David Ervine was the youngest of five children born to Walter and Elizabeth Ervine , and raised in a Protestant working-class area of east Belfast between the Albertbridge and Newtownards roads . His household was not loyalist at all , his father Walter described himself as a socialist , had no time for Ian Paisley and did n't attend church . When Ervine joined the Orange Order aged 18 , he said he was the first member of his family to ever be a member . His membership however did n't last long . Like many in his situation , he grew up closely identifying with his community and absorbed the Ulster Unionism ideals and opinions that go along with this identity . He left Orangefield High School at 14 , and at the age of 19 Ervine joined the Ulster Volunteer Force ( UVF ) , believing this to be the only way to ensure the defence of the Protestant community after the events of Bloody Friday . A neighbour of Ervine 's who was a member of the Ulster Defence Association ( UDA ) William Irvine , had died in one of the bomb blasts on Bloody Friday . Before joining the UVF Ervine had attempted to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary ( RUC ) , but due to a misdemeanour in his childhood involving a stolen bicycle , he was refused entry
Bloody Friday
Bloody Friday (1972)
David Ervine