From an early age, English was involved in the North Belfast Brigade of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a loyalist paramilitary group. After his death, the Belfast Telegraph described him as a "UDA commander","Boxer ‘volunteered to shoot UDA boss’", Belfast Telegraph, 10 September 2009 while the BBC described him as a "paramilitary chief"."UDA boss Tommy English murder accused to be prosecuted", BBC News, 3 March 2010
