The first episode looking at a new series of topics. I've an awful lot to unpack in succeeding episodes, so this is more of an episode in which I will begin to establish some factors preceding the Troubles as well as considering a small part of PIRA's Green Book and which leads me on to present day Northern Ireland's plague of violent organised crime groups. 

Sources

Patterson, Henry, The Politics of Illusion: a Political History of the IRA, London, Serif, 1997

Jackson, Alvin, Ireland 1798 - 1998: Politics and War, Oxford, Blackwell, 1999

Purdie, Bob, Was the Civil Rights Movement a Republican / Communist Conspiracy, Irish Political Studies 3

English, Richard, Armed Struggle: the History of the IRA, London, Macmillan, 2003

Alonso, Rogelio, The IRA and Armed Struggle, London and New York, Routledge, 2007         

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A brief addition as I wanted to close-up any loose ends before moving on to a new episode in which will be looking at PIRA and their assertion that there was no alternative to violence.

It just remains for me to post two links in respect of the killing of Pearce Jordan in 1992 by the SSU.

PEARSE JORDAN INQUEST FINDINGS DELIVERED

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Pausing my consideration of Stakeknife and asset handling for now. I sure I can pick up this thread again once the Op Kenova report is finally published, but for now I want to concentrate on future episodes examining other topics in the context of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Troubles.

I close this episode with a few anecdotal reflections on the PIRA ceasefires as well as a 'class' system of sorts within the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

     

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Another very short interlude just in respect of those who've been discovering my first couple of episodes and if my novel is still available.

The link is here. It's self-published as I wrote it as personal therapy, more than anything else. I've kept the price for the paperback as low as I can (it really just covers Amazon's costs etc.). I've embedded portions of actual events I was aware of while in the RUC, together with blending the testimonies of real world individuals, as well as a bit of subtext.

Sample pages are free to read on Amazon, so have a cursory read first if interested.

Many thanks!

The Bitter End of Dreams (paperback)    

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A lot packed into this episode, partly by design, partly by divergence. Continuing on the theme of assets, handlers, TCG and RUC Special Branch. How were things managed, or mismanaged? Troubles' history remains fertile ground into which black propaganda may be seeded by both state and non-state actors. Each 'side' alluding that they fought a 'just war', but all sides drowned in their dirty war.

This episodes concludes with three murders: two by Irish republicans, one by the RUC.

Future episodes will continue to examine the 'intelligence war' as well as 'acts of terror' employed by both state and non-state actors during the Troubles.

Works cited:

O'Rawe, Richard, Stakeknife's Dirty War, Merrion Press, Ireland, 2023

McKittrick, David, et al, Lost Lives, Revised Edition, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007   

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2025 and many journalists, as well as 'security commentors', circle John Boucher's suite and Sir Iain Livingstone's secretary as they vie for an 'exclusive' and / or interview upon the publication of the full Op Kenova report. Already there's been a gradual flurry of activity in the form of publications touting to have the real story of 'Stakeknife' and the clandestine world of murder and betrayal in which he operated.

So, this episode begins my venture into the muddy waters of terrorism by state and non-state actors. Who had the moral high ground? Who fought a 'just war'? Who was 'victorious'? Just some of the questions I hope to cover in successive episodes. This being Part I is introductory as such. I'll also be alluding to Richard O'Rawe's book, Stakeknife's Dirty War (and possibly that of Ian Hurst (writing as Martin Ingram)).

Succeeding episodes will also look at the Tasking and Co-ordinating Group as well as PIRA's Internal Security Unit.

Works cited in this episode

O'Rawe, Richard, Stakeknife's Dirty War, Merrion Press, Ireland, 2023.

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This episode concludes (for the time being anyway!) my look at the RUC and accusations of collusion. However, as I write this more seeds of research into this topic are dropping into my inbox!

Nevertheless, this episode shifts from the early 1920s through to the recent Troubles, and via Ireland and Palestine. I sincerely hope you find something of interest and I remain grateful for any reviews / thoughts / feedback etc.

In the next episode I'll be looking at terrorism from a (possibly) different angle than the usual.

Works cited:

Sir John Shuckburgh at Middle Eat Committee, 5th meeting, 23 December 1921, CO 537 831.

Statement by A. C. M. Sir J. Salmond (Air Staff memo. No. 16, 1924. AIR 5 476

AOC Palestine to AOC Middle East (secret and personal), 5 September 1938. AIR 23 765.

GOC-in-C P/TJ to DMO&I, 20 November 1936. WO 106 2033

M. Begin, The Revolt, London 1951

Report by Sir Charles Wickham, 2 December 1946. CO 537 2269

M. J. Cohen, Palestine and the Great Powers 1945 - 1948, Princeton 1982

Seán William Gannon, The Irish Imperial Service: policing Palestine and administering the Empire, 1922–1966, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019    

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This episode will, more or less, set up the episode(s) to follow. I'll discuss aspects of how Britain once looked to deal with internal threats and / or insurgency. Beginning with the 19th centaury I'll look at some examples of how Britain sought to deal with riots or unrest within its own borders as well as that of Ireland.

I also draw on some of my own experiences to extrapolate some historical occurrences to that of the Troubles.

In the next episode I'll be looking at 1920s Ireland up to recent times as well as examining regions such as Palestine.

Finally, the final thoughts in this episode is from an ex-member of 14 Int, and they are quite damning in terms of RUC Special Branch.

Thank you.

Works cited in this episode:

Sir C. Gwynn, Imperial Policing, London 1934

A. V. Dicey, Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution, London 1885

Gen. Sir C. Napier, Remarks on Military Law, London 1837

Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the disturbances at Featherstone, Parliamentary Papers 1893 - 4

C. Townsend, Political Violence in Ireland, Oxford 1983

F. Kitson, Low Intensity Operations, London 1971

Memorandum by Walter Long, 21 July 2016, Bonar Law Papers
            

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