The Loyalist Volunteer Force was created around 1996 when it split with the UVF, possibly over a murder that breached the UVF's 1994 ceasefire.
It was led by Billy Wright, dubbed 'King Rat', who was killed by republican inmates in the Maze Prison, Belfast in December 1997. His killing sparked a fresh round of sectarian bloodshed.
The LVF is believed to be responsible for a number of deaths, possibly as many as 20.
The organisation stood down in October 2005 after the Provisional IRA announced its intention to stand down.
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