Critical Engagement Critical Engagement Irish republicanism, memory politics and policing Kevin Hearty LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY PRESS First published 2017 by Liverpool University Press 4 Cambridge Street Liverpool L69 7ZU Copyright © 2017 Kevin Hearty The right of Kevin Hearty to be identified as the author of this book has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication data A British Library CIP record is available print ISBN 978-1-78694-047-6 epdf ISBN 978-1-78694-828-1 Typeset by Carnegie Book Production, Lancaster Contents Acknowledgements vii List of Figures and Tables x List of Abbreviations xi Introduction 1 1 Understanding a Fraught Historical Relationship 25 2 Irish Republican Memory as Counter-Memory 55 3 Ideology and Policing 87 4 The Patriot Dead 121 5 Transition, ‘Never Again’ and ‘Moving On’ 149 6 The PSNI and ‘Community Policing’ 183 7 The PSNI and ‘Political Policing’ 217 Conclusion 249 References 263 Index 303 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements This book has evolved from my PhD thesis that was undertaken at the Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster (TJI). When I moved to the University of Warwick in early 2015 as a post-doc, my plans to develop the book came with me too. It represents the culmination of approximately five years of research, reading and (re)writing, during which I often found the mere thought of re-reading some of my work again nauseating; yet, with the encour- agement of many others, I persevered. Over the course of the book’s lifespan I have accumulated enough debt of gratitude to last several lifetimes. As such, I wish to acknowledge the contribution that many people have made to help this book come to fruition. An apposite starting point for reciting my long and ever-expanding list of thanks is with Liverpool University Press and Alison Welsby. Thanks to everyone, group aligned and independent republicans alike, who facilitated or participated in the interview process; 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Coiste na nIarchimi (and its local affiliate branches), Community Restorative Justice Ireland, Conflict Resolution Services Ireland, Éirígí, Expac, Irish Republican Socialist Party, Justice for the Craigavon 2, Republican Network for Unity, Republican Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin and Teach na Failte. Thanks also to the staff at the Northern Ireland Political Collection, Linenhall Library, Belfast for all their help and assistance during archival research. The collection is a magnificent resource whose worth is matched only by the helpfulness of those who staff it. I am also indebted to Daniel Holder of the Committee on the Administration of Justice for helpfully providing clarity on post-Historical Enquiries Team policing mechanisms for ‘dealing with past’. Many learned scholars have helped develop the critical thinking contained in this book. In particular, my PhD supervisory team of Kris Brown, Eilish Rooney and Bill Rolston will always have my gratitude for their wisdom, patience and humanity as they guided me through early academic devel- opment. Likewise, Kieran McEvoy and Fionnuala Ní Aolaín have always been generously forthcoming in their feedback and encouragement. Patricia Lundy viii Critical Engagement helpfully offered words of encouragement and advice (as well as employment!) during my post-TJI and pre-Warwick days. Upon my arrival at Warwick, Jackie Hodgson and Alan Norrie kindly took me under their respective wings, giving me much needed encouragement to continue developing the book and my academic career. I am also indebted to Sharifah Sekalala whose unfailing humour and generosity as an office mate helped me settle in the early days at Warwick and educated me in the dos and don’ts of post-doc life. Colleagues at the TJI and the Criminal Justice Centre, Centre for Operational Police Research and Warwick Law School have also offered friendly encouragement and advice over the years. Many other people have been instrumental in helping me develop the book, whether through commenting on early chapters, offering feedback on articles or seminar papers, directing me to useful literature, highlighting a particular news item, participating in and chatting at workshops or simply discussing matters addressed in the book over a coffee or the odd pint(s): Amaia Alvarez-Berastegi, Stephen Bartells, John Brewer, Anna Bryson, Henrique Carvalho, Anastasia Chemberlen, Phil Clark, Cheryl Lawther, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Kirsten McConnachie, Phil Miller, Solange Mouthaan, Alice Panepinto, Sharda Ramdewor, Alison Riberio de Menezes, Fabienne Viala, Rachel Seoighe and Mark Simpson. A very special word of thanks goes to Brian and Paris who distracted me with rugby (and tolerated my constant pointing out how much I loathe the sport itself!), pints and God knows what else as I slowly adapted to life away from the comfort of home. Your kindness in doing so will never be forgotten and continues to be much appreciated. Periodically cutting loose from the demands of work while in your presence has been immensely pleasurable and hugely cathartic! Brian Mór has never been short of words of encouragement and observant wisdom, and getting to chew the fat with him and Maureen has always been hugely enjoyable as well as informative. Since he moved to England shortly after me, Stephen has always been on hand to agonise over the trials and tribulations of the mighty Celtic FC – even though he reckons he is becoming a Sheffield Wednesday fan these days … Finally, a few words of thanks will never truly do justice to the encour- agement, love and support my family has shown me. In addition to keeping me cognisant of life beyond existence as a scholar, they are always willing to come to my assistance when or where it is needed. My sincerest thanks to our Brendan for enabling me to get the ball rolling. My brothers and sisters have always been hugely supportive, no doubt having to painfully feign interest in what I do in the process. Apologies for boring you endlessly when you’d rather just relax and enjoy life! My nieces and nephews are always a source of great entertainment and prevent me from taking myself too seriously. I’d like Acknowledgements ix to finish by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to my parents for an incredible amount of love, support and effort they invested in me (and indeed my siblings) from an early age. Despite being the oldest and the first of a large working- class family to pursue university education, you never once burdened me with expectation. All you have ever asked is that I try my hardest and stay true to myself and where I’ve come from. With that in mind I hope this book reflects this (that is if you ever get around to reading it…). I’d like to finish the acknowledgements by dedicating this book to my paternal grandfather Mick ‘Wally’ and my maternal grandmother Josie – two unique old-school characters who were never short of encouragement or words of wisdom yet who sadly never got to see this book come into print. Figures and Tables Figures and Tables Figure 3.1 Progressive republican model 102 Figure 3.2 Constitutional nationalist model 102 Table 6.1 District recruitment, 2007–13 187 Table 6.2 District recruitment, 2013–15 189 Table 6.3 District applicants, 2014 189 Table 7.1 Institutional crossover 218 Abbreviations Abbreviations 32CSM 32 County Sovereignty Movement AIA Anglo-Irish Agreement ANC African National Congress CAJ Committee on the Administration of Justice CHIS Covert Human Intelligence Source CRJ Community Restorative Justice DUP Democratic Unionist Party ETA Euskadi Ta Askatasuna FMNL Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front GAA Gaelic Athletic Association GFA Good Friday Agreement HET Historical Enquiries Team HIU Historical Investigations Unit HMIC Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary INLA Irish National Liberation Army IRA Irish Republican Army IRSP Irish Republican Socialist Party JSA Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 MEP Member of the European Parliament MI5 Military Intelligence, Section 5 MLA Member of the Legislative Assembly MP Member of Parliament NCA National Crime Agency NIPB Northern Ireland Policing Board NIRPOA Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association OPONI Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland PANI Police Authority of Northern Ireland PBP People before Profit PCSP Police and Community Safety Partnerships PLO Palestinian Liberation Organisation xii Critical Engagement PSNI Police Service of Northern Ireland RAAD Republican Action Against Drugs RIC Royal Irish Constabulary RIPA Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 RNU Republican Network for Unity RSF Republican Sinn Féin RUC GC RUC George Cross Foundation RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary SAS Special Air Service SDLP Social Democratic and Labour Party SHA Stormont House Agreement TACT Terrorism Act TD Teachta Dála UDR Ulster Defence Regiment UVF Ulster Volunteer Force Introduction Introduction On Sunday 28 January 2007, at a specially convened Extraordinary Ard Fheis (party conference) Sinn Féin, the dominant political voice within modern Irish republicanism, voted in favour of endorsing the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The party rank and file backed a leadership proposal to ‘support the PSNI and criminal justice system’ so that ‘a civic policing service, accountable and representative of the community is delivered as quickly as possible’.1 The motion was carried by a comfortable majority despite some internal disquiet. The Sinn Féin leadership had ‘won’ the debate and avoided the public walk out previously seen at pivotal Ard Fheissana.2 The move marked a comprehensive redefinition of the relationship between the policing apparatus upholding the Northern Ireland state and Irish republicans with fundamental ideological opposition to that state.