but failed to act on the logic of that action," he said. A leaflet distributed at the time praised the heroism of the republican prisoners. We also thank all contributors to the research. In 1981, after hunger strikes in which 10 republican prisoners died (7 were IRA members), the political aspect of the struggle grew to rival the military one, and Sinn Fin began to play a more prominent role. February 1, 2023 Neo-Conservative Propaganda as History, Informers and the Transition in Northern Ireland, Triangle of Betrayal: Collaborators and Transitional Justice in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Underground Penalty: The IRAs Punishment of Informers, DUP Concern Over Ex-Agents After BBC IRA-Supergrass Probe, Agents and Ambushes: Britains Dirty War in Northern Ireland, 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. 143. 136. Whelan, Norths Police Ombudsman, An Phoblacht, 3 November 2011. by. Adams, who acted as the public face of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) for much of its three-decade guerrilla war against British rule in Northern Ireland, said Thatcher's Irish policy failed miserably and delayed the achivement of peace in 1998. . Divisions between suspected or self-confessed informers contribute to Republicans and the state responding inconsistently to legacy cases. At one point the IRA sought assistance from Adolf Hitler to help remove the British from Ireland. The Presidents Inbox. It enables those the state deems as fabricating grievances to continue voicing their accounts. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Aug. 27, 1979: An IRA bomb kills four, including a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Lord Mountbatten. Sort by: View. 1. For the INLA, see Holland and McDonald, INLA. 10. These tensions split the IRA, too, which in 1969, the IRA splintered into two groups, the Dublin-based "officials," who advocated a united socialist Ireland by peaceful means, and the Belfast-based "provisionals," who vowed to use violence as a catalyst for unification. In some more controversial cases the state has not prevented investigations commencing, such as Operation Kenovas investigations into Stakeknife. 36. At the same time, Sinn Fins ambition to create and lead a future all-Ireland state means they have to address some informer legacy injustices to build more trust in their movement across the island.112 The quotes from McMullan, alongside Braniffs and Teggarts relatives, show there was pressure from within the Republican community to address wrongdoing too. In 2006, Nuala OLoan, former Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, took the unusual step of confirming evidence showing McConville was not an informer. The Collection includes The Blanket's entire archive (2001-2007). With potentially the exception of the unknown and celebrity informers, most lack any power to influence forgiveness or apologies from the IRA or state.154 Some alleged or self-confessed informers find themselves in a no-mans land, where neither the state, nor the IRA, nor wider society will revisit their case. The Provisional IRA emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in 1969, partly as a result of that organisation's perceived failure to defend Catholic . Greenwood and Balousha in The Guardian, Hamas promises amnesty to Palestinian collaborators spying for Israel, 13 March 2013. Dudai, Underground Penality, 377381. Counsel for the PSNI told the tribunal that naming past informers beggars belief and could seriously damage the flow of information from current informers.122. The IRA was created in 1919 as a successor to the Irish Volunteers, a militant nationalist organization founded in 1913. A British Army patrol suddenly arrived and arrested the IRA volunteers.106 Bernards sister disputed the IRAs account, particularly because her brother had additional learning needs.107 In 2004, the IRA declared Bernards death was wrong and offered its sincere apologies. 2 During the recent conflict, publicly available information shows that overall the UK state . 140. 86. Similar challenges in reconciling former state agents with paramilitaries are evident across other conflicts. IRISH TROUBLES, AMERICAN MONEY. Authors suggesting informers helped pressurise the IRA into peace argue that aside from ethically dubious intelligence operations which were exceptions, the intelligence war was ultimately effective in bringing about the peace process.25 In contrast, authors including Leahy, Sarma, Urban and Williams suggest the intelligence wars effectiveness was restricted partly because of ethically dubious activities by some informers. March 22, 1987. DUP Concern, BBC News Online, 9 November 2012. There are no clear legal mechanisms or pressures in international or UK law encouraging the state and Republicanism to address all informer legacy cases in a systematic way.156 This makes it surprising that either side has engaged at all with any informer legacy cases. In contrast, remorseful informers or those who deny informing rely on Irish Republicanism almost exclusively to address their grievances. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They wanted relatives names cleared. OK then. Dudai and Cohen., Triangle of Betrayal, 40. This week 100 years ago, five brave IRA Volunteers were executed by the Free State authorities. Introduction. The IRA issued a further statement in 2009 confirming: Bernard was an innocent victim and not an informer. 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. 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. January 31, 2022, How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer, Interactive Republican Sinn Fin (RSF) was formed in 1986 when Sinn Fin announced that, if elected, it would take its seats in the Irish parliament - ending its longstanding policy of abstentionism. 32. We would like to thank Ian McBride, Richard English, Huw Bennett, Claudia Hillebrand, Victoria Basham, Alena Drieschova, John Harrington, the SPIN network alongside multiple Politics/IR/Law staff/students at Cardiff University for their feedback on drafts of this article. Graffiti in . Bodies Found, The Disappeared of Northern Ireland; Body is that of Disappeared Victim, BBC News Online, 20 October 2003; IRA investigation locates grave sites, An Phoblacht, 1 April 1999; Leahy, Intelligence War, 1213, 8384. In April 1999, the IRA apologised for disappearing and said it wanted to rectify any injustice.91 From the initial nine names provided, the IRA claimed seven were informers. 4.99 1916 Easter Rising GPO Badge. In July 2006, the British and Irish governments indicated that they believed that the IRA had ceased all centrally organized criminal activities, and subsequent reports indicate that the IRA is continuing to take steps to wind down, and even oppose, its paramilitary operations stemming from its splinter groups. The settlement generated intense opposition within Sinn Fin, Cumann na mBan, and the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which resulted in a civil war in mid-1922. Danny Morrisons conviction and imprisonment in 1990 were set-up by Stakeknife. Leahy concludes: British intelligence did not win the intelligence war the conflict ended in a stalemate. Others hoped that such a conspicuous display of patriotism might put a stop to read more, The United States has long been considered a nation of immigrants, but attitudes toward new immigrants by those who came before have vacillated over the years between welcoming and exclusionary. Anthony Braniffs family received a similar apology. It is politically useful by demonstrating to the public a resolve against enemies. 47. 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]. Mainstream Republicans, however, can argue state secrecy made unearthing Stakeknife difficult. The final section examines why suspected and self-confessed IRA informers cannot form a single narrative to guide rapprochement efforts. 80. He indicated, however, that Thatcher played a role in opening up secret channels of communications with the IRA, but that it was not properly utilised until after she stepped down as prime minister. These cases differ from celebrity informers who continue criticising Sinn Fin. Yet both oppose informers within their own ranks. IRA informer means an IRA member who provides information to British intelligence.10 Alan Barker, former Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch (RUC SB) handler, also describes recruiting agents, who initially were not a member of the terrorist groups but were carefully manoeuvred into one of them by intelligence services.11 British Army agents also infiltrated paramilitary groups.12 These three types of human intelligence sources are discussed. We suggest because the state does not want to acknowledge in detail past unethical actions of particular informers and security operations (in fear of contemporary political and security repercussions) it tried to introduce an amnesty. 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. Cases that might raise questions about ongoing intelligence practises may be overlooked. "She embraced censorship, collusion and the killing of citizens by covert operationsand refused to recognise the rights of citizens to vote for parties of their choice.". Gilmour: Collapse of 1984 Trial against the Derry 35, Hamas Promises Amnesty to Palestinian Collaborators Spying for Israel, Movement without Aim: Methodological and Theoretical Problems in Oral History, The Informer and the Political and Organisational Culture of the Irish Republican Movement, Stakeknife: Ex-IRA and MI5 Members Could Be Prosecuted, Real IRA Claims Responsibility for 2006 Murder of Denis Donaldson, Citizenship on the Ethnic Frontier: Nationality, Migration and Rights in Northern Ireland since 1920, The Politics of Troubles Memories in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, 1998 to 2018, Former British Spy Says Police Report Confirms He Was Shot by the IRA, IRA Informer Stakeknife Arrested in Murder Investigation, How Stakeknife Paved Way to Defeat the IRA, The Spys Tale: The Life and Death of Denis Donaldson, Truth and Conflict: Seeking the Best Way Forward, Apology from IRA for Youths Murder Welcomed, More than 20 People May Be Prosecuted after Stakeknife Inquiry, Evaluating Special Branch and the Use of Informant Intelligence in Northern Ireland, Operation Kenova: The Pain for These Families Has Never Gone Away, Says Former Chief, The Rules of Hijacking: Coercion and Legitimacy in the Urban Statelets of the IRA, OLoan Finds No Evidence McConville Was a Spy, Stakeknife Turns Out to Have Blunt British Blade, An Investigation into the Alleged Activities of the Person Known as Stakeknife, Remembering the Past: Leonard McNally Arch-Informer, Revealed: McGuinness Legal Threat over Raymond Gilmour Book, Cold War Spies: Why They Spied and How They Got Caught, Troubles Victims Pensions: New Board to Decide Who Qualifies, Secrecys Subjects: Special Operations in the US Shadow War, Norths Police Ombudsman Announces Departure: Three Damning Reports, Counter-terrorism and Just Intelligence, an Oxymoron? Dudai, Underground penality, 384385. The name came into popular use after the 1918 election in the British Isles, which registered a huge Irish majority for Irish independence. Fulton claims he wanted to save lives.149 Carlin says he informed to serve the British Army.150 OCallaghan suggests he informed to defeat extreme nationalism.151 They publicise their views for various reasons, including to receive greater recognition from the state and to continue opposing Republicanism. Well I won't because he passed away a few years ago but I'll tell you a little about his life. We instead agree more with his view for the conflict period. At the funeral service days later, two British soldiers accidentally drive into the procession and are dragged from their vehicle, beaten and shot dead. Dudai, Underground Penality, 381384; Dudai, Informers, 378385. Other factors include community pressure, legal grey areas,40 and differing perspectives on the motives for an alleged informer raising their case. In April 1998, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell helped broker the Good Friday accord, a landmark agreement among most of the main political parties in Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein, and the British and Irish governments. He says: Being a collaborator was the worst reputation anyone could have in Palestine.49 During the anti-apartheid conflict in South Africa, armed groups killed many suspected informers.50 Hewitt suggests resistance to informers points not only to the continuing lack of legitimacy of the state in some quarters, but also to greater allegiance to human bonds of family, religion, ethnicity, nationality, geographical location, community, gender, sexuality and, most fundamentally, friendship.51 Rather than simply sowing seeds of disunity, informers can provoke greater cohesion between armed groups and a community to oppose the state. Author of, Assistant Professor, Department of Government, American University, Washington, D.C. April 10, 1998: The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, is signed, with the referendum passing May 23 following a vote in both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. When it comes to celebrity informers, Republican leaders believe they are still attempting to damage Sinn Fin. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. the way 'the name of and honour of the Irish Republican Army' was being 'abused'. - Ireland's agreement to change its constitution. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Credit: Tourism Ireland. In 2006 the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman announced there was no evidence showing McConville was an informer.136 To say this publicly was very unusual due to the neither confirm nor deny policy. He is right that Sinn Fin opposes addressing celebrity informer legacy cases because the latter continue trying to politically delegitimise Sinn Fin.33 But we highlight how the IRA has dealt with other informer legacy cases in part because these do not pose the same contemporary political risks. involvement in organized criminal activities, such as extortion, bank robbery, smuggling, and counterfeiting. Most convictions were later overturned.101 One womans partner was remanded in custody. 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. I personally think there will eventually be a United Ireland. Loose Talk Can be Fatal, An Phoblacht, 25 January 1974, p.4. Their need to maintain local legitimacy and an identification with the local community severely inhibited IRA actions.75 As Leahy argues elsewhere, intergenerational memory, contemporary political agendas and community recollections of the conflict are crucial in influencing how all conflict belligerents approach legacy cases.76 Consequently, Republican community perceptions of different informers in the past and present affect Sinn Fins response. By the 1960s, however, its activities had dwindled significantly. 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. 3. Examples include English and Dochartaigh. Leahy, Intelligence War, 1011; Hewitt, Snitch!, 138; Kalyvas, Logic of Violence, 10506, 1767; Holland and Phoenix, Phoenix, 11113. The Black and Tans (Irish: Dchrnaigh) were constables recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) as reinforcements during the Irish War of Independence. But I disagree that the British government just let Loyalist terrorists go free. Nonetheless, Dudai suggests: memoir-writing informers are not necessarily representative of other informers. Thatcher is best remembered in Northern Ireland for her hard line during a hunger strike in 1981 in which 10 prisoners died. **** TIMESTAMPS*** For this episode I spoke with Irish-American author, Peter Quinn about his growing up in 50s/60s Bronx, his various books, Irish famine immigration, life as a writer, his thoughts. Feb 22. republican-news.org. 1. They claimed many disappeared victims were executed for activities which put other Oglaigh na hEireann [IRA] personnel at risk.96 They accepted, however, disappearing did not follow IRA protocol for dealing with suspected informers: courts-martial, release, amnesty, exiling or execution with a body left in public.97 The IRA recognised Irish and UK government legislation put them under pressure to respond to the disappeared cases too. From modest beginnings, the Provisionals became the most important and dangerous separatist paramilitary group during the . These terms, however, proved unacceptable to a substantial number of IRA members. Nov. 15, 1985: With hopes of dampening Sinn Fein support, Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Garret FitzGerald sign the Anglo-Irish Agreement, an accord stating both governments would formally consult on Northern Ireland, allowing for the possibility of a united nation. They are about past injustices and are not concerned with countering current political opponents. 54. Morrison, No 10s murderer, 30 January 2016. But their studies addressed wider questions about the reasons for the peace process. There were a million Brits born there. The situation changed dramatically in the late 1960s, when Catholics in Northern Ireland began a civil rights campaign against discrimination in voting, housing, and employment by the dominant Protestant government and population. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Ira) The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was formed in 1969. ira (irish republican army) ncj number. Different punishments provided the IRA with a quasi state-like image to challenge state authority.30 He suggests this flexible approach was partly about maintaining community support. 17. 1798 Rebellion Enamel Pin Badge. by Lindsay Maizland