of a number of alleged drug dealers.^[1] The organisation was allegedly a front name used by the Provisional IRA in claiming responsibility for the killings. It was made up of IRA active members exclusively.^[2]

List of suspected DAAD attacks 1995–2001

December 1995
- Martin McCrory, a small-time drug dealer killed at his home in Turf Lodge, west Belfast.^[3]
- Chris Johnston (aged 38) was killed at his home off Ormeau Road, south Belfast.^[3]
- Francis Collins, a former member of the IRA, was killed at his chip shop in New Lodge, Belfast.^[3]
January 1996
- Ian Lyons died 2 January 1996, one day after being shot while sitting in a parked car outside a friend's home, Conor Park, Lurgan, County Armagh.^[4]
September 1996
- Séan (John) Devlin, killed in Friendly Street, Markets, south Belfast.^[4]
February 1998
- Brendan Campbell (aged 30), a convicted drug dealer, was shot dead outside a restaurant in south Belfast.^[5]
May 1999
- Brendan Joseph Fegan (aged 24), who had been described as one of Northern Ireland's main drug dealers, was shot 16 times by two gunmen in the Hermitage Bar, Newry.^[6]
June 1999
- Paul Downey (aged 37), a suspected drug dealer from Newry, was shot dead, allegedly by DAAD.^[7]
April 2001
- Christopher O'Kane, who had a reputation as a drug dealer, was gunned down as he returned to his home in the Currynieran estate, Derry, on 21 April 2001.^[8]

References

^ DAAD profile, bbc.co.uk; accessed 10 February 2016.
^ Irish Republican Army (IRA) profile, globalsecurity.org; accessed 10 February 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1995; accessed 8 November 2007.
^ ^a ^b CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1996; accessed 8 November 2007.
^ CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1998; accessed 8 November 2007.
^ McKittrick David, (1999) Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh; accessed 8 November 2007.
^ CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1999; accessed 8 November 2007.
^ "IRA 'killed man during ceasefire'". 18 October 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2024.

Provisional Irish Republican Army

General

Organisation

Actions

1970–1979	Battle of St Matthew's Falls Curfew 1970 Crossmaglen bombing Scottish soldiers' killings Red Lion bombing Balmoral showroom bombing Abercorn bombing Donegall Street bombing Battle at Springmartin Battle of Lenadoon Bloody Friday Claudy bombing Newry customs bombing Old Bailey bombing Honey Trap killings King's Cross & Euston bombings Coleraine bombings 1973 Westminster bombing M62 bombing Clogher attack Houses of Parliament bombing Tower of London bombing Guildford pub bombings Harrow School bombing Brooks's Club bombing Woolwich pub bombing British Airways bombing attempt Birmingham pub bombings London pillar box bombings Talbot Arms bombing Bristol bombing Telephone exchange bombings 1974 Oxford Street bombing Carlton Tower & Portman Hotel shootings Mountainview attack Bayardo Bar attack Forkhill attack Caterham Arms bombing Tullyvallen massacre London Hilton bombing Piccadilly bombing Trattoria Fiore bombing Scott's Oyster Bar bombing Walton's Restaurant bombing Drummuckavall ambush Balcombe Street siege Kingsmill massacre West Ham station attack Olympia bombing Store bar shooting Stag Inn attack Garryhinch ambush Jonesborough Gazelle downing La Mon restaurant bombing Crossmaglen ambush Warrenpoint ambush Brussels bombing Dungannon attack
1980–1989	Dunmurry train bombing Lough Foyle attacks Glasdrumman ambush 1981 Bessbrook attack Chelsea Barracks bombing Hyde Park & Regent's Park bombings Harrods bombing Royal Artillery Barracks bombing Brighton hotel bombing Ballygawley land mine attack Newry mortar attack Ballygawley attack Enniskillen mortar attack RUC Birches barracks attack Rheindahlen bombing Loughgall ambush Operation Flavius Corporals killings Lisburn bombing Aughanduff Lynx shootdown 1988 Netherlands attacks Glamorgan barracks bombing Inglis Barracks bombing Ballygawley bus bombing Jonesborough ambush Clive Barracks bombing Deal barracks bombing Mayobridge attack Derryard attack
1990–1991	Derrygorry Gazelle downing South Armagh sniper Downpatrick roadside bomb Operation Conservation 1990 Wembley bombing Carlton Club bombing London Stock Exchange bombing Honourable Artillery Company bombing Lichfield gun attack RFA Fort Victoria bombing Proxy bombings Downing Street mortar attack Paddington & Victoria station bombings Mullacreevie ambush Glenanne barracks bombing Coagh ambush Musgrave Park Hospital bombing Crumlin Road Prison bombing
1992–1997	Teebane bombing Clonoe ambush London Bridge bombing Staples Cnr bombing Baltic Exchange bombing Sussex Arms bombing Cloghoge attack Coalisland riots Forensic Science Laboratory bombing Stoke Newington Road bomb 1992 Manchester bombing Night of the Long Knives 1993 Harrods bombing Warrington bombings Cullaville occupation Camden bombing Bishopsgate bombing Finchley Road bombings Battle of Newry Road Shankill Road bombing 1993 Fivemiletown ambush Heathrow attacks Crossmaglen Lynx downing Drumcree conflict Docklands bombing Aldwych bus bombing 1996 Manchester bombing Hammersmith Bridge bombing Osnabrück mortar attack Thiepval barracks bombing Coalisland attack 1997 Northern Ireland riots

Personalities
(Volunteers)

Espionage and
Supergrasses

Eamon Collins
Denis Donaldson
Joseph Fenton
Kevin Fulton
Raymond Gilmour
Martin McGartland
Sean O'Callaghan
Freddie Scappaticci (allegedly "Stakeknife")

Associates

Derivatives

Prominent
killings

List of suspected DAAD attacks 1995–2001

See also

References