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Ian Hurst, better known to some as “Martin Ingram” was a member of the Force Research Unit, an intel gathering and spy-handling British security forces group and spent time as a handler in Derry during which time he worked with Frank Hegarty.

Ian is best known for co-authoring the book ’Stakeknife” which exposed the exploits of one of the North’s most notorious informants, Freddie Scappittici aka Agent Stakeknife.
Ina tells us about his time in the FRU, what goes into recruiting and running an agent, his thoughts on whether Martin McGuinness or Gerry Adam were informants, his many thoughts on the recently published Operation Kenova and much more.

Ian, at various stages in the episode, discusses agents Frank Hegarty, Willie Carlin, Brian Nelson and of course agent Stakeknife.

TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Was Martin McGuinness an informant??
13:00 JOINING THE FORCE RESEARCH UNIT
43:15 Did FRU operate both sides of the border? 
48:00 Was Ian ever shot at ? 
53:00 Work as an FRU handler 
57:30 Thoughts on Operation Kenova 
1:28:40 HOW handlers met w/ informants/agents 
1:39:20 Story about IRA man drove into the FRU offices 
1:41:10 Did the IRA ever have info on IAN ?? (Ian potentially has his life saved by an IRA man’s wife)
1:46:30 Any FRU killed ?
1:49:20 HOW DID FRU RECRUIT AGENTS/INFORMERS ?
2:12:05 HOW WAS SCAP (STAKEKNIFE) RECRUITED ?? WAS HE A “WALK-IN”?? & More thoughts on Operation Kenova 
2:32:55 When agents are suspected by IRA
2:36:40 ’Spy-masters dilemmas” (Frank Hegarty’s case) 
2:46:50 Psychology of handling an agent 
2:52:00 Killing Rage (book by Eamonn Collins)
2:59:55 More thoughts on Operation Kenova 
3:09:15 Was Gerry Adams an informer?

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*** PREVIEW CLIP*** (I usually don't do this but to fill the void this week here's a snippet from the full episode which will be available on YouTube this week and on podcast platforms next Monday)

In a clip from our upcoming 3 + hour interview, ex-FRU handler Ian Hurst (Martin Ingram) gives his take on how he thinks the infamous "Agent Stakeknife" was recruited by British security services.. 

He also shares his thoughts on the recently published Operation Kenova.

FULL EPISODE COMING SOON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjuLvoOn9Ns&t=123s

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast

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For this episode I spoke with author Henry Hemming about his most recent book “Four Shots in the Night”, an excellently written true-story of a British army agent within the IRA named Frank Hegarty.

Henry talks to us about the army unit that recruited and ran Hegarty, the now infamous FRU (force research unit) and their unique approach to running agents, how princess Diana was nearly blown up by the IRA and the role that Gaddafi played in arming the IRA.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 How did so many informants get recruited by The British security forces
9:55 Who were the FRU (Force Research Unit)
19:30 Willie Carlin & Denis Donaldson
24:45 Ian Hurst’s involvement
30:20 IRA NEARLY BLOW-UP PRINCESS DIANA
35:30 Spy-master’s dilemma
41:15 Gaddafi’s involvement
46:35 Plans for tv series or movie ??

BUY THE BOOK: https://geni.us/FOURSHOTS

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For this episode I spoke with filmmaker Des Henderson, about his recent, extremely powerful documentary "Lost Boys: Belfast's Missing Children" which focus on the disappearances of a number of boys in Northern Ireland during the troubles and explores the dark story of Kincora Boys Home.

Des tells us about the links that these disappearances may have had with a network of p*adphiles who were active in the area at the time and the known child-abusers who Mi5 were employing as agents.

DES' TWITTER: https://twitter.com/desfilmsstuff

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
09:15 Timeline of the disappearances 
23:15 Cover-ups & Whistleblowers 
33:10 Was KINCORA BOYS HOME being used as an MI5 
47:50 Future plans  
50:05 Alan Campbell 

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Ex-IRA volunteer and author of the “Stakeknife's Dirty War", Richard O Rawe returns to the pod to share his analysis on the recently published and long awaited, Operation Kenova (interim report). This was an investigation into the FRU (force research unit) agent code named Stakeknife and the IRA’s internal security unit better known as the “nutting squad”.

Richard walks us through the biggest takeaways from the investigation, the goods & bads from the report and his expectations for the final report, due in 2/3 months which will go into specific cases.

For those who may have seen my interview with ex-IRA volunteer Seamus Kearney (Seamus’ younger brother Michael was m*rdered by Stakenifes unit after being falsely labeled an informant and Seamus firmly believes that he was set up by British security forces in order to cover for a real informant), I can reveal new information that has been verbally confirmed by the Kenova investigation team. (Interview w/ Seamus from August 2023    • EX-IRA MAN EXPOSES Ministry Of Defenc...  )

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Recap on Stakenife/Scap
8:25 Stakeknife NOT NAMED in the report
13:25 Ricky’s expectations for the report
21:00 UPDATE ON SEAMUS KEARNEY PODCAST (Brother Michael m*rdered by Stakeknife’s unit)
27:05 Operational Failings section of the Kenova report
31:45 DID STAKEKNIFE SAVE LIVES?
36:40 “Falsehoods” addressed in Kenova report
40:15 Collusion section of Kenova report
44:55 Mi5 material reviewed by Kenova team
42:25 Final thoughts on Kenova report 

SEND ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE GUESTS TO : [email protected] 

BUY RICHARD'S BOOK: https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/stakeknifes-dirty-war/

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Padraig Og O' Ruaric, historian and author of "The Disappeared" speaks to us about his the forced disappearances the have taken place for political reasons in Ireland's often bloody history.

We speak about the different reasons for forced disappearances in Ireland's war of independence and civil war committed by both Irish guerrilla fighters and the British Army. Padraig tells us about the history of informers and spies within Ireland's conflicts and how the "good old IRA" would deal with them.

We also discussed the most high-profile cases of forced disappearances in the Northern Ireland conflict including Jean McConville, Capt Robert Nairac, the MRF agents known as "the Freds" and much more.

I would throughly recommend Padraig's book for anyone interested in Irish history, very well written and structured piece of work.

TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Padraig’s background, scope of the book
09:35 DIGGING UP A DISAPPEARED BRITISH SOLDIER 
18:45 Why some victims are disappeared 
26:35 Last person to die in the War of Independence (Hannah Carey) 
28:30 British Army veterans targeted 
35:00 THE TROUBLES (The “Freds”, Capt. Robert Nairic, Jean McConville, Kincora) 
1:16:40 Padraig’s next book

BUY THE BOOK: https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/the-disappeared-forced-disappearances-in-ireland-1798-1998/

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In this episode author David Blake Knox ("Facedown: The disappearance of Thomas Neidermayer") takes us through the tragic case of German man, Thomas Neidermayer, who was living in the north when he was kidnapped (and killed) by the IRA in an attempt to get Marian and Dolores Price moved to an Irish prison after their 1973 London b*mbing attack.

We speak about Neidermayer's background including how he narrowly avoided having to fight in the latter years of WW2 while a member of the (compulsory) Hitler Youth and how he moved to Ireland to run factory where Catholics and Protestants worked side by side.

David tells us about how the 1973 London b*mbings would lead to the IRA capturing Thomas Neidermayer as well as the story of Brian Keenan, the IRA quartermaster who worked with Muammar Gaddafi, Colombian FARC guerrillas and Spanish insurgent groups during his time and who once worked for Thomas Neidermayer years before the kidnap.

*** PLEASE SEND ANY & ALL SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE GUESTS/TOPICS ETC TO [email protected] OR LEAVE A COMMENT***

DAVID'S BOOK: https://www.newisland.ie/nonfiction/face-down-the-disappearance-of-thomas-niedermayer


TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Thomas & Ingeborg’s backgrounds
06:45 Brian Keenan 
13:15 Thomas & wife move to N.I 
17:15 1973 London B*mbing 
23:20 THE KIDNAPPING 
33:20 Fate of the Price sisters & finding Thomas Neidermayer’s body 
43:55 Brian Keenan II 
48:40 Aftermath 

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Richard Moore grew up in Derry and as a young child experienced life in pre-troubles Northern Ireland before the eruption of a conflict that had been brewing for years. 

Richard tells us about his memories of the British army as they first came to N.I following the Battle of the Bogside and how they were originally welcomed by the community and how the murders of Bloody Sunday marked a turning point in his relationship with the British army.

Richard speaks about the day he was shot in the eye at close range by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier who Richard has since meet with and befriended.

He shares with us how his blinding has affected his life and the lives of those closest to him.

Richard’s own podcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/1UssIdNvUOe6r3kwAfIqJA?si=L28W2DIsQ0a-euL65wHujQ

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Richard’s background, growing up in Derry 
10:30 How did young Richard view the army & the rioters?
14:25 BLOODY SUNDAY 
28:10 THE DAY RICHARD LOST WAS BLINDED BY A RUBBER-BULLET 
34:40 How did Richard’s family take the news 
38:50 Any desire for revenge?
44:00 Ever used as political point-scoring ?
45:25 MEETING THE SOLDIER WHO BLINDED HIM 

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David Burke, author of "Kitson’s Irish War: Mastermind of the Dirty War in Ireland" breaks down the work/influence of Brigader Frank Kitson and the infamous "Military Reaction Force" better known as the MRF, The British Army branch who were "there to act like the IRA".

David tell us about how Kiston developed the tactics that would used against the IRA in Belfast during his time in Kenya, Malaya & Oman . We speak about the MRF 'S origins, the unorthodox way they operated and the effective license-to-kill that they possessed. David tells us about the double-agents within the IRA working for the MRF known as "the Freds", the four square laundry intel gathering operation the MRF ran as well the brothels they operated.

We speak about the recent news that an MRF soldier (solider "F", not to be confused with Bloody Sunday solider F") will face trial for the murder of completely innocent father of 8, Patrick McVeigh.

***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5 STAR RATING TO HELP THE SHOW***

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Kitson’s background 
14:55 KITSON COMES TO N.I 
20:30 THE MRF 
22:40 Howard Smith 
25:16 MRF, The “Freds” & Four Square laundry 
37:20 Ballymurphy 
42:00 MRF 
44:45 PROPAGANDA 
45:45 MRF
48:27 KINCORA SCANDAL, Albert Baker & The UDA
52:08 MRF and the fate of 2 of “the Freds”
54:15 MRF SOLIDER TRIAL for Pat McVeigh murder 
57:45 William Black (MRF story) 
1:00:55 PYS-OPS 
1:04:20 RUC CORRUPTION
1:09:20 What came after the MRF (SRU, FRU) 
1:13:30 Derek Willford’s relationship to Kitson 
1:18:50 David’s new book

BUY DAVID'S BOOK: https://www.mercierpress.ie/irish-books/kitson-s-irish-war/

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Stephen White is former commanding officer of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (police force at the time) during some of Northern Ireland’s most violent and volatile years. 

Stephen tells us about his early years growing up in an environment where sectarian tension and violence was a constant. Stephen spent time in the Ulster Defense Regiment before he joined the RUC.

I asked Stephen about the daily reality of policing Northern Ireland’s streets during some of its most tumultuous years, thoughts on Irish reunification, facing rioters after Bobby Sand’s death, accusations of collusion, death threats and much more

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Growing up in N.I 
10:22 Story from teen years about sectarian violence on catholic friend 
12:42 Thoughts on Irish reunifaction     
21:02 JOING ULSTER DEFENCE REGIMENT (UDR)
33:02 UDR clashes with loyalist paramilitaries   
35:22 UDR/UVF dual memberships ?? 
38:52 JOINING RUC (1978)
42:02 BOBBY SANDS RIOTS 
47:32 John Weir conviction 
53:20 Any officers under Stephen’s command investigated for COLLUSION ?  
57:20 Rougher policing back then (70s-90s)
1:04:02 RUC “dirty war” use of loyalist paramilitaries as agents
1:14:02 Dealing with the trauma of the job 
1:19:12 ASSASSINATION PLOTS AGAINST STEPHEN 
1:26:32 Toughest area in N.I to be a cop during the troubles 
1:30:12 Running into IRA men while off-duty