The group had been proscribed in July 1966 .
This ban was lifted on 4 April 1974 by Merlyn Rees , Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , in an effort to bring the UVF into the democratic process .
The group had been proscribed in July 1966 , but this ban was lifted on 4 April 1974 by Merlyn Rees , Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , in an effort to bring the UVF into the democratic process .