The killing of Bratty was greeted with relief , even by some nationalist residents of the Lower Ormeau normally opposed to violence . However , the aftermath saw three Catholics killed by the UDA in separate attacks with these sparking a series of IRA bomb attacks on loyalist bars , thus bringing about a temporary return to the spiral of tit-for-tat killing . The killings of Bratty and Elder , along with that of Ulster Democratic Party ( UDP ) leader Ray Smallwoods earlier the same month , played a central role in delaying the Combined Loyalist Military Command ( CLMC ) ceasefire . The CLMC had been considering declaring a ceasefire following the Loughinisland massacre , but reversed their decision after these three killings as they believed that any cessation of violence would have then been seen as a sign of weakness . This was confirmed by the UDP 's David Adams , who said the CLMC was ready to call a ceasefire in late June/early July 1994 , although his party colleague Gary McMichael admitted the killings of Bratty and Smallwoods convinced him that an IRA ceasefire was near as he felt these were long-standing targets who were being killed before calling a halt to hostilities
Loughinisland massacre
Loughinisland massacre
Joe Bratty