The Intelligence War against the IRA

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The Intelligence War against the IRA Page 50

by Thomas Leahy


  Ó hAdhmaill, Féílim on IRA activities in England, 104, 195, 212–213

  on the Belfast Brigade (IRA), 35, 126, 149

  on the peace process, 216, 227

  O’Brien, Brendan, 127, 162, 214

  O’Brien, Seamus, 143, See also Heatherington, Vincent

  O’Doherty, Shane Paul and IRA activities in England, 101, 104

  and the Tyrone IRA, 101

  on Derry city, 22, 36–37

  on Operation Motorman, 92

  on the Derry Brigade (Derry city IRA), 35, 93–4

  on the IRA ceasefire (1974–1975), 94–95, 115

  O’Donnell, Catherine, 202

  O’Loan, Nuala, 83, See also McConville, Jean

  O’Reilly, Tom, 174

  Oatley, Michael, 76, 109, 112, 115, 131, 136, 207, See also MI6

  O’Callaghan, Sean and IRA activities in England, 191–192, 193, 195

  and IRA arms shipments, 197

  on the rural IRA, 101

  O’Doherty, Shane Paul and IRA activities in England, 101

  on Derry city, 22, 36–37

  on Operation Motorman, 92

  on the Derry Brigade (Derry city IRA), 35, 93–94

  on the IRA ceasefire (1974–1975), 94–95, 115

  O’Donnell, Catherine, 203

  Official IRA (OIRA), 20, 34, 44, 46, 48, 49, 157

  Oldfield, Sir Maurice, 131

  Omand, Sir David on community support, 7, 22, 38

  on divisions within the state, 7

  on intelligence cooperation, 41

  on intelligence strategy, 65

  on types of intelligence, 8

  Open-source intelligence (OSINT), 8, 241

  Operation Banner, 19on ‘an acceptable level of violence’, 7, 17, 123

  on British intelligence and security strategy, 38, 66, 130, 131, 145

  on checkpoints, 189

  on criminalisation, 123

  on cross-border roads, 47

  on house searches, 37

  on internment, 39

  on Irish security forces, 189

  on screening, 86

  on the border area, 186

  on the IRA, 36, 81, 82, 85, 88, 103, 126, 168

  on the South Armagh Brigade (IRA), 168, 170

  on the south Armagh watchtowers, 167

  Operation Kenova, 148, 247, See also Stakeknife

  Operation Motorman, 55, 87, 150, See also Belfast Brigade (IRA); Derry Brigade (Derry city IRA)

  Paisley, Ian, 74, 114

  Palmer, Brian, 83, See also McKee, Kevin; Wright, Seamus

  Patterson, Henry, 42, 176, 213

  Perry, Margaret, 179, See also Burns, Gregory

  Phoenix, Ian on intelligence rivalries, 141

  on IRA activities in England, 192, 195

  on Martin McGartland, 149

  on the Belfast Brigade (IRA), 36, 143, 146, 152, 156

  on the East Tyrone Brigade (IRA), 183

  on the Loughgall SAS ambush (1987), 141, 182

  on the SAS, 152, 210

  on the South Armagh Brigade (IRA), 167, 195

  Police Ombudsman Northern Ireland, 83, 146, 148

  Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), 13, 142

  Powell, Jonathan on constructive ambiguity, 109

  on decommissioning, 224, 225

  on pan-nationalist strategy, 207

  on republican leaders and the peace process, 220, 228, 232

  on the IRA ceasefire (1972), 244–245

  on the IRA ceasefire (1975), 246

  on the peace process, 247

  on the South Armagh Brigade (IRA), 171

  Powell, Lord Charles, 131, 197

  Price, Dolours, 13, 84, 103, 246

  Price, Marion, 246

  Prior, James, 128, 133, 134, 135

  Provisional IRA (IRA), 2, 34–35, 91, See also Belfast Brigade (IRA); Derry Brigade (Derry city IRA); East Tyrone Brigade (IRA); Fermanagh IRA; North and mid-Armagh IRA; South Armagh Brigade (IRA)activities in England, 5, 10, 71, 77–78, 81, 102–107, 163, 164, 165, 191–196, 197–198, 223–225, 230, 233, 237, 239

  and a British declaration of intent to withdraw (1972), 53–54, 56, 57

  and a British declaration of intent to withdraw (1974–1975), 66, 67, 68, 75, 76, 108, 109, 110, 111–112, 113, 114, 237, 246

  and a British declaration of intent to withdraw (1976–1979), 122

  and a British declaration of intent to withdraw (1980–1998), 219, 224

  and decommissioning, 223, 224–225, 234

  and Libyan weapons, 157, 164, 174, 197, 198, 204, 205, 226, 230

  and loose talk, 85–86, 149

  and loyalists, 51–52, 53–54, 57–58, 73, 210–211

  and loyalists and unionists, 55, 109–111, 213

  and Newry, 5, 42, 145, 165, 168, 185–186, 190, 239, See also South Armagh Brigade (IRA)

  and ‘shoot-to-kill’ incidents, 181, 187, 210, 242

  and the Ballysillan Post Office SAS ambush (1978), 152

  and the disappeared, 33, 82–85, 95–96, 144

  and the Irish state, 204–205

  and the Mitchell principles, 223

  and the peace process, 247

  and the SDLP, 26, 49–50, 52, 134

  and the suspension of Stormont (1972), 24

  Armalite and Ballot-Box strategy (1981), 233

  Army Council, 26, 51, 52, 67, 74, 102, 104, 109, 128, 129, 164, 191, 196, 197, 224, 226, 232

  Army Executive, 191, 224

  assassination of Joe Bratty, 210, 211

  assassination of Lord Mountbatten (1979), 125, 131

  assassination of Raymond Elder, 210, 211

  Balcombe Street ‘gang’ (1975), 104, 106

  Baltic Exchange bombing (1992), 193

  Birmingham pub bombings (1974), 77, 105, 106

  Bishopsgate bombing (1993), 194

  Brighton bombing (1984), 125, 131, 193, 195, 197

  cell structure, 5, 89–90, 125–126, 130, 138, 154–155, 205

  Chief of Staff, 24, 44, 53, 54, 104, 191, 196

  Christmas ceasefire (1990), 217, 218

  civilian casualties, 138, 153–154, 162–163, 186, 204–205, 212–213, 237

  Cloghogue checkpoint attack (1992), 189, See also South Armagh Brigade (IRA)

  counter-intelligence measures, 88–89

  Deal barracks bombing (1989), 193

  Derryard checkpoint attack (1989), 189

  Docklands bombing (1996), 224

  Downing Street mortar attack (1991), 170, 193, 194, 197, See also South Armagh Brigade (IRA)

  Enniskillen bombing (1987), 177, 212, 213, See also Fermanagh IRA

  Five-point peace plan (1971), 52, 245

  formation (1969), 30

  Free Derry press conference (1972), 52

  General Army Conventions, 191, 226

  General Headquarters (GHQ), 101, 104, 226

  General Order Eight, 204

  Green Book, 204

  Guildford pub bombings (1974), 105

  Harrods bombing (1983), 193

  Heathrow mortar attacks (1994), 194

  Houses of Parliament bombing (1974), 105

  hunger-strikes (1980–1981), 91, 124, 128, 131, 134, 148, 156, 157, 160, 165, 178, 202

  Hyde Park bombing (1982), 193

  internal security unit, 2, 130, 145–146, 147, 150, 180, 185, 190–191

  leadership, 108, 109, 111, 112, 121, 122, 153, 154, 191–198, 199–200, 224–225, 234

  Long War strategy, 126–130, 138, 165

  M62 coach bombing (1974), 105

  Magherafelt bombing (1993), 162, 178

  Manchester bombing (1996), 223, 224

  Newtownards bombing (1993), 179

  Old Bailey bombing (1973), 103–104

  Quartermasters, 104, 157, 196

  Regent’s Park bombing (1982), 193

  Shankill fish shop bombing (1993), 153, 211

  St Mary’s Axe bombing (1992), 170, See also South Armagh Brigade (IRA)

  Thiepval barracks bombing
(1996), 224

  TUAS strategy (1994), 221–222

  volunteers and the peace process, 225–228

  Warrenpoint ambush (1979), 125, 167, 168, 170

  Warrington bombing (1993), 196, 212

  Rathcoole, 54, 57

  Rees, Merlyn, 114, See also British government policy; British Labour Party; Callaghan, James, Donoughue, Bernard; Jenkins, Roy; Mason, Roy; Wilson, Haroldand British strategy (1974–1975), 63, 137

  and British strategy (1975–1976), 117, 122

  and criminalisation, 123

  and independence for Northern Ireland (1974–1975), 66, 67–68, 69, 70–72, 74–77, 79–80, 110, 111–112, 122

  and IRA activity in England, 77–78

  and IRA ceasefire talks (March 1972), 53

  and IRA talks (July 1972), 54

  and the ban on Sinn Féin, 111

  and the Constitutional Convention (1975), 69

  and the IRA ceasefire (1974–1975), 66–72, 75–80, 107, 110, 111–112, 241

  and the legalisation of Sinn Féin and the UVF, 68

  and Ulster loyalists, 70–71, 72, 75, 76–77

  on British strategy (1974–1975), 137

  on IRA activities in England, 106

  on the South Armagh Brigade (IRA), 97

  Reid, Father Alec, 127, 200, 203, 217, 225, See also Adams, Gerry

  Reynolds, Albert, 201, 208, 217, 222, See also Ahern, Bertie; Fianna Fáil; Mansergh, Martin

  River Bann, 46, 187

  Robinson, Vincent, 148

  Rowan, Brian, 230

  Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), 18, 138, 188, See also Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch (RUC SB), See also Clarke, George; Matchett, William; Phoenix, Ianand Headquarters Mobile Support Unit (HMSU), 139, 166, 180, 187

  and ‘shoot-to-kill’ incidents, 187

  and the Garda, 99–100, 188–189

  and the nationalist community, 39–40, 187

  and The Way Ahead for Security Policy (1977), 122

  Chief Constable, 100, 140, 152

  death statistics, 186

  Reserve, 186

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch (RUC SB), 7, 29, 90, 92, See also Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)and Garda Special Branch, 99–100, 188–189, 194

  and intelligence cooperation, 39–41

  and intelligence guidelines, 141

  and intelligence rivalries, 141–142, 240

  and MI5, 140

  and Military Intelligence Liasion Officers (MILO), 33

  and south Armagh, 172

  and TCGs, 141

  and the Gransha ambush (1984), 159

  and the intelligence system, 138–139

  and the Metropolitan Police Special Branch (MPSB), 106–107, 192

  E4A, 139, 151

  surveillance in Belfast, 151–152

  Rural IRA, 6–7, 41–48, 95–102, 107, 164, 165–191, 239–240, See also East Tyrone Brigade (IRA); Fermanagh IRA; North and mid-Armagh IRA; North and mid-Down IRA; South Armagh Brigade (IRA); South Derry IRA; South Down IRA

  Sands, Bobby, 46, 184, 229

  SAS, 8and Antoin MacGiolla Bhride (1984), 174–175

  and Peter Cleary (1976), 166

  and rural IRA units, 190, 198

  and Seamus Harvey (1977), 166

  and TCGs, 141

  and the Ballysillan Post Office depot ambush (1978), 152

  and the Coagh ambush (1991), 183

  and the Coalisland ambush (1992), 183

  and the East Tyrone Brigade (IRA), 141, 174–175, 182–184, 190

  and the Fermanagh IRA, 177–178

  and the Gibraltar ambush (1988), 156

  and the Gransha ambush (1984), 159

  and the intelligence structure, 140

  and the Loughgall ambush (1987), 141, 182–183

  and the peace process, 210

  Saville Inquiry (Bloody Sunday Inquiry, 2010), 21, 33

  Scotland, 192

  Shenton, Private Christopher, 160

  Sherry, Peter, 192, See also Magee, Patrick; Phoenix, Ian

  Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), 8, 90, 130, 192, 243

  Sinn Féin, 2, 124, See also British government policy; Irish government (Irish state); Provisional IRA (IRA); Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)and a federal Ireland (Éire Nua), 49–50, 51–52, 72, 109, 110, 115

  and abstention, 111, 133, 214, 226

  and British government policy, 26, 121, 131–137, 199, 205–210, 215, 219–222, 228–234, 238, 243–247

  and Derry city, 162–163

  and elections, 225, 238, 247

  and informers, 228–233

  and Irish-America, 222

  and local councils, 202

  and pan-nationalist talks, 199, 200–205, 206–208, 216–217, 219, 221–223, 225, 233–234, 238

  and the American government, 234

  and the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 215

  and the Belfast Brigade (IRA), 153–154, 156–157

  and the broadcasting ban (UK), 135

  and the Downing Street Declaration (1993), 220–222

  and the IRA ceasefire (1974–1975), 115–117

  and the Irish government, 58–59, 117, 131–132, 135, 199, 200–205, 206–208, 212, 213–217, 221–223, 224–225, 233–234, 238, 247

  and the Long War strategy, 126–130

  and the peace process, 199–235, 243–247

  and the SDLP, 58–59, 117, 131–132, 162–163, 181, 184–185, 199, 200–205, 206–208, 211–212, 215–217, 221–222, 224–225, 226, 227, 233–234, 237, 238, 247

  and unionism, 202, 206, 219, 221

  proscription, 54, 58, 135

  Slater, Alistair, 175

  Slater, Hugh, 92

  Sligo (county), 125

  Smith, Brigadier Mike, 173

  Smith, Howard, 24

  Smithwick Tribunal, 165

  Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 55, 58, 59, See also British government policy; Hume, John; Irish government (Irish state); Provisional IRA (IRA); Sinn Féinand a federal Ireland, 50

  and British government policy, 23–28, 63, 64, 113, 121, 131–132, 134, 135–136, 206–207, 208

  and Derry city, 138, 162

  and independence for Northern Ireland (1974–1975), 74, 113

  and majority rule, 17, 21

  and pan-nationalist talks, 200–205, 206–207, 208, 217, 220–222

  and Stormont majority rule, 24, 28

  and the IRA and Sinn Féin, 24–26, 28, 49–51, 54, 111, 113, 131–132, 156, 162–163, 181, 185, 199, 200–205, 206–207, 208, 211, 215, 220–222, 225, 226, 227, 233, 237, 238, 247

  and the Irish government, 113, 200–205, 206–207, 208

  and the suspension of Stormont (1972), 20–21

  rent-and-rates strikes, 22

  Towards a New Ireland strategy, 50

  South Africa, 196, 211

  South Armagh, 168, 190and British Army watchtowers, 166–167, 170–171

  and Croslieve Mountain listening tower, 140

  and the Borucki Sangar, 166

  and the shooting of Harry Thornton (1971), 45

  Camlough, 44

  Crossmaglen, 42, 44, 45, 165, 166, 168, 172

  Culderry, 166

  Cullaville, 170

  Cullyhanna, 166, 168

  Forkhill, 166

  Keady, 95

  nationalists and Dundalk, 47, 99

  Newtownhamilton, 95, 98

  Tullydonnell, 98

  South Armagh Brigade (IRA), 5, 41, 95, 164, 186, 187, 190, 242, See also Provisional IRA (IRA); South Armaghand British Army helicopters, 169, 172, 173

  and British Army watchtowers, 166–167, 170–171

  and British vehicle patrols, 169

  and checkpoints, 167

  and IRA operations, 186

  and IRA operations in England, 166, 170, 195, 198, 223–224, 237

  and local support, 168–169, 172–173, 187

  and Robert Nairac, 95–96

  and smuggling, 165, 172–173

  and
the border, 172

  and the Borucki Sangar, 171

  and the Cloghogue checkpoint attack (1992), 189

  and the Croslieve Mountain listening tower, 167

  and the IRA ceasefire (1974–1975), 102, 113, 117

  and the IRA ceasefire (1994–1996), 231

  and the IRA ceasefire (1997), 223–224, 233

  and the Irish Civil War, 45

  and the Irish War of Independence, 45

  and the killing of Lord Justice Gibson (1987), 170

  and the Newry barracks attack (1985), 170

  and the SAS, 102, 166

  and the Warrenpoint ambush (1979), 168, 170

  and vetting volunteers, 190–191

  arrests, 223

  campaign, 95–102, 165–173, 190–191, 223, 237, 239

  Crossmaglen barracks attacks, 168

  intended target killings (1969–1972), 41

  intended target killings (1972–1975), 96–97

  intended target killings (1976–1998), 167–168

  risk averse culture, 173

  sniper attacks, 98, 167, 169, 170

  training, 99

  South Derry IRA, 178, 185

  South Down IRA, 42, 185–186, 198, 237

  Special Powers Act, 18

  Stakeknife, 184, 236, 242, 247and Aidan Starrs, Gregory Burns and John Dignam, 180

  and Freddie Scappaticci allegations, 2, 150, 236

  and Joseph Fenton, 147

  and the Belfast Brigade (IRA), 143, 145–146, 148, 150, 155

  and the rural IRA, 190–191

  and the South Down IRA, 185

  Stalker, John, 180, See also Royal Ulster Constabulary Special Branch (RUC SB)

  Starrs, Aidan, 179–180, See also Burns, Gregory; Dignam, John

  Steele, Frank, 24, 25, 51, 55, 57, 58, 64, 89, See also MI6

  Stormont and British security policy, 18–21

  and Irish nationalists, 24

  and Sinn Féin, 133, 219, 229

  and the British government, 23–24

  and the IRA, 28, 53

  and the RUC, 40

  and the SDLP, 17, 20

  collusion debate (2015), 236

  suspension (1972), 17, 21

  Unionist majority rule, 17, 18, 23, 48, 51

  Stuart, Edward, 83, See also Military Reaction Force (MRF)

  Sunningdale Agreement and Executive (1973–1974), 65, 69, 70, 72, 76–77

  Supergrass trials, 124–125, 131, 158, See also Gilmour, Raymond

  Surveillance, 9, 96, 100, 151–152, 159–160, 161, 163, 192–193, 237

 

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