Please answer the following question: Facts: - title: east belfast brigadier - birth name: thomas herron - party: vanguard progressive unionist party - predecessor: new creation - birth date: 1938 - resting place: roselawn cemetery , belfast - caption: tommy herron - death date: 15 september 1973 1938 - spouse: hilary wilson - name: tommy herron - organization: ulster defence association - death place: drumbo , county antrim - birth place: newcastle , county down , northern ireland - term: 1971-1973 - death cause: one gunshot wound to the head - successor: sammy mccormick - nationality: british - children: five - image: tommy herron.jpg - religion: protestantism reportedly baptised roman catholic - denomination: free presbyterian church of ulster Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of tommy herron .
A:
tommy herron -lrb- 1938 -- 15 september 1973 -rrb- was a loyalist from northern ireland , and a leading member of the ulster defence association -lrb- uda -rrb- up until his fatal shooting .herron controlled the uda in east belfast , one of its two earliest strongholds .from 1972 , he was the organisation 's vice chairman and most prominent spokesperson , and was the first person to receive a salary from the uda .