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Christopher “Pinta” McKnight grew up in Derry’s Bogside as this city erupted in violence and as a 15 year old boy he lied about his age and joined the Provisional IRA. Chris talks to us about his life in the IRA which included moving weapons and explosives as a young member , training camps in the Donegal Mountains and working closely with one of the troubles most notorious figures, Martin McGuinness. He tells us about his time on the “blanket protest” and being in Long Kesh during the pivotal 1981 Hunger Strike led by Bobby Sands as well as being the victim of one of Derry’s famous “touts”.

My guest recalls being there for the Battle of Bogside and how losing a childhood mate on Bloody Sunday turned him from a Catholic teen who was friends with a British solider to a young man intent on joining the IRA and waging war on the security forces.

Chris has since ran for public office for Sinn Fein and earned a degree in Law & Politics from Ulster University.

00:00 Growing Up In pre-conflict Derry

06:35 BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE 

18:25 Bloody Sunday 

41:15 Joining The IRA

46:50 Training Camps

53:00 Martin McGuinness, Claudy B*mb & South Derry 

58:50 Prison

1:16:10 In Long Kesh When Bobby Sands Died 

1:22:45 Martin McGuinness as Chief of Staff

1:25:58 Thoughts on Commercial B*mbing Campaign 

1:26:30 INLA in Derry?

1:28:00 Ray Gilmour 

1:31:45 Did Steaknife come to Derry ?

1:34:40 Cell Structure in Derry

1:43:45 Frank Hegarty 

1:47:50 Derry IRA vs Belfast IRA 

1:50:00 Attempt to recruit Chris as an informant 

1:51:20 Was Martin McGuinness an informant or agent ?

2:01:55 Did Chris see Martin McGuiness change over time? 

2:06:30 Thoughts on “Proxy B*mbs” and Joan Mathers M*rder (1981)

2:10:20 “Pinta” Nickname 

2:11:55 Move towards Politics