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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Another unplanned episode. This time I consider Michelle O'Neill's laying of a wreath at the cenotaph in Belfast on Remembrance Sunday and the reaction to same. I guess the theme of this episode is the complex reality of Ireland and this got me thinking about Francis Ledwidge also, so I've included a very brief musing on the complex (contradictory(?)) reality personified by Ledwidge. I was hoping to include Robert Graves too, but decided to leave him for a future episode.

I hope my delivery this episode isn't too scattergun as my CPTSD can cause my thoughts to crash through my words.

In the next episode I'll be again looking at the RUC and collusion with a final input from Det / 14 Int.

Many thanks        

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This episode continues my look at the Royal Ulster Constabulary and allegations of collusion. To be honest, I naively thought that I would, most likely, have provided an overarching look at the subject in a couple of episodes. I was wrong. Given the amount of material I've obtained, together with ex-RUC and military colleagues I've gathered much more.

In this episode I conclude my look at books by RUC Special Branch officers. In respect of collusion I only found the two mentioned in this and the previous episode of note.

I also briefly relate the observations of a Det operative which I found incredibly damning and depressing.

Work cited:

Border Crossing, Clarke, George, 2009, Gil & Macmillan, Dublin         

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This is just an extremely brief update to let you know what to expect on the next episode.

Also, Buzzsprout have put a link on the Stray Bullets webpage which lets you send me feedback about the podcast (they call it 'fan mail', but that's quite subjective I imagine!).
 
Many thanks,

 

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This is the concluding episode in which I look at issues related by a retired RUC Special Branch officer as quoted from the work cited below, as well as my thoughts on such.
 
Work cited in this episode:

Barker, Alan, 'Shadows: Inside Northern Ireland's Special Branch', Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, 2004     

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This episode continues my look at allegations of collusion against the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Obviously, there's nothing revelatory within (other than some aspects of agent handling and possible pitfalls of such). There's nothing to breach the Official Secrets Act either.

In saying all that I sincerely hope that the biographical book extracts, I'll quote from, by a retired member of RUC Special Branch are of some interest, together with my own thoughts on the issue - plus the odd anecdote.

As this episode slightly overran the time I had initially allowed for it I've continued it on to conclusion in a follow-up episode which will carry the same title as this one albeit with the addition of a 'Part II'.

Again, thank you all very much for your support, continued understanding and questions.

Work cited in this episode:

Barker, Alan, 'Shadows: Inside Northern Ireland's Special Branch', Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, 2004     

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This is an interim, or rather impromptu, episode of sorts. In it I consider my working relationship with an Intelligence Cell within the British Army during the very early years of my career, and how it became affected following the brutal murder of Loughlin Maginn in 1989.

As such I hope to complete a more comprehensive and concluding episode looking at allegations of collusion and the RUC.

I hope you enjoy these episodes - if that's the right word?! - and I am once again heartened by the continued encouragement and very positive feedback from folks right across Northern Ireland's religious, as well as political / ideological, divide together with interaction with folks beyond Ireland.

Thank you.

Work cited:

Lost Lives (Revised ed.), McKittrick D., et al, Transworld, 2001  

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Link:

Loughlin Maginn: Family of man shot dead by UDA settle claim against police and MoD            

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Another unplanned episode, but one generated from a number of questions I've received from listeners asking if I'd planned to discuss Blue Lights Season 2 in much the same way as I did for Season 1. Also, the anecdotes about illicit love trysts in the PSNI was of great interest (which also featured as part of the Blue Lights episodes). To be honest they still occur and, as such, follow similar paths (maybe not so much with GCHQ involvement, though!) as I've previously alluded to.

However, I recalled some love in the RUC and, well ... hence the 'love squad'  

    

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Given the contentious nature of the subject topic discussed in this episode I've added some caveats which I've outlined at the beginning. I'd just have to reiterate that the episode just reflects my own personal observations plus awareness of incidents, and remain my own interpretations of such.

Having said that, I feel this subject will inevitably run into another episode. It's much too deep a topic to bottom out in under an hour. 

Before I begin work on Part II then if there's anything you think I can answer - or even clarify or expand on from this episode - just click on the link below, or drop me a line on Twitter.

Given the state of my mind at the moment I think there may be some thoughts I've left out, and / or incidents I've forgot to mention. If so, I'll rectify this in Part II.

As ever, thank you very much for your time and continued support for this podcast.      

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