The group was established in 1972 by its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Brush and his deputy Herbert Heslip, both members of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
[9] After the 1974 strike the group joined the Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee, but left along with the Ulster Defence Association in 1976 after it emerged that Red Hand Commando leader John McKeague and other members were holding meetings with members of the Provisional IRA and also discussing plans for an independent Northern Ireland with leading Catholic figures.
[11] In 1979 Bill Hannigan, who had been a representative of Down Orange Welfare on the 1974 strike committee, was sentenced to ten years in prison for firearms offences.
Hannigan was a former member of the British Army's Royal Irish Fusiliers and stood unsuccessfully in local government elections before the strike.
[13] In March 1982, a spokesman for Down Orange Welfare denied any knowledge of recent road blocks mounted by the Third Force in north County Down.
[16] Weir alleged that he personally received two Sterling submachine guns from Down Orange Welfare which he then handed over to the Mid-Ulster Brigade.
[16] Harry Breen was one of two RUC officers killed in a Provisional IRA ambush outside Jonesborough, County Armagh in March 1989.