John White (loyalist)

John White is a former leading loyalist in Northern Ireland. He was sometimes known by the nickname 'Coco'. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/3006394.stm John "Coco" White] ]

White began his career in loyalism with a group called the Woodvale Defence Association, a Shankill based paramilitary group, in the early 1970s. Before long the WDA was absorbed into the Ulster Defence Association and White became one of this group's leading members, being credited with inventing the Ulster Freedom Fighters pseudonym that helped the UDA to avoid being outlawed. [ [http://www.irishecho.com/search/searchstory.cfm?id=6646&issueid=133 A View North Loyalist art critics paint Belfast red, "Irish Echo"] ]

White was responsible for the killing of the Roman Catholic Social Democratic and Labour Party Senator Paddy Wilson, who was stabbed to death in 1973 along with Irene Andrews, Wilson's Protestant assistant, who had her breasts cut off in the attack. White confessed to the murder in 1978 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Whilst in prison White came into contact with members of the Workers Party, who convinced him that political aims might be better achieved by breaking from violence. He also studied with the Open University and gained a degree in Social sciences and criminology.

Upon his release in 1992, White joined the Ulster Democratic Party and became a familiar face as the party worked with the Progressive Unionist Party to help broker a loyalist ceasefire. Initially a strong supporter of the Belfast Agreement, White was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum talks body in 1995, although he (along with the UDP as a whole) failed to gain a seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Given his background within loyalism, White became the closest UDP member to Johnny Adair and began to work closely with the 'C' Company commander, much to the concern of many of his fellow UDP politicians, who saw Adair as a destabilising influence, especially in relations with the Ulster Volunteer Force. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2426507.stm Loyalist dismisses UDA statement, BBC News] ] White continued to side with Adair during a loyalist feud which followed, and, in October 2002 he was expelled from the UDA by fax in front of the media at his Shankill Road office.

The feud escalated over the rest of the year until January 2003, when 'C' Company was blamed on the murder of John Gregg. Feeling himself to be a target for reprisal attacks, White fled to Scotland soon after. White, whose precise whereabouts are still unclear, stated soon afterwards that he was done with the UDA and loyalism in general. A 2003 "Panorama" programme stated White was living in the Salford area of Manchester. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/3006394.stm Gangsters at war, "Panorama"] ]

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