July 26, 2023

POLICING NORTHERN IRELAND DURING "THE TROUBLES"| Life in the RUC, Being shot at by IRA & Loyalists and Attending his own m*rder scene | COLIN BREEN

1 hour 17 minutes

Colin Breen was an RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary, the police force in Northern Ireland up until late 90s) Officer during the period of extreme violence and murder known as "The Troubles".

Colin shared with me his own experiences of investigating murders, bombings and trying to maintain order during such a tremulous time. He spoke about being shot at twice by Loyalists and 3 times by Republicans, the methods of counter surveillance officers had to employe and arriving to, what was supposed to be, his own murder scene.

Colin told me many harrowing stories of the traumas and trials faced by members of the RUC including being blown up, injured and shot at as well the uphill battle of investigating such a huge number of murders with a police force stretched so thin.

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Colin's books: https://amzn.to/44AwnKE

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Background & Northern Ireland during The Troubles
8:30 Catholic/Protestant ratio within the RUC
16:05 Republican or Loyalist targeted more by RUC
20:45 Any clashes with other agencies ?
22:45 Accusations of collusion between RUC & Loyalists
25:35 Rough handed methods in the RUC ??
29:15 Typical day in policing The Troubles
36:30 booze/burnouts
46:25 SHOWING UP TO WHAT WAS TO BE IS OWN M*RDER SCENE
54:25 Run into people from work while off duty ?
58:00 Being shot at 5 times (3 by Republicans, 2 by Loyalists)
59:05 Any empathy for the goal of united Ireland ?
1:03:35 Current role of IRA/other papramilitiraies
1:06:25 Colin’s books