Editing John Bingham

[[File:John_Bingham.jpg|thumb]]

{{Quote|You ever write about me again and I'll blow yer fuckin' brains out, because you're not a pigeon.|John Bingham after threatening a journalist.}}

'''John Bingham''' (1953 - 1986) was a prominent member of the terrorist group known as the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] who led D Company of that group. He was assassinated by the [[Provisional IRA]] in the 1980s, making him one of a number of UVF members killed during that time.

==UVF activities==
Bingham joined the UVF at an unknown date and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, being given command of D Company. He ran a productive gun-running operation where weapons would be smuggled out of Toronto, Canada and into Ireland for use by the UVF. This ran for years, however after Bingham's death the house in Toronto that was the centre of operations was raided by police and the operation was stopped.

A UVF supergrass accused Bingham of raising funds for the UVF and claimed that he had seen him armed with an M60. AS a result, he served two and a half years in prison before his conviction was quashed.

On one occasion, Bingham allegedly placed a loaded pistol inside journalist Martin Dillon's mouth because of the latter's offensive words he had used against him. In an attempt to make amends for his threat, Bingham invited Dillon to visit him at his home in North Belfast. Dillon accepted the invitation and after several whiskeys and brandishing a pistol, Bingham offered to show him his racing pigeons as he was an avid pigeon fancier. He then told Dillon that he shouldn't believe what people said about him claiming that he couldn't harm a pigeon. As they said goodbye at the front door, Bingham reportedly murmured in a cold voice to Dillon: "You ever write about me again and I'll blow yer fuckin' brains out, because you're not a pigeon".

In July 1986, a 25-year-old Catholic civilian, Colm McCallan, was shot close to his Ligoniel home. The [[IRA]] wanted to get revenge and selected Bingham as their target, claiming that as a UVF leader he was responsible for [[Sectarianism|the increasing number of violent attacks against Catholic civilians]] and sent gunmen to his home. He was shot multiple times in the legs and then three more times trying to escape out a secret door. He was 33 years old.
[[Category:List]]
[[Category:Deceased]]
[[Category:Imprisoned]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Male]]
[[Category:Modern Villains]]
[[Category:Anti-Catholic]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Weapon Dealer]]
[[Category:Thugs]]
[[Category:Brutes]]
[[Category:Murderer]]