Stray Bullets

The second episode in which I look at the experience of catholic officers within the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. A glimpse of how catholic officers are exposed to isolation, sectarianism and even racism and matters of faith, both external to the job and within it.

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The first of two episodes in which I examine the experience and prospects of catholic police officers in Northern Ireland's RIC, RUC and PSNI. 

As ever I'll stray from organisational mythology (RUC) and may go off tangent now and again. 

Thanks for your patience.   

Bibliography

Arthur, P. Government and Politics of Northern Ireland, Longman, London, 1984

Boyce, D.G. Nationalism in Ireland, Croom Helm, London, 1982

Brady, C. Guardians of the Peace, Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1974

Brewer, J.D. The Royal Irish Constabulary: An Oral History, Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University, Belfast, 1990

McNiffe, L. A History of the Garda Siochana: A Social History of the Force 1922-52, with an Overview for the years 1952-97, Wolfhound Press, Dublin, 1997

Shaw, Fr Francis, The Canon of Irish History: A Challenge, Studies LXI, Summer, 1972

My novel (for those who expressed an interest) Many thanks!

The Bitter End of Dreams 

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Forthcoming episode...

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Sorry, just another impromptu episode, this time impassioned by the disenfranchised youth of our community being exploited by our organised crime groups and the far-right. This time we're othering many innocent people within our ethnic communities and allowing ourselves to be further exploited by fascists, bigots and racist demagogues.      

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Some additional musings I (typically!) omitted.

This relates to the John Montague: All the Elements of a Police State episode, so listen to that before this.

Many thanks!  

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A look at John Montague's short story, The Cry. Set in 1959 it offers an opportunity to examine Northern Irish policing practices during the 1950s and 60s. The impetus for Montague's story was his actual witnessing the assault of a young catholic man by members of the Ulster Special Constabulary (B Specials). As such, The Cry offers a window into catholic fatalism and apathy at a time when there was a furthering fracture of policing between political and conventional roles. The former encouraged and maintained by the, at the time, Unionist hegemony. 

As ever, included are a few anecdotes and incidents recalled from my service in the RUC.

For anyone interested the BBC adaptation of The Cry is available to watch here. 

Bibliography

Montague, John, Death of a Chieftain, Poolbeg Press, Dublin, 1978

Farrell, Michael, Northern Ireland: The Orange State, Pluto, London, 1976

Mr Nelson, Commons, Debates, August 21, 1951, col. 2071

Mr McSparran, Commons, Debates, August 21, 1951, cols. 2088-2089

Mr Diamond, Commons, Debates, May 6, 1952, col. 673

Mr O'Connor, Commons, Debates, March 12, 1969, col. 309

Mr McAteer, Commons, Debates, March 18, 1952, col. 366

Hunt Committee, P. 19; P. 32

Minister of Home Affairs Bates, Commons, Debates, April 10, 1930, col. 762; March 16, 1932, col. 371  

Minister of Home Affairs Craig, Commons, Debates, December 12, 1963, cols. 1667- 1668; December 18, 1963, col. 1823

Mr Fitt, Commons, Debates, March 27, 1968, col. 246

Mr Hanna, Commons, Debates, May 20, 1936, col. 1704

O'Connor, Fionnuala, In Search of a State: Catholics in Northern Ireland, Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1993

Purdie, Bob, Politics in the Streets: The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland, Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1990 

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Trailer for my next episode in which I take a look at new look nationalist attitudes towards policing in Northern Ireland prior to the Troubles.   

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A look at the concept of 'state-terrorism' and if such is in itself rendered incoherent in a climate of violent insurrection. Also, the 'showcase ambushes' by British Special Forces. Were these not in effect the lethal confrontation of two opposing forces, one personifying the Irish Republican (understood?) risk of their own blood sacrifice, the other effecting a stop and destroy operation against a well-armed for?

No easy answers, but I continue to try and understand the myriad dynamics which churned and boiled the waters of our 'civilized' society. I also consider the final words of the 1916 Easter Uprising leaders such as Pearse, Connolly and Plunkett.

Bibliography:

Richardson, Louise, What Terrorists Want, New York: Random House, 2006

Bitner, Rüdiger, Morals in terrorist times, in Meggle (ed.), Ethics of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, Frankfurt, 2005

[1916]: Public Records Office, Kew, London / War Office Records: 71/354; 71/345

MacLochlainn, Piaras F., Last Words : Letters and Statements of the Leaders Executed after the Rising at Easter 1916, Dublin, 1990

Bateson, Ray, They Died By Pearse's Side, Irish Graves Publications, 2010

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Another impromptu episode. This time about the Irish hip hop band Kneecap and the recent furore they've stirred. My reasons for talking about them will become evident. I've also added some memories about policing Divis.

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This episode further examines the Provisional IRA's assertion that there was no alternative to armed struggle. 

Works cited:

White, Robert W., Provisional Irish Republicans: an Oral and Interpretive History, Westport, Greenwood Press, 1993

Hennessey, Thomas, Northern Ireland: the Origins of the Troubles, Dublin, Gill & Macmillan, 2005

Smith, Anthony D., Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History, Oxford, Blackwell, 2001

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