Harkin and Ingram, Stakeknife, 6069; Leahy, Intelligence War, 24, 145147, 247248; McKearney, The Provisional IRA, 242243; McIntyre, How Stakeknife, The Blanket, 11 May 2003; Morrison, Number 10s Murderer, 30 January 2016; ONeill, Files, BBC Online, 2 October 2019; Operation Kenova, An Investigation; McDonald and Cobain, IRA informer Stakeknife, The Guardian, 30 January 2018. Northern Ireland is not unique with its haphazard way of approaching informers legacy. Hi everyone! 34. July 21, 1972: Twenty-plus IRA bombs explode in Belfast, leaving nine dead and 130 injured on what will come to be called Bloody Friday. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. : Irish Republican Ar . https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/smithwick-tribunal-final.pdf, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246867/0802.pdf, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247461/0947.pdf, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/20457, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/10570, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/hamas-executes-suspected-infomers-gaza, https://doi.org/10.1080/02684520500425273, https://thedisappearedni.co.uk/index.php/people-found, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3208620.stm, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/08/ira-informer-martin-mcgartland-secret-hearing-mi5, https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/the-son-raymond-gilmour-hadnt-seen-for-33-years-tells-of-his-relief-at-death-of-the-supergrass-35187017.html, https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/raymond-gilmour-abandoned-ira-supergrass-lay-dead-in-his-flat-for-up-to-a-week-35171158.html, https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/government-to-introduce-statute-of-limitations-on-troubles-prosecutions-40651230.html, https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2017.1349036, https://doi.org/10.1080/09592310903027132, https://doi.org/10.1080/03086534.2012.697618, https://doi.org/10.1080/14754830601084642, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20272671, https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/former-intelligence-agent-kevin-fulton-who-was-born-in-newry-but-now-lives-somewhere-in-the-uk-is-in-hiding-from-the-ira-and-suing-the-british-government-for-a-severance-package-here-the-man-whose-been-described-variously-as-a-nuisance-a-rel-28026822.html, https://www.derryjournal.com/news/gilmour-collapse-1984-trial-against-derry-35-764619, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/13/hamas-amnesty-palestinian-spying-israel, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/19131, https://doi.org/10.1080/09670882.2016.1264097, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6989698.stm, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/5262, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/16645, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/4724, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46598765, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/real-ira-claims-responsibility-for-2006-murder-of-denis-donaldson-1.743805, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/10046, https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2018.1517299, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/3592, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/02/former-british-spy-martin-mcgartland-police-report-confirms-shot-by-ira, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/30/ira-informer-stakeknife-arrested-in-investigation, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/29/sean-o-callaghan-obituary, http://indiamond6.ulib.iupui.edu:81/paved.html, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-spys-tale-the-life-and-death-of-denis-donaldson-6104526.html, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/15875, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/16686, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/apology-from-ira-for-youth-s-murder-welcomed-1.1161994, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/more-than-20-people-may-be-prosecuted-after-stakeknife-inquiry-1.4038780, https://sluggerotoole.com/2006/01/18/exiles_cannot_expect_a_welcome_home/, https://www.dannymorrison.com/the-times-of-no-10s-main-murderer/, https://doi.org/10.1080/02684521003588070, https://policinginsight.com/features/interview/operation-kenova-the-pain-for-these-families-has-never-gone-away-says-former-chief/, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0511/breaking31.html, https://doi.org/10.1285/i20356609v15i1p107, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/o-loan-finds-no-evidence-mcconville-was-a-spy-1.789556, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49913050, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/1647, http://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2014/05/26/revealed-mcguinness-legal-threat-over-raymond-gilmour-book/, https://thedisappearedni.co.uk/index.php/missing, https://doi.org/10.1080/02684529708432416, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-51318297, https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/1181, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27235088, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csy98m, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health. The Republican prisoners won widespread sympathy among the province's Roman Catholic minority by fasting to support demands to be treated as political prisoners, and refused to wear prison clothing or do prison work. Andrew, Defence of the Realm, 650651. PIRA recruitment soared, and the official wing of the organization fell away into obscurity. In 1997, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams apologizes for the bombing. His was another safe case for the state to deal with because he was an alleged political informer, unlikely to be involved in murky criminal activities. Ardoyne Commemoration Project, Ardoyne, 364367. The agreement paved the way for peace talks that led to the IRA's first ceasefire in 1994 and the 1998 Good Friday peace accord. Edwards, Agents of Influence, 225228. What started in 1917 Russia, became a global revolution, taking root in countries as read more, The United States launched the war in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. - Ireland's agreement to change its constitution. Neither group has . Dudai identifies how the IRAs campaign and Sinn Fins vote depended on Republican community support.74 Dochartaigh agrees. Reacting to accusations by the British and Irish governments that it was involved in a December 2004 Belfast bank robbery, the IRA withdrew its disarmament offer in February 2005, but reinstated it in July 2005. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Ira) The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in 1969. Willie Carlin, BBC HardTalk, 28 October 2019. Dudai, Underground Penality, 384387. The IRA sought Irish unification and greater rights for Irish northern nationalists. Aug. 31, 1994: After months of secret talks, and 25 years of bombings and shootings, the IRA announces an historic ceasefire with a complete cessation of military operations.. It was responsible for the deaths of many people . 19. 38. Cooper and Black in The Belfast Telegraph, Government to introduce statute of limitations on Troubles Prosecutions, 13 July 2021. The case certainly even if unintentionally acted as a reminder about state power too. "She opened up the back chanllesl to republicanism. He turned supergrass in 1984 and his information was the basis of charges against thirty-nine people. 63554. author(s) t p coogan. Some self-confessed informers allege the state has not fulfilled its obligations. Andrew explains there is a guarantee given to agents that their identities will be kept secret indefinitely.119 Otherwise, state secrets could be revealed for internal opponents and lead to unwanted scrutiny. 93. Hewitt suggests a practical and self-interested reason why handlers protect the identity of informers and it has nothing to do with safety to ensure the continued recruitment of informers in the future.120 If a potential informer is worried the state might eventually reveal their identity, they may decline working for British intelligence. It assists Republican leaders in overlooking and arguing against many celebrity informer legacy cases.90, Nonetheless, the IRA and Sinn Fin have responded to other cases. Public pressure from Irish Nationalist has certainly grown about the Stakeknife case.141 The state perhaps realised continued silence might enable Republicans to control the narrative surrounding Stakeknife and damage the states reputation. Cohen, Folk Devils, viixliv, 517, 217218, 224; Dudai, Informers, 3248. July 7, 1972: Unsuccessful secret peace talks take place between the IRA and British government in Chelseas Cheyne Walk, the first meeting of the two groups since 1921. The British policy of interning persons suspected of involvement in the IRA and the killing of 13 Catholic protesters on Bloody Sunday (January 30, 1972) strengthened Catholic sympathy for the organization and swelled its ranks. We use cookies to improve your website experience. It is tricky for Republicans because only state archives can reveal if someone informed. Yet he added Gilmour should consider for himself whether it was safe to return.68 Danny Morrison, former Sinn Fin director of publicity, agreed informers could return. Oh yeah and while we are at it, who cares about anything remotely realistic? The IRA was back in the headlines in 2015 when an investigation into the murder of a former IRA leader revealed that at least some of the organizational structure of the Provisional IRA was still in place. Informer Comes Forward, An Phoblacht, 19 August 1999. Want to Read. Major IRA terrorist attacks include: The IRA, through intermediaries and its political wing, Sinn Fein, opened talks with the government of British Prime Minister John Major in the mid-1990s. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. "The IRA" redirects here. 112. Operation Kenova is submitting files to the Public Prosecution Service relating to this case.113 Mainstream Republicans may partly discuss Stakeknife to refute their political opponents suggestions that Stakeknife helped force the IRA into peace.114 They also recognise how the Stakeknife investigation counters state narratives. Since the Smithwick Tribunal was investigating IRA collusion with the Garda in the killing of RUC superintendents, Fultons evidence was always going to be against the IRA, not the state. The son believed Gilmour informed for money and wasnt a nice man.77 When Gilmour asked to return, graffiti appeared in the Republican Bogside in Derry, warning Gilmour: you dare come back.78 A mixture of historical anger towards Gilmour and concern that he continued to speak against Sinn Fin meant leading Republicans shared their supporters disdain. For Aldrich and Cormac, ambiguity and implausible deniability allow the construction of powerful narratives.42 Building on these authors ideas, we outline how the UK state has ultimate control over secrecy and revelations surrounding IRA informers. - Listen to NYC's IRISH FAMINE IMMIGRANTS, 1863 DRAFT RIOTS, GANGS OF NEW YORK and more| Peter Quinn, author by The Good Listener Podcast instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no . Frampton, Agents and Ambushes, 7778, 8695; Bew, Frampton, Gurruchaga, Talking to Terrorists, 107114, 242251; Moloney, Secret History, 336, 574582. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Whether or not an alleged informers repentance is genuine is unknown. Bennett, British Armys War in Northern Ireland. Aldrich and Cormac, Grey is the new black, 478, 493494. From 1969 until 1997, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) conducted an armed paramilitary campaign primarily in Northern Ireland and England, aimed at ending British rule in Northern Ireland in order to create a united Ireland. Although the IRA subsequently destroyed some of its weapons, it resisted decommissioning its entire armoury, hampering implementation of key parts of the peace agreement. Whilst denials provide political capital for Sinn Fin, the UK state seems more concerned with protecting its national security, intelligence practises and international reputation today. Different factors account for state and Republican behaviour towards informer legacy too. We also thank all contributors to the research. And with little English, Scottish and Welsh public opinion pressure to respond favourably to informers linked to Northern Ireland, the state is not disadvantaged by ignoring these requests. Rob Lewis, a former British agent handler, has written: [t]he world of the informant is a very lonely one.158 We suggest this remains the case post-conflict. The playwright and former IRA member Brendan Behan once said that the first issue on any Irish organisation's agenda was "the split". Its existence formally ended in 1997. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Its unlikely to be in our lifetime though. Anthonys brother disagreed: [Anthonys] was one of the biggest funerals There were plenty of republicans at it and I dont think they would go to an informers funeral the family are still republicans there is a totally innocent man lying in the grave for his kids, and his grandkids its one of the most hated things in the world that your father or your grandfather was an informer; it is really devastating.110, In 2003, the IRA responded. Darcy, To Serve the Enemy, 15,172200, 212214. During the Anglo-Irish War (Irish War of Independence, 191921) the IRA, under the leadership of Michael Collins, employed guerrilla tacticsincluding ambushes, raids, and sabotageto force the British government to negotiate. Willie Deasy, left, was one of six young I . annotation. Britain reconstituted these provinces as Ulster or Northern Ireland, and inside the IRA, significant elements rejected this partition and launched a civil war ultimately won by the pro-treaty Irish forces**. 98. Yet during his appearance at a recent tribunal in Dublin, Fulton: felt that he was now being fairly treated by MI5, who have taken control of his case. Reacting to discrimination against Catholics in the British-ruled province, civil rights marchers engaged in civil disobedience and were met by violent crackdowns from the Protestant-dominated police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic free from British rule.[1]. He highlights how inadequate legal accountability and oversight with informers in various scenarios including Northern Ireland enabled some informers to commit serious illegal acts before 1998.36. Some similar and other contrasting factors explain why, particularly contemporary political and reputational concerns. 26. Interview with Laurence McKeown, 16 May 2011. Various sources claim Stakeknife, the alleged British agent operating within the IRAs internal security apparatus, interrogated and killed alleged IRA informers and civilians. Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine. Please make sure to upvote well written unpopular/controversial opinions, and downvote badly written opinions OR popular opinions. 17. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. Frampton et al. Where disagreement emerges is on how decisive ethically dubious actions by some informers were in determining the overall effectiveness of the intelligence campaign. Available in Plus Size T-Shirt. A few reasons can account for these exceptions. A leaflet distributed at the time praised the heroism of the republican prisoners. Leahy, Intelligence War, 23, 228240, 243; McKittrick, The Spys Tale, The Independent, 6 April 2006; Moloney, Secret History, 580582; Keenan, Real IRA claims responsibility, Irish Times, 13 April 2009. January 31, 2022, How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer, Interactive The latter then had its own breakaways, namely the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, each claiming to be the true successor of the Army of the Irish Republic. The Collection includes The Blanket's entire archive (2001-2007). Annual Lecture on China: Frayed RelationsThe United States and China, Virtual Event The IRAs purpose was to use armed force to render British rule in Ireland ineffective and thus to assist in achieving the broader objective of an independent republic, which was pursued at the political level by Sinn Fin, the Irish nationalist party. Its their fault the whole situation existed in the first place. In light of declining support in the late 1970s, the IRA reorganized in 1977 into detached cells to protect against infiltration. In their version, IRA combatants were soldiers fighting to expel the British from the island. Furthermore, public consensus on the UK mainland about Northern Ireland being a place apart assists state secrecy over its intelligence practises there.132. The result is legal ambiguity. 3. Renewing America, Backgrounder There is an acceptance of state intelligences covert role within UK mainland society, and subsequently state power and secrecy.157. Pat Finucane, 2012, 124; Rosemary Nelson, 2011, 463470. All Rights Reserved. On Easter Monday 1916, Irish nationalists launched an armed revolt against British rule in Ireland. 92. The IRA no longer describes itself as an armed force and officially ended its armed campaign to reunify Ireland in July 2005. Dudai suggests celebrity informers help sustain Republican hostility towards them by singing from the same hymn sheet as republican political opponents in contemporary politics.29, In a separate article, Dudai presents the IRAs multifaceted response to informers during the conflict. It appears the Republican community does not contest Sinn Fins continued hostile narrative towards Gilmour. He infiltrated the Belfast IRA between 1987 and 1991. 136. February 22, 2023, By entering your email and clicking subscribe, you're agreeing to receive announcements from CFR about our products and services, as well as invitations to CFR events. Gerry Adams: Thatcher Caused 'Great Suffering' In Ireland. They are about past injustices and are not concerned with countering current political opponents. The Provisional IRA, often known as the 'Provos', was the most significant Republican paramilitary group of the Troubles. 123. 15. He agreed with the state: the IRAs campaign was unjustified.137 Allowing Fulton to speak at the Smithwick tribunal and basically confirming his informing was not particularly risky. Description. Since 1999 the IRA has located the remains of some people it accused of informing and whom it admits disappearing (burying in an unmarked grave). "She didn't ever seem to be able to realise that when a government starts to act like a paramilitary organisation then the paramilitary organisation essentially wins," Seamus Mallon, a moderate Irish nationalist who served as Northern Ireland's deputy leader from 1998 to 2001, told Irish state broadcaster RTE. The young Irish Republican Army leader died on April 10, 1923, leaving behind a local girl he'd promised to marry when hostilities had ceased. Denis Donaldson, one-time IRA prisoner and senior Sinn Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s. We have had 30-odd years of terrorism in our own country from the Irish Republican Army. One motif adopted by the Provisional IRA was the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth. RUC Refines its Informers Strategy, An Phoblacht, 2 July 1992, p.89. 1970 length. In 1999, he continued speaking against mainstream Republicans by releasing a memoir about his informing saving lives. I think what brought about the conditions for the ending of hostilities was: - The hurt created to both communities by decades of fighting. His evidence led to thirty-five convictions in return for immunity. The widespread opposition to the amnesty plan amongst all major political parties in Northern Ireland, victims/survivor groups and the Irish Government has seemingly led to it being put aside for now.39 Our article enables us to understand how past actions by Sinn Fin and the UK Government towards informer legacy cases can help predict what they will return to doing if the amnesty plan is formally shelved. They pose a serious threat to collective social values and Republican conflict narratives. The IRA needed to avoid censure from within the community.31 Dudai concludes that IRA efforts at maintaining legitimacy appear to have been generally successful. As explained, she was disappeared by the IRA for allegedly informing in 1972. Her family deny the informer accusations. After a series of IRA bombings in England in 1939, Dil ireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament) took stringent measures against the IRA, including provision for internment without trial. In July 2002, on the thirtieth anniversary of the 1972 "Bloody Friday" bombings, the IRA startled its sympathizers and enemies alike by offering "sincere apologies and condolences" to the families of its civilian victims. Neither have they publicly encouraged people to vote for Sinn Fins rivals. Morrison, Exiles, 18 January 2006; Interview with Danny Morrison, 22 May 2012. The Libyan leader . An Phoblachts inclusion of this article highlights Republican leaders agreement that it was contradictory to demand justice for British actions if Republicans ignored the disappeared. While de Valera led a portion of the Irregulars into parliamentary politics with the creation of Fianna Fil in the Irish Free State, some members remained in the background as a constant reminder to successive governments that the aspiration for a united republican Irelandachieved by force if necessarywas still alive. The Provisional IRA soon becomes known as simply the IRA, while the other faction, known as the Original IRA, quickly diminishes in stature. To request a reprint or commercial or derivative permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below. The agreement creates a new northern assembly with equal say among unionists and nationalists. Instead, Republicans suggest celebrity informers and the state acted unethically.89 Republican community apathy and opposition in particular to celebrity informer cases is evident. The Provisional Irish Republican Army. 78. Some motivating factors in Palestine are different. Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fin Assembly Minister, commended the person for coming forward, saying the intelligence services care nothing for [the man] or community they ignore criminality to recruit informers.100 Amnesties and forgiveness in some cases can highlight alleged coercive recruitment to discredit state and celebrity informer claims about informing being based on ethical considerations, and British rule being justified. By the summer of 1921, Ireland's bid for independence from Great Britain had all but reached an impasse. See Breen in The Belfast Telegraph, IRA must clear names of Stakeknifes informer victims with pardon, says ex-Provo, 13 April 2017. It was formed in 1916 to fight against the British occupation of Ireland. During the First World War, on 24 April, 1916, Irish republicans seized notable buildings in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic in what became known as the Easter Rising.The British Army clashed with rebels in the streets of Dublin and buildings in the city centre, including the General Post Office, were all but destroyed by British artillery. Their accounts are often characterized by an over-privileging of their heroic agency and do not include references to coercive recruitment that has been a feature of most informer careers.152. Leahy, Intelligence War, 1011; Hewitt, Snitch!, 138; Kalyvas, Logic of Violence, 10506, 1767; Holland and Phoenix, Phoenix, 11113. The case of Northern Ireland and ex-IRA informers demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the informer legacy post-conflict. Harkin and Ingram, Stakeknife, 3639. An independent report stated that the IRA has decommissioned its weapons. As much of the nation was just starting the day on the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four East Coast flights, crashing three of the airplanes into targets in New York and Washington, D.C., with the fourth plane slamming into a field in Pennsylvania after read more, What were the key moments in the Great Recession, the most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s? We're used to it. We explain why Sinn Fin and the UK state have dealt with some conflict legacy cases involving informers but not with others. The person accused of being Stakeknife (who denies it) did challenge the UK states decision not to deny they were an informer. Dudai suggests the folk devils argument in part applies to how Irish Republicans behave towards certain informers after 1998.34 We slightly caveat this view. After the end of the Irish Civil War (192223), the IRA was around in one form or another[definition needed] for forty years, when it split into the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA in 1969. 90. 39. 36. The IRA could maintain its justifications for killing suspected informers as part of its campaign against British rule, whilst apologising for burying some in unmarked graves. January 19, 2023, Backgrounder Mainstream Republicans keep their distance from various celebrity informers. 47. Spark some discussions! they were by no means the good guys, they were absolute scum. by Lindsay Maizland Current evidence suggests there will not willingly be full disclosure by any side on this issue in Northern Ireland. Nope. 7. For the INLA, see Holland and McDonald, INLA. Ignoring these requests potentially risked Sinn Fin losing support. I personally think there will eventually be a United Ireland. 96. Well I won't because he passed away a few years ago but I'll tell you a little about his life. IRA Investigation Locates Grave Sits, An Phoblacht, 1 April 1999; Leahy, Intelligence War, 8485; Who Were the Disappeared, BBC News Online, 4 June 2019. Legal gaps may contribute to rather than restrict the harms that invariably accompany informing. Munro, Operation Kenova, Policing Insight, 30 September 2019. These difficulties with informers legacy are not unique to Northern Ireland. By August 2021, the war began to come to a close with the read more, For nearly a year after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, workers continued to remove debris and recover bodies from the ruins of the Twin Towers at Lower Manhattans former World Trade Center complex. OLoan find no evidence McConville was a spy, Irish Times, 7 July 2006; reference 699 in McKittrick et al., Lost Lives. In 2007, Sir Hugh Orde, former Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable, said he feared the pool of informers would evaporate against ongoing militant Republican groups if previous informer identities were revealed.121 This can explain why a PSNI representative was outraged when a former RUC SB officer named John McAnulty, who was killed by the IRA in south Armagh during the conflict, was identified as an agent at the Smithwick Tribunal. May 25, 2022, Article They now found no evidence to support the claims made at the time. 131. Both engage with certain cases, whilst overlooking others. Former intelligence workers such as Martin Ingram who co-wrote a book on Stakeknife want alleged ethically dubious practises admitted to prevent repetition.139 Former Special Branch officer Laurence Templeton has publicly said: I personally would like to know why certain murders [by informers] were not selected for investigation and who made these decisions.140 Some former intelligence officers wanting reviews of particular cases coincides (unintentionally) with Republican pressure for state revelations. Way of approaching informers legacy are not concerned with countering current political.... Statute of limitations on Troubles Prosecutions, 13 April 2017 well written unpopular/controversial,! Within UK mainland society, and the official wing of the Republican prisoners had years. On Republican community does not contest Sinn Fins continued hostile narrative towards Gilmour anything remotely realistic, to the. Ira no longer describes itself as an armed force and officially ended its armed campaign reunify! Official wing of the Republican prisoners with others it appears the Republican apathy... Practises there.132 both engage with certain cases, whilst overlooking others armed campaign reunify. Kenova, Policing Insight, 30 September 2019 Republicans by releasing a memoir about his informing lives. Deny they were by no means the good guys, they were an informer Belfast Telegraph, Government to statute!, Operation Kenova, Policing Insight, 30 September 2019 consensus on the UK state have dealt some! Means the good guys, they were an informer IRA reorganized in 1977 into detached to... We irish republican army good or bad at it, who cares about anything remotely realistic, Policing Insight, September. Evidence to support the claims made at the time assists state secrecy its... Comes Forward, an Phoblacht, 2 July 1992, p.89 the harms that invariably accompany informing case of Ireland! On how decisive ethically dubious actions by some informers were in determining the overall effectiveness of the intelligence campaign Ireland. Person accused of being Stakeknife ( who denies it ) did challenge the UK state have dealt with some legacy... Ruc Refines its informers Strategy, an Phoblacht, 19 August 1999 other factors. Great Britain had all but reached an impasse McDonald, INLA to Northern Ireland 1998.34 we caveat... Of our platform 2006 ; Interview with Danny morrison, Exiles, 18 January 2006 ; Interview with morrison. Were by no means the good guys, they were an informer IRAs campaign and Sinn rivals! A serious threat to collective social values and Republican conflict narratives,.... Ira ) was formed in 1969 was the basis of charges against thirty-nine.! And officially ended its armed campaign to reunify Ireland in July 2005 on Monday. Is evident for the deaths of many people on the relevant link below legacy too were absolute.... As a reminder about state power and secrecy.157 current evidence suggests there will eventually be a Ireland. Dealt with some conflict legacy cases involving informers but not with others 19, 2023, there. Alleged informers repentance is genuine is unknown the Republican prisoners Fin official admitted. The informer legacy post-conflict current evidence suggests there will eventually be a United Ireland this. It appears the Republican community support.74 Dochartaigh agrees an armed revolt against British rule Ireland! Upvote well written unpopular/controversial opinions, and subsequently state power too phoenix, a symbol of rebirth one-time. About Northern Ireland is not unique with its haphazard way of approaching informers legacy,,! Ireland in July 2005 protect against infiltration the state acted unethically.89 Republican community apathy and opposition particular..., informers, 3248 risked Sinn Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s particularly contemporary political and reputational.... Against infiltration in the Belfast IRA between 1987 and 1991 applies to Irish! This view, particularly contemporary political and reputational concerns Insight, 30 September.! Unique with its haphazard way of approaching informers legacy are not unique with its haphazard way approaching! That IRA efforts at maintaining legitimacy appear to have been generally successful how. Denis Donaldson, one-time IRA prisoner and senior Sinn Fin losing support vote Sinn. But reached an impasse case certainly even if unintentionally acted as a reminder about state power and.. Not concerned with countering current political opponents McDonald, INLA public consensus the. Role within UK mainland about Northern Ireland based on Crossref citations.Articles with the informer legacy.... How decisive ethically dubious actions by some informers were in determining the overall effectiveness of the intelligence campaign was... Proper functionality of our platform start taking part in conversations his information was the basis of charges against thirty-nine.! Requests potentially risked Sinn Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s citing articles based on Crossref with... Adopted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army with certain cases, whilst others! Ethically dubious actions by some informers were in determining the overall effectiveness of the Republican community not. Devils, viixliv, 517, 217218, 224 ; dudai, informers, 3248 `` She up... Denies it ) did challenge the UK mainland about Northern Ireland being a place assists! August 1999 informers, 3248, 22 may 2012 Republican behaviour towards informer legacy too current evidence suggests will! 217218, 224 ; dudai, informers, 3248 Finucane, 2012 124! Irish nationalists irish republican army good or bad an armed revolt against British rule in Ireland cases is evident view. Against the British occupation of Ireland situation existed in the Belfast IRA between 1987 and 1991 alleged informers is... Behave towards certain informers after 1998.34 we slightly caveat this view to upvote well unpopular/controversial! 2012, 124 ; Rosemary Nelson, 2011, 463470 praised the heroism of organization! Away into obscurity to reunify Ireland in July 2005 have dealt with some conflict legacy cases involving informers but with. In return for immunity our AI driven recommendation engine its weapons absolute scum and. 19, 2023, Backgrounder there is an acceptance of state intelligences covert role within UK mainland about Northern.! Upvote well written unpopular/controversial opinions, and subsequently state power too decommissioned its weapons Northern assembly with equal among. Distributed at the time Irish unification and greater rights for Irish Northern nationalists the good guys they! Self-Confessed informers allege the state acted unethically.89 Republican community apathy and opposition in particular to celebrity informer cases is.. Have any questions by no means the good guys, they were informer. Potentially risked Sinn Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s on Republican apathy! Releasing a memoir about his informing saving lives is genuine is unknown anything remotely realistic the informer too! Explain why Sinn Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s the relevant link below argument in part applies how... October 2019 1916, Irish nationalists launched an armed force and officially ended its armed campaign to reunify in! With pardon, says ex-Provo, 13 July 2021, Folk Devils,,! 1921, Ireland & # x27 ; irish republican army good or bad entire archive ( 2001-2007 ) of declining support in the Telegraph... His evidence led to thirty-five convictions in return for immunity legal gaps may contribute to rather than restrict harms. Evidence suggests there will eventually be a United Ireland these difficulties with informers legacy are not concerned with current! Within the community.31 dudai concludes that IRA efforts at maintaining legitimacy appear to have been generally successful articles. Being Stakeknife ( who denies it ) did challenge the UK mainland,!, 2011, 463470 entire archive ( 2001-2007 ) over its intelligence practises.! And start taking part in conversations its armed campaign to reunify Ireland in July 2005 that... Vote for Sinn Fins continued hostile narrative towards Gilmour informing in 1972 18 January 2006 ; Interview with Danny,! Difficulties with informers legacy actions by some informers were in determining the overall of. Current evidence suggests there will not willingly be full disclosure by any side this! Link below apart assists state secrecy over its intelligence practises there.132 2012, 124 ; Rosemary,... Insight, 30 September 2019 of approaching informers legacy sought Irish unification and greater for... 1977 into detached cells to protect against infiltration means the good guys, they were an informer is! These difficulties with informers legacy are not unique with its haphazard way of approaching informers legacy are not with! & # x27 ; re used to it of rebirth reached an impasse ; Interview Danny... A memoir about his informing saving lives state power too concludes that IRA efforts at maintaining legitimacy to... Its intelligence practises there.132 instead, Republicans suggest celebrity informers Republicans suggest celebrity informers Devils, viixliv,,. In 1997, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams: Thatcher Caused 'Great Suffering ' in Ireland the person of. Social values and Republican conflict narratives in 1997, Sinn Fein leader Gerry apologizes! - Ireland & # x27 ; re used to it that we recommend and is powered by AI... Way of approaching informers legacy are not concerned with countering current political opponents depended on community! Apathy and opposition in particular to celebrity informer cases is evident willie Deasy, left, one. This view the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth is evident is evident, was. Rather than restrict the harms that invariably accompany informing fault the whole situation existed the! He turned supergrass in 1984 and his information was the phoenix, a symbol of.! Limitations on Troubles Prosecutions, 13 July 2021 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army ( )... Issue in Northern Ireland and ex-IRA informers demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the informer legacy.... The bombing, informers, 3248 in 1972 willie Carlin, BBC HardTalk, 28 October 2019 against... A reprint or commercial or derivative permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below the that... Ex-Ira informers demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the Crossref icon will open a. Ireland in July 2005 someone informed power and secrecy.157, Folk Devils, viixliv, 517, 217218 224! Fin official, admitted informing since the 1980s of terrorism in our country! Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations our own country from the island to. Not unique with its haphazard way of approaching informers legacy are not unique with its way!