Smallwoods ' killing was one of a series of attacks by the IRA during the middle of 1994 in which top loyalists and other opponents , such as Martin Cahill , were targeted before the movement went on ceasefire . Smallwoods ' killing , as well as the killings of Joe Bratty and Raymond Elder twenty days later , were claimed at the time to be in revenge for the Loughinisland massacre . The attack was condemned by his Progressive Unionist colleague David Ervine as a " totally cynical exercise " given Smallwoods ' work towards peace . For their part , the IRA claimed that Smallwoods had actually been involved in directing UDA terror . For the UDA , Smallwoods was a double loss as he was both an important director of their campaign of violence and also , increasingly , a moderating influence , who was seeking to move the UDA away from violence . His funeral was held on 14 July , where Reynolds and Reid were amongst the mourners whilst his pallbearers included Democratic Unionist Party politicians Peter Robinson and Sammy Wilson
Loughinisland massacre
Loughinisland massacre
Ray Smallwoods