Stray Bullets

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   

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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.

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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    

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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
            

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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        

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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         

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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,

 

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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     

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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     

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International

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  

----

Link:

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

Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.

Support the show

Médecins Sans Frontières

Unicef

PEN International