History

Counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone.

Northern Ireland is today one of the four countries of the United Kingdom, (although it is also described by official sources as a province or a region) situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, having been created as a separate legal entity on 3 May 1921, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. The new autonomous Northern Ireland was formed from six of the nine counties of Ulster: four counties with unionist majorities, and Fermanagh and Tyrone, two  of the five Ulster counties which had nationalist majorities. In large part unionists, at least in the northeast, supported its creation while nationalists were opposed. Subsequently, on 6 December 1922, the whole island of Ireland became an independent dominion known as the Irish Free State but Northern Ireland immediately exercised its right to opt out of the new dominion.

Heraldry

On the creation of the Irish Free State (1922) a new Great Seal was created for Northern Ireland. Also, in 1923, a seal was created for Southern Ireland, with King George on the seal and the Harp of Ireland on the counterseal. The image of King George V was only removed when Ireland became a republic (1937).

Northern Ireland

George VI

King 1937 - 1948

On the creation of the Irish Free State (1922) a new Great Seal was created for Northern Ireland.

Obverse of the seal of King George VI (1937-‘48)  for Northern Ireland (Æ 15,7 cm)

The legend reads: GEORGIUS VI MAG BRIT HIB & TERRA TRANSVAR QUAE IN DII SUN I BRIT REX F.D. IND IMP.

Reverse of the Great Seal of George VI for Northern Ireland

The royal arms for Northern Ireland on the seal are:

Arms: ¼ of England, Scotland and Ireland and on an escutceon Or/Argent, a cross Gules for Ulster

Crown: The Crown of St. Edward.[1]

The Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland was granted to the Government of Northern Ireland in 1924, after the Irish Free State had separated from the United Kingdom.

Neville Rodwell Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms, had designed the great seal and flag of Northern Ireland in 1923. In January 1924 he held discussions with Northern Ireland officials in London regarding the coat of arms. The final design was completed by Wilkinson's deputy Thomas Ulick Sadleir for approval by the Northern Ireland cabinet in April 1924. The artwork was approved and the Royal warrant signed by George V and issued through the Home Office on August 2, 1924 and registered in the Register of Arms in Dublin as follows:

Royal Warrant Government of Northern Ireland

Argent a cross gules, overall on a six pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the second.

Given at our Court of St. James in the 15th year of our reign 2nd August 1924 by His Majesty's command.

This was the same design as the Flag of Northern Ireland which had been designed in the previous year.

The supporters were granted in 1925, and consist of a gold lion supporting a banner of the Irish coat of arms — Azure a harp Or stringed Argent, meaning a gold harp, stringed silver, on a blue background, as represented in the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom; and a white elk with gold antlers and hooves supporting a banner of the arms of the De Burgo Earls of Ulster, the basis for the Flag of Ulster.

Official Northern Ireland Coat of Arms, 1925

Register of Arms, Dublin

By Neville-Rodwell Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms;  Thomas Ulick Sadl

Arms: Argent, a cross Gules, charged with a six-pointed star Argent, a dexter hand couped at the wrist Gules, crowned with the royal Crown of England.

Supporters: D.: A lion Gules, langued, unguled and collared Or, supporting the banner of Ireland viz. Azure, a harp Or, stringed Argent and crowned with the royal crown of England. S.: An Irish elk ppr. collared Or, supporting the banner of Ulster viz. Or, a cross Gules.

Compartment: A piedestal Or.

02.08.1924

In 1971 the College of Arms in London added the compartment on which the supporters stand. The Latin motto Quis separabit (Who shall separate). The motto was first used by the Order of St. Patrick in the 18th Century, and was also used by the British Army regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles. More recently, the motto has been used by the proscribed paramilitary group known as the Ulster Defence Association (the UDA).

When the Government of Northern Ireland was prorogued in 1972 the arms went out of official use. The grant has not been rescinded, but the arms are considered historical, as the body to which the arms were granted no longer exists and so cannot be used unless regranted to another armiger.

Instead the motif of the linen or flax plant has been adopted by the Northern Ireland Assembly as its emblem

The six flowers signify the six counties which make up Northern Ireland, while the plant itself is a reminder of the history and importance of linen in our agriculture and manufacturing industries. The blue of the flower reflects the choice of colour for the furnishings of the Assembly Chamber, while both Chambers have wall panels of damask linen.

Æ See Illustration in the head of this article

Governor of Northern Ireland, 1922-‘73

Present Counties

ANTRIM

Aontraim

ARMAGH

Ard Maċ

DERRY

Doire

DOWN

An Dún

FERMANAGH

Fear Manaċ

TYRONE

Tir Eoġain

I Ulster

Ulster is one of the four Irish provinces. Its name derives from the Irish language Cúige Uladh (pronounced "Kooi-gah UH-loo"), meaning "fifth of the Ulaidh", named for the ancient inhabitants of the region.

The province's early history extends further back than written records and survives mainly in legends such as the Ulster Cycle.

In early medieval Ireland, the Uí Néill dynasty displaced the Ulaidh and dominated Ulster from their base in Tír Eóghain, most of which forms modern County Tyrone. Among the High Kings of Ireland were Áed Findliath (†879), Niall Glúndub († 919), and Domnall ua Néill († 980), all of the Cenél nEógain branch of the Uí Néill. Their descendants took the surname Mac Lochlainn (McLaughlin), ruling the kingdom of Ailech.

Domnall Ua Lochlainn (†1121) and Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn (†1166) were of this dynasty. The Mac Lochlainn were in 1241 overthrown by their cousins, the clan Ó Néill (see O'Neill dynasty). The Ó Néill's were from then on established as Ulster's most powerful Gaelic family.

The Ó Domhnaill (O'Donnell) dynasty were Ulster's second most powerful clan from the early thirteenth-century through to the beginning of the seventeenth-century. The O'Donnells ruled over Tír Chonaill (most of modern County Donegal) in West Ulster.

After the Norman invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century, the east of the province fell by conquest to Norman barons, first De Courcy († 1219), then Hugh de Lacy (1176–1243), who founded the Earldom of Ulster based on the modern counties of Antrim and Down.

However, by the end of the 14th century the Earldom had collapsed and Ulster had become the only Irish province completely outside of English control.

In the 1600s Ulster was the last redoubt of the traditional Gaelic way of life, and following the defeat of the Irish forces in the Nine Years War (1594–1603) at the battle of Kinsale (1601), Elizabeth I's English forces succeeded in subjugating Ulster and all of Ireland.

The Gaelic leaders of Ulster, the O'Neills and O'Donnells, finding their power under English suzerainty limited, decamped en masse in 1607 (the Flight of the Earls) to Roman Catholic Europe. This allowed the English Crown to plant Ulster with more loyal English and Scottish planters, a process which began in earnest in 1610.

The arms quarterly of Leinster, Connaught, Ulster en Munster are mentioned for the first time by  William Hawkins Ulster King of Arms in 1733. The quarter for Ulster is:

Arms: Or, a cross Gules, an inescutcheon Argent charged with a dexter hand couped at the wrist also Gules.  [2]

Burke, in his “General Armory,”(1880) adds a note - “There are two other Coats on record in Ulster’s Office as the Arms of the Province, viz., Or, a lion rampant double queued gules ; and Argent, a dexter hand couped gules.” This is peculiar, for the Baronets of Ireland always carry a sinister hand ; but Sir Bernard Burke certainly quoted the Arms of Ulster as showing a dexter hand, and in the grant of arms to the Royal University of Ireland they are so quoted. [3]

Earls of Ulster

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 1st Creation (1205)

Hugh de Lacy

*1176-†1243

1st earl of Ulster 1205-1242

A.: Vert, a bordure or. Lacy, Hugh de ( 1242) Paris CM16 f. 160v.

to the crown 1242-1264

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 2nd Creation, 1264

Maud de Lacy

¥ Walter de Burgh

*1230-†1271

jure auxoris 1st Earl of Ulster1264-1271

1273 Arms: ¼ Argent and Gules, a cross passant Gules. (C164: Walter de Burg, escartillé d'argent et gules un crois passant gules; Cl169: Walter de Burg, eskartillé d'argent et de goule a une croyz de gule passant, Cd 66: Walter de Burghe, esquartelé d'argent e de gules a une croise de gules parssannt.)  [4]

Walter de Burgh Lord of Connaught, Earl of Ulster jure auxo­ris Maud, do. of Hugh de Lacy, Earl of Ulster 1241: Or a cross gu. (Burke).

Richard Og de Burgh,

2nd Earl of Ulster 1259-1326

William Donn de Burgh,

3rd Earl of Ulster 1312-1333

1334 Earl of Ulster - (E. iii Roll) bore, or, a cross gules, the ancient arms of Bigod, Earl of Norfolk; Ashmole Roll (ca 1334, Oxford Bodleian Lib., ms Ashmole 15 A) and Jenyns’ Ordinary. (Foster)

Elizabeth de Burgh,

¥ Lionel of Antwerp

Duchess of Clarence, 4th Countess of Ulster*1332-1363

1st Duke of Clarence, jure uxoris Earl of Ulster1338-1368

Arms: Argent, a cross Gules. (Gelre fol. 59 n°  629: Brough).

Burke, Burgh, De Burgh, an Anglo Norman family established in Ireland temp. Henry II by William Fitz Adelm de Burgh. The sen. branch, the De Burghs Earls of Ulster terminated in an heiress Elizabeth wife of Lionel Duke of Clarence. Or, a cross gu in a canton a lion ramp sa. Crest a cat a mountain sejant guard ppr collared and chained or. Motto Ung Roy Ung Foy Ung Loy. (Burke)

Lionel  Duke of Clarence, 5th earl 1342-1368

Gelre fol. 56 v  n°  558: Die Hertog van Clarense: ¼ France and England

.... called of Antwerp: ¼ France anc. and England, a label of 3 Argent, each point charged with a canton gules. [The distinction represents the ancient bearing of Clare, the heiress of which the duke married viz. Argent, a canton Gules (Burke)] 

Philippa Plantagenet

¥ Edmund Mortimer

Countess of March, 5th Countess of Ulster *1355-1381

3rd Earl of March, jure uxoris Earl of Ulster 1352-1381

Roger Mortimer

4th Earl of March and 6th Earl of Ulster 1381-1398

Arms: Quarterly, 1 & 4, azure, three bars or, on a chief of the first two pallets between two base esquires of the second, over all an inescutcheon argent (Morti­mer); 2 & 3, or, a cross gules (Ulster). (Earl of March and Ulster (1398)). F.-D. fig. 189).

Edmund Mortimer

5th Earl of March and 7th Earl of Ulster 1398-1425

1415 ca Arms: 1: ¼  Mortimer & Ulster; C. a bunch of feathers; S. Two lions guar­dant. (Boutell no. 407); 

[Arms:.2: Argent, a cross gules. L.: “Der graff daschlach von olten gensto (??)” (Ulrich Richental fol. 133a  De Burgh of Connaught)]

1415 ca Arms: Argent, a buck trippant Gules. L.: Der Grauff von Ultingen. (Richental fol. 133 v°) (= Maccarthys of Desmond)

Richard Plantagenet

*1411- 1460

 3rd Duke of York, 8th earl of Ulster 1425-1460

1440 ca Arms: 1/4 Mortimer & Ulster (Bergshammer n° 1905 Cot de lamarste: ¼ March and Or, a cross Gules;

From Armorial de l'Europe et de la Toison d'or

Bibliothèque Nationale Paris

Arms of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, 8th Earl of Ulster: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, quarterly, France moderne, and England, overall a label of three points each charged with three torteaux (House of York), 2nd, quarterly, Castile and Leon, 3rd, quarterly, Mortimer and de Burgh, and overall an inescutcheon gules, three lions passant guardant or a bordure Argent (Holland, Earl of Kent)

Edward Plantagenet (IV)

*1442- 1483

4th Duke of York, 9th earl of Ulster 1460

King of England 1461

In 1461 the title ‘Earl of Ulster’ came to the crown by Edward IV

Hilt of the sword of State of Wales, front and back

Coll. British Museum SLAntique. 364

Count of Kildare

Conrad Grunebergs Wappenbuch 1483 fol. 69

Richard III

King of England 1483-1485

Had a black dragon for Ulster “The bages that he beryth by the Earldom of Wolst (Ulster) ys a blacke dragon", which he had taken from his grandmother (i.e. Ann Mortimer d.o. Roger M.) from the De Burghs, Earls of Ulster [5] . 

Mary

1553-1558

James I

1603-1625

Charles I

1625-1649

Commonwealth and Protectorate

1649-1659

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 3rd Creation (1659)

James Stuart

*1633-†1701

Duke of York & Albany 1659-1701

merged in crown 1685

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 4th Creation (1716)

Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Duke of York and Albany 

1716-1728

George II

1728-1760

King of England

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 5th Creation (1760)

Edward Augustus

1739-1767

Duke of York & Albany 1760-1767

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of Ireland, 6th Creation (1784)

Prince Frederick, Duke of York

Earl of Ulster1784-1827

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of the United Kingdom, 1st Creation (1866)

Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh

Earl of Ulster 1866-1900

Earls of Ulster, Peerage of the United Kingdom, 2nd Creation (1928)

Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Earl of Ulster 1929-1974

Richard, Duke of Gloucester

* 1944

Alexander Windsor

* 1974

Prince Richard's eldest son, is the heir-apparent to the dukedom, and, as such, uses “Earl of Ulster” as a courtesy title [6]

II The O Neill

Ó Néill Kings of Tir Eogain & Earls of Tyrone

1185-1616

Descendants of Nial, first recorded King of Ireland (445-452)

After the kingship of Brian Boru (1002-1014) “during this period (prior to the 16th cent.) the O'Neills were dominant in the greater part of Ulster. The family elected a chief who was called  “The O'Neill.”

Brian mac Neill Ruiad Ó Néill

High King 1238-16 .05.1260

“Brian O’Neill of Tyrone had in fact been accepted as king by Fedlimid O Conchobair and Tadg O Briain at a famous meeting at Carluisce near Belleck on the Eerne. According to the annals they gave him the kingship of the Gaels of Ireland.” (Watt)

all subsequent kings were Ó Néills.

Aed Buide mac Domnaill Oic

†1283 

1260-1261

1263-1283

Niall Culanach mac Domnaill Oic

†1291

Rex Ultonie  [1261]-1263

1286-1290

Domnall mac Brian Ó Néill

†1325

1283; dep. 1286

res. 1290; dep. 1291

res. 1295-1325

Leader of the alliance of Irish chiefs offering the crown of Ireland to Robert the Bruce of Scotland. He sent his brother Edward who was crowned in Dundalk in May 1316.

"Edward the Bruce (Brus) was killed (1318) by dint of fierce fighting. Many Scots died with him. A special messenger was immediately dispatched to inform the Dublin exchequer of the 'great victory' and the death of Bruce. His head was sent to the king by de Bermingham, who was rewarded with a grant of the new earldom of Louth. The rest of Bruce's body was quartered. His heart, hand and one quarter were brought to Dublin and the other quarters were sent "to other places"."[7]

Æ This may be the origin of the O Neil coat of arms

Brian mac Aeda Buide

1291 - 1295

Enri mac Brian meic Aeda Buide

†1347

1325; dep. 1345

After 1333 "the O'Neills became supreme in mid Ulster and the greater part of Antrim and Down (i.e. de "Liberty of Ulster"), where they (i.e. a branch of the Northern O'Neills) founded a new state, Clandeboy (= Clann Aodha Buidhe  Aodh Buidhe = Hugh Boy O'Neill).

Aodh Reamhar (Aodh Mor) mac Domhnaill

= Hugh Reamher O'Neill

1345 - 1364

The oldest known coat of arms of an Irish prince is the coat of arms of Hugh Reamher O'Neill. It is depicted on his seal and it is an open hand, the thumb at the sinister side.

At both sides a dragon / wyvern for supporters.

Legend: S ODONIS ONEILLE REGIS HYBER­NICORUM ULTONIE. [8]

Niall Mor mac Aodha Reamhair

†1398

1364; abdicated 1397

Niall Og mac Neill

Niall O'Neill 

Princeps Hibernicorum Ultonie 1397-1403

Nominal allegiance was paid to Richard II (1377-‘99) in 1395(?)

Brian Oge mac Neill Oig

1403-1403

Domhnall mac Enri Aimhreidh

† 1 January 1432

1404; dep. 1410 res.1414;

dep.1419 res.1421-1432

1417 about this time the arms with the red hand appears in the chronicle of  Ulrich Richental with the title "der grauff von lagonie". (lag o nei(ll),  this is contemporary with Edmund Mortimer, 8th earl v. Ulster).

Eoghan mac Neill Oig

†1456

1410; dep.1414

res.1419; dep. 1421; res. 1432;

abdicated 1455

Henry O Neill

Enri mac Eoghain

†1484

Chief of the Irish King (1463)

1455; abdicated 1483

“Graf von Langon”

Conrad Grunebergs Wappenbuch 1483 fol. 69

Conn mac Enri

1483 – 08.01.1493

Enri Og mac Enri

1493 – 21.08.1498

Domhnall Clarach mac Enri

1498 – 06.08.1509

Art mac Aodha

1509-1513

Art Og mac Cuinn

1513-1519

Conn Bacach mac Cuinn Ó Néill

Con O'Neill

*1484- 1559

Chief 1519- after 17 07 1559 

1st Earl of Tyrone 1541-1559

(He was inaugurated chief of the Tyrone O'Neills in 1519 and after an invasion of his territory in 1541 by Sir Anthony St Leger, the lord deputy, he went to England and made his submission parson to Henry VIII who created him earl of  Tyrone for life.)

1555 W.: Argent, a dexter hand couped at the wrist gules. L.: Lagonia (Virgil Solis)

Seaan Donnghaileach (Seaan and Diomuis mac Cuinn Bhacaigh

Shane O'Neill 

1559 -† 21 06.1567

Chief 1559-1567

Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Neill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill:

Turlough O'Neil

†c. 10.09.1595

Chief 1567-1593

1581 W.: Argent, a dexter hand couped at the wrist Gules. L.: Lagonia. (M. Schrot).

Aodh Mór mac Feardorcha Ó Néill

Hugh O'Neill 

*1550-† 10 or 20.07.1616

2nd Earl of Tyrone 1559-1616

 ruled 1587-1607

 Chief 1593; fled 1607

From: Harl. Ms. 6096  (1603)

Following the defeat of the Irish forces in the Nine Years War (1594–1603) at the battle of Kinsale (1601), Elizabeth I's English forces succeeded in subjugating Ulster and all of Ireland.

The Gaelic leaders of Ulster, the O'Neills and O'Donnells, finding their power under English suzerainty limited, decamped en masse in 1607 (the Flight of the Earls) to Roman Catholic Europe. This allowed the English Crown to plant Ulster with more loyal English and Scottish planters, a process which began in earnest in 1610.

“In 1607, dissatisfied with their altered status, the northern chiefs - O’Neill, O’Donnell and others - fled to the Continent leaving their people helpless.”

The grave of Hugh O'Neill, Baron of Dungannon in the church of San Pietro De Montorio in Rome. The tombs of the baron of Dungannon and the earl of Tyrconnell are normally covered by carpet in this church where weddings are popular

The latin inscription on the tombstone reads in translation:

TO HUGH, BARON OF DUNGANNON, THE ELDEST SON OF PRINCE, GREAT HUGH O’NEILL, EARL OF TYRONE, DUE TO HIS GREAT LOYALTY TO GOD AND TO HIS PARENTS HE FOLLOWED HIS FATHER AND RORY, EARL OF TYRCONNELL, HIS UNCLE, WHO LEFT THEIR ESTATES VOLUNTARILY AND WHO WENT INTO EXILE TO THE CITY OF ROME, A SAFE REFUGE FOR CATHOLICS, WHO FOR THE SAKE OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION WHICH THEY DEFENDED STRONGLY FOR MANY YEARS AGAINST THE HERETICS IN IRELAND;

HIS UNTIMELY DEATH SHATTERED THE HOPES OF MANY THAT BECAUSE OF HIS MANY CORPORAL AND SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES, THAT HE WOULD ONE DAY RESTORE THE CATHOLIC FAITH IN ITS FULL

SPLENDOUR IN THAT COUNTRY; HE WAS UNITED IN DEATH WITH HIS ABOVE MENTIONED UNCLE, RORY, WHO WAS TAKEN BY DEATH IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES; HE DIED, TO THE SADNESS OF HIS RELATIVES AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT, 23RD SEPTEMBER 1609 AGED 24 YEARS. [9]

1612 James I by letters patent dated 28 May 1612 granted “that the Baro­nets, and their descendants shall, and may beare, either in a Canton in theire coate of Armes, or, in an Inescutchion, at their election, the Armes of Ulster, that is, in a field Argent, a hand Geules, or a bloudy hand”. [10]

Owen Roe O'Neill

1649

Seal: Argent, two lions rampant combatant gules supporting a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the last, in chief three estoiles of the second, in base waves of the sea therein naiant a salmon all proper. [11]

Phelim O'Neill

1653

Hugh O'Neill

1660

Nial O'Neill

1690

Modern rendering of the O’Neill crest [12]

Police

ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY

Flag of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation. Under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation was established to mark the sacrifices made by members of the RUC. Its name commemorates the award of the George Cross to the Constabulary made in 1999. By Royal warrant dated 20 May 2004 Her Majesty the Queen granted and assigned the Foundation a flag. For an illustration, The warrant is recorded in the College of Arms with the reference I.85 / 169.

NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE SERVICE

Statutory Rule 2002 No. 23

Police Emblems and Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 [13]

POLICE

Police Emblems and Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Whereas a draft of these Regulations has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament:

 Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 54 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000[1], and after the consultation required by that section, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Police Emblems and Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and shall come into operation on 5th April 2002.

2. In these Regulations,

"Service Emblem" means the emblem for the police prescribed under regulation 3 below;

"Service Flag" means the flag for the police prescribed under regulation 8 below.

Emblems

The Service Emblem

3. The design of the emblem for the police is the design illustrated in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Use of the Service Emblem and other emblems

4. Subject to regulations 5, 6 and 7 below, the Service Emblem is the only emblem for the police which may be used on any equipment or property used for the purposes of the police or otherwise in connection with the police.

 5. The emblem illustrated in Schedule 2 to these Regulations is the only emblem which may be used on the buttons of uniforms of police officers.

 6. Regulation 4 does not apply to:

(a) any emblem which forms part of a police memorial, or

(b) any emblem displayed at the police museum.

7. The only emblems which may be used to signify an officer's rank are the emblems illustrated in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

Flags

The Service Flag

8. The design of the flag for the police is the design illustrated in Schedule 1 to these Regulations on a dark green background.

Flying and carrying of the Service Flag and other flags

9. Subject to regulation 10, the Service Flag is the only flag which may be flown on land or buildings used for the purposes of the police, or from a vehicle, vessel or aircraft used in connection with the police.

10.

(1) On the occasion of a visit by Her Majesty the Queen to a building used for the purposes of the police, the Royal Standard may be flown at that building.

(2) Where the building concerned has more than one flagpole, the Service Flag may also be flown, but not in a superior position to the Royal Standard.

Parades

11. The only flag which may be carried by the police on parade is the Service Flag.

John Reid

One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State  Northern Ireland Office

24th January 2002

SCHEDULE 1

Regulation 3

The Service Emblem

SCHEDULE 2

Regulation 5

Emblem for Uniform Buttons

SCHEDULE 3

Regulation 7

Insignia of Rank

Flag

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations prescribe the emblem for the police (regulation 3 and Schedule 1) and provide that that is the only emblem for the police which may be used on equipment and property (regulation 4). Exceptions are made to this general rule for the emblem which is to be used on police officers' uniform buttons (regulation 5 and Schedule 2), for emblems in a police memorial and the police museum (regulation 6) and for the purposes of signifying rank (regulation 7 and Schedule 3).

Regulation 8 prescribes the flag for the police. This is the only flag that may be flown from police buildings, except where the building is being visited by Her Majesty the Queen (regulations 9 and 10), and the only flag that may be carried on parade by the police (regulation 11).

Notes:

[1] 2000 c. 32back

ISBN 0 337 942307

© Crown Copyright 2002

Armed Forces

The Ulster Defence Regiment was raised by Act of Parliament in 1970, and was the largest infantry regiment in the Army with full-time and part-time soldiers on its strength.

The birth of the Regiment was a result of the civil unrest of the late 1960s which had threatened to overwhelm the Royal Ulster Constabulary and which had led to the deployment of Regular Army units to assist the police. In 1969 the Hunt Report recommended the disbandment of the Ulster Special Constabulary and its replacement by a reserve element of the RUC and a locally-recruited part-time force, The Ulster Defence Regiment.