COUNTER-GANGS: A history of undercover military units in Northern 1971-1976

Margaret Urwin

A joint publicationCounter-gangs: by Spinwatch, A history of Justice undercover for themilitary Forgotten units in Northern and the Ireland 1971-1976 Centreå s å About the Author Margaret Urwin has worked with Justice for the Forgotten, the organisation representing the families and survivors of the and bombings, since 1993 and, over the last decade, with the families of other cross-Border bombings. Justice for the Forgotten merged with the Pat Finucane Centre in December 2010. A native of County Wexford, Margaret is a graduate of the Open University and NUI Maynooth – MA (Hons) Local History, 2001. Her publications include: A County Wexford Family in the Land War: The O’Hanlon Walshs of Knocktartan, (2001), Four Courts Press; ‘The Murder of Charles Daniel Boyd’ in Hanging Crimes, (2005), Mercier Press; ‘The Effects of the Great Famine (1845-9) in the County Wexford Parish of Bannow/Ballymitty’ in The Journal of the Wexford Historical Society, 1996.

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military DISCLAIMER units in 1971-1976 Views and opinions expressed in this publication November 2012 are those of the individual contributors and do British Cataloguing-in-Publications Data. not necessarily reflect those of Public Interest Investigations, Spinwatch, The Pat Finucane Center, A catalogue record for this report is available from the or Justice for the Forgotten. British Library. ISBN 978-0-9570274-1-1 ORDER COPIES This report is available to download free of charge via [email protected] Spinwatch website: spinwatch.org Printed and bound in the UK To order hard copies, order online on the Spinwatch COPYRIGHT bookshop: www.spinwatch.org/book-shop E-mail: Public Interest Investigations © 2012 [email protected] All rights reserved. Write to: No part of this publication may be reproduced, Spinwatch stored or transmitted in any form of by any Box 1, c/o Govanhill Baths Community Trust means without the prior permission from the 99 Calder St, Glasgow G42 7RA copyright holder.

å s åSpinwatch Contents

Foreword 4 Counter-gangs: a history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976 5 Military Reaction Forces 6 The shooting of the Conway brothers 8 The murder of Patrick McVeigh 9 The shooting 10 The Glen Road shooting 10 The case of William Black 12 The Bawnmore Road incident 14 The Leeson Street shooting 15 The New Lodge gun battle 15 The murder of Daniel Rooney and wounding of Brendan Brennan 15 Other unresolved murders in 1972 that may possibly be attributed to the MRF 17 The Four Square Laundry incident, Gemini Massage Parlour and the abduction of Kevin McKee and Séamus Wright 18 The Special Reconnaissance Unit (SRU) 20 Arrest of Martin Watson 24 New Lodge murders 24 shooting 25 Ranger Louis Hammond and other ‘Freds’ 25 Controversial shootings at Shaw’s Lake and Mowhan Post Office, County 30 Links between the Special Reconnaissance Unit (Four Field Survey Troop detachment) and the 32 Conclusion 33 Endnotes 34

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å Foreword

t is now widely acknowledged a contemporary significance beyond that state collusion and violence Northern Ireland given the renewed Iplayed a significant role in the influence of counter-insurgency theory in Northern Ireland conflict.* The the era of the War on Terror, not only on findings of the Saville Inquiry the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but into represent an also on domestic counter-. important acknowledgement of one This pamphlet inaugurates a wider State crucial episode. Nevertheless, a full Violence and Collusion Project, being accounting for state violence in the pursued as a collaboration between Troubles appears some way off. Spinwatch and the Pat Finucane Centre, Given the British Government’s decision and made possible by an initial grant to rule out a Truth Commission, the from the Scurrah Wainwright Charity. prospects for a comprehensive process to deal with the legacy of The project aims to use the internet to remain uncertain. In the absence of official collate and disseminate research on the will to address the issue, victims’ families, role of state violence and collusion in the investigative journalists and support Troubles. To this end a dedicated portal groups such as Justice for the Forgotten has been established at Spinwatch’s and the Pat Finucane Centre have been at PowerBase wiki (at http://powerbase. the forefront of uncovering the past. info/index.php/State_Violence_and_ Collusion_Project). In this pamphlet, Margaret Urwin of Justice for the Forgotten presents the results of While the project does not aspire to be this research in relation to one key actor a comprehensive account of the issues in the early Troubles, undercover British raised by the Troubles, it does aim to Army units such as the Military Reaction facilitate the valuable research currently Forces and their successor, the Special being done, which we believe will make Reconnaissance Unit. a comprehensive truth and reconciliation process for all the victims of the Troubles Her findings have implications for many inevitable. incidents of the Troubles in the 1970s, including the most lethal, the Dublin- Tom Griffin, Monaghan bombings. They also have Spinwatch

* See Stevens Inquiry: Overview and recommendations, 17 April 2003, Sir John Stevens QPM, DL., Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/collusion/stevens3/stevens3summary.htm; British Irish Rights Watch (1999) Deadly Intelligence: State Involvement in Loyalist Murder in Northern Ireland (summary). London: British Irish Rights Watch. http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/violence/birw0299.htm; Amnesty International (2000) – Patrick Finucane’s killing: Official collusion and cover-up, 1 February, www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR45/026/2000/ en/83f047ba-dfc0-11dd-8e17-69926d493233/eur450262000en.pdf (accessed 24 October 2012).

å s åSpinwatch Counter-gangs: a history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976

n the aftermath of World War Two The ’s Sir Frank the British state was involved in Kitson2 did not invent concepts of Ias many as fifty colonial counter or pseudo-gangs3 and pseudo counter-insurgency campaigns operations, but he and Brigadier Richard where they confronted subversion Clutterbuck4 undoubtedly brought the and insurgency by using covert, issues to a wider audience through their undercover methods or ‘low intensity academic publications on low-intensity operations’.1 Examples of these techniques and methods. Kitson served campaigns include Malaya, Palestine, in several of the colonial campaigns, Kenya, Cyprus, and Aden. which convinced him that conventional

Counterinsurgency in Malaya

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å warfare was on the way out, partly destroy the terrorists’. The IRA because of the nuclear stalemate, and has the initiative and is causing partly because the covert kind was disruption out of all proportion to the proving to be so effective.5 He is credited relatively small numbers engaged. with introducing the pseudo-gang This is not to credit the IRA with technique into Kenya, using defectors to any unusual skill; it is the normal great advantage. pattern of urban guerrilla activity when the guerrillas are not opposed By 1970, when Kitson was posted by a ruthless and authoritarian to Northern Ireland as commander governmental machine.9 of 39 Brigade in , Britain had accumulated significant experience and ‘Q squads’ was the description given had developed methods and tactics to the mobile undercover unit of the that they were able to bring to their new Palestine Police and ‘Q patrols’ were theatre of conflict. Counter-insurgency used in the Cyprus conflict whose methods were introduced as early as members were used to hunt and capture 1971 including or kill members of EOKA.10 and the use of black propaganda with the creation of the Information Policy Military Reaction Forces Unit at Army Headquarters, . In late 1971 the plain-clothes teams In 1972, the British Army took overall that had been formed at Easter were responsibility for security in Northern reformed and expanded as Military Ireland.6 Reaction Forces (MRFs) without RUC Tony Geraghty claims that, in Northern participation.11 They were divided Ireland by the spring of 1971, the British into units of around 15, assigned to a authorities were desperate to penetrate particular area, and worked in squads ‘the terrorist network and they did so of two to four travelling in a single by adopting the counter-gang tactics unmarked vehicle. developed by Kitson during Kenya’s Mau describes their purpose as Mau campaign.7 His claim was confirmed being ‘to draw the Provisional IRA into in a defensive brief from NIO to the Prime a shooting war with loyalists in order Minister, dated 2nd April 1974, that plain- to distract the IRA from its objective of clothes teams, initially joint RUC/Army attacking the Army.’12 patrols, began operating in Northern Ireland around Easter 1971.8 The MRFs were similar to the ‘Q’ patrols described above. It is not known how In a military appreciation document widely these units were dispersed, but prepared by Army General Staff in we have incontrovertible evidence that October 1971, under the heading: they operated in Belfast and Derry. Ian ‘Tougher Military Measures and their Hurst () was asked at implications’ the following suggestion the Saville Inquiry whether MRF was is included: operating in Derry in January 1972. His ‘More aggressive tactics against reply was that he wasn’t sure if MRF was gunmen [are required] such as the operating but a unit that had a similar formation of Q squads in special capability undoubtedly was.13 One of areas, to mystify, mislead and their activities was to drive ‘defectors’

å s åSpinwatch from nationalist areas around their of a community and the examination districts so that individuals they believed of occupants by informers concealed to be members of the IRA could be in hoods.15 pointed out. However, the majority of Here is what an internal source has to say those killed and injured by the MRFs had about the establishment of the MRFs: no involvement with the IRA. ‘Their setting up was technically the These defectors are described by Army’s first move into an aggressive Geraghty as follows: intelligence role, where soldiers ‘Ten proven IRA activists, including were operating in plain clothes as one who was a recently demobilised members of the public, but could fire soldier of the Royal Irish Rangers, on and engage with terrorist groups, were arrested and given the choice if necessary. That changed the nature between long terms of imprisonment of the war quite considerably because, or undercover work for the British instead of soldiers being identified as Army. They opted to join the British. such, suddenly there were people Commanded by a Parachute Regiment who were not, from the viewpoint captain they were known as the of the general public, anything other Special Detachment of the MRF (or than civilians, but they were in fact more colloquially as “Freds”). Their armed. The plain-clothes operation guard were ten volunteers for plain- could be entirely passive, in terms of clothes duty from the British Army. keeping surveillance on targets, or The “Freds” lived in one half of a they could, where a situation merited semi-detached married quarters in the it take aggressive action by shooting heavily-guarded Barracks, at a particular individual or group while their British guard occupied the of individuals. The MRFs were run 14 other half’. without any proper training because The MRFs operated out of Palace soldiers were borrowed from other Barracks, Holywood and their activities areas and put into these units. It was went far beyond surveillance operations done as an experiment and in some such as the Four Square Laundry and ways worked well but it also had great Gemini massage parlour, and included weaknesses, which were exposed the shooting from cars at prominent IRA by the Four Square Laundry incident. members, Catholic Ex-servicemen’s They were eventually, after a couple Association (CESA) members and of developmental stages, replaced by ordinary Catholics (and in at least one 14th Intelligence.’16 case Protestants), the ‘turning’ of IRA While defectors from the nationalist suspects through intimidation and community were used by the British blackmail and using them to inform on intelligence agencies, the loyalists were their former comrades or to point them their natural allies. Just as the use of out from passing cars. the Turkish Cypriots was an important This use of ‘turned’ suspects, who were element in British victory in Cyprus, and given the name ‘Freds’ by the British tribes unsympathetic to the Kikuyu in Army, is straight out of Kitson – one of Kenya played a major role in the defeat his recommendations was the cordoning of the ‘Mau-Mau’, so the loyalists of

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å Northern Ireland were the allies of the areas could almost be entirely secured British in their war against the IRA. They, by a combination of UDA, Orange in fact, had a higher claim than any of Volunteers and RUC. It may even the friendly forces used in the colonies. be necessary to turn a blind eye to They were, after all, British citizens who UDA arms when confined to their wanted Northern Ireland to remain part own areas.’18 of the United Kingdom. They shared a Set out below is a series of murders, common identity and political aims. attempted murders and other incidents Such empathy with loyalists is borne involving the MRFs during 1972. out by a decision that was taken in late 1971 to treat their vigilantes in a different The shooting of the Conway brothers manner from nationalist or Republican On 15th April, the first evidence of vigilantes, e.g., Catholic Ex-Servicemen’s plain-clothes patrols emerged with the Association (CESA). The UK shooting of two brothers in Ballymurphy Representative in Belfast, Frank Steele, Road. Gerry and John Conway were a senior MI6 officer17 sent a telegram to walking to the Falls Road to catch a the Foreign and Commonwealth Office bus when, at the gates of St. Thomas’ (FCO) and Home Office (HO), enclosing School near the junction of Ballymurphy instructions to troops serving in Northern and Whiterock Roads, a car pulled up Ireland 8, 9 and 39 Brigades as well as in front of them. Three men wearing to HQ Defence Regiment from sweaters jumped from the car and fired the Commander of Land Forces (CLF). automatic pistols at the two brothers The telegram stated that, in relation to who fled up Ballymurphy Road. One of vigilantes willing to help the security the men pursued them, firing as he went, forces, in reality loyalist vigilantes, Army and succeeded in wounding both of units were instructed to ‘effect informal them. An eyewitness observed the man contact with unofficial forces in order who had carried out the shooting return that their activities and areas of operation to his car and speak into a microphone. can be co-ordinated and taken into Two Saracens arrived on the scene and account in the security plans for the area a uniformed soldier conferred with the concerned. The directive referred to ‘civilian’ gunman. The Saracens then ‘unofficial unarmed bodies ... working in left the area accompanied by the civilian the public interest.’ car. A statement issued from the Army press office claimed that a ‘mobile patrol’ Sir Harry Tuzo, General Officer had come under fire from the Whiterock Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland Road and that they had returned fire wrote to Mr. William Whitelaw, SSNI in wounding one man who had dropped July 1972 enclosing a position paper on his pistol and escaped. Despite the possible action to be taken in the event fact that the Conway brothers were of a renewed IRA campaign. Under the treated immediately after the shooting heading of ‘UDA threat’ he wrote: in the Royal Victoria Hospital and made ‘It will be even more necessary to statements to the Association for Legal acquiesce in unarmed UDA patrolling Justice, which were released to the and barricading of Protestant areas. press, neither of them was ever charged, Indeed it is arguable that Protestant or even questioned, about the pistol,

å s åSpinwatch which the Army claimed was dropped a death list with names and photos, and which would, presumably, have had with the orders ‘shoot on sight’. One fingerprint evidence on it.19 of the soldiers saw James [Bryson], a man on the list, and another man The MRF operatives mistook the whose name I forget [Thomas Tolan]. Conways for two very prominent IRA We swerved our car in front of them members, Jim Bryson and Thomas and leapt out, drawing our pistols, and Tolan, who had escaped with five others opened fire. They tried to run down an from the prison ship, HMS Maidstone, alley. We ran after them and the patrol on 17th January 1972. According to a commander gave the order ‘bullets’. I witness, Noel O’Reilly, he heard one of scored several hits myself – both men the MRF men say: ‘Bryson got away’ were severely wounded. We radioed and also to have heard the name ‘Tolan’ for a uniformed patrol. When it turned mentioned.20 Both Bryson and Tolan had up, their commander said to ours, ‘You addresses in Ballymurphy Road.21 stupid bastards, you’ve shot the wrong In 1978, a former soldier who had served fuckers’. The army issued a statement with MRF spoke about his experiences in alleging that the men had shot at us Belfast. He described himself as having and that the army had a pistol to prove been ‘an infantry NCO with considerable it. This was a lie. experience of internal security in aid of In May 1972, another MRF patrol the civil power, having carried out police assassinated a man called McVeigh actions in six different territories, as well with the intention of blaming the as having served three tours of duty in Protestants and taking the heat off Ireland’. He detailed his experiences the army. A month later the MRF shot in Belfast: three taxi drivers in . ‘During early 1972 I was posted away A Thompson was used.’22 from my battalion to a unit in Ireland called MRF. I was based at the army The murder of Patrick McVeigh HQ, 39th Infantry Brigade Group, Patrick Joseph McVeigh was indeed Lisburn. We operated in plain clothes, murdered on 12th May at the junction in civilian vehicles, in teams of from of Riverdale Park South and two to four members, each with a Road North by members of the MRF senior NCO or subaltern… We were who opened fire from a car with sub- instructed in the use of the Russian machine guns on a group of vigilantes AK47 assault rifle, the Armalite and who were members of CESA. McVeigh, a Thompson machine gun. All these an ex-serviceman but not a member weapons are favoured by the Provos. of the vigilante group, was chatting to I will leave it to your imagination why them when they were fired upon. His Brigadier Kitson thought this was four companions were all wounded – necessary, as these weapons are not Gerard and Patrick Donnelly, Bernard standard issue for the British army. McGribben and Patrick McCormick.23 One day in April 1972 I was on plain- The car continued along Riverdale Park clothes surveillance duties with two for 100 yards, made a three-point turn other soldiers. We drove along the on the narrow roadway and drove at high Whiterock Road, Upper Falls. We had speed past the scene of the shooting

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å and down Finaghy Road North to a towards them, stopped at the junction military checkpoint at a railway bridge. of Silvio and Upper Charleville Streets. The driver of the car showed a document A man in civilian clothes jumped from to the soldiers and was allowed to the car and fired an automatic pistol proceed. It was six weeks before the at the car containing the four men. RUC informed the injured survivors of the He then returned to his car, which attack that they had been shot by plain- attempted to drive off at speed. What clothes soldiers. The soldiers claimed happened next is disputed. The Army at the inquest of Patrick McVeigh that claimed that local people prevented they had been fired upon by six armed the car from getting away but local men with rifles and revolvers and were eyewitnesses claimed that the car not cross-examined. However, forensic crashed as it made off. What is not evidence given at the inquest showed disputed is that the car was later that neither the dead man nor any of removed from the scene by a military his companions had fired weapons.24 mobile crane. The three men who According to Ed Moloney the real target were in the car were seized and badly of the MRF was a leading Republican beaten. Local community leaders but the bullets missed him killing Patrick claimed that one of the gunmen was McVeigh and wounding his four friends.25 in possession of a military identity card Just minutes before Patrick McVeigh was and inside the damaged car an Army shot, another shooting incident occurred pocket phone radio and three nylon in Slievegallion Drive, Andersonstown masks were found. The Army’s version in which a man was wounded by shots of events was that the ‘mobile patrol’ from a passing car. It was believed had spotted a suspicious car in Jaffa that the same car had been involved in Street, which they managed to stop in 26 both attacks. Upper Charleville Street. They claimed There was a development in relation that two men in the car produced to the murder of Patrick McVeigh in pistols and escaped up the Shankill March 1994, more than twenty years Road. However, the men actually later. It was reported that two RUC drove into the yard of Tennent Street detectives had travelled to Australia to RUC station where they reported the interview a former soldier about the fatal incident.29 shooting after a dossier of evidence was submitted to the DPP by Mr. Paddy The Glen Road shooting McGrory, the solicitor acting for the On 22nd June, shortly after midday, three 27 McVeigh family. However, this did not men were shot and seriously wounded 28 lead to a prosecution. at a bus terminus on the Glen Road, Belfast – outside St. Oliver Plunkett’s The Shankill Road shooting Primary School. They were Hugh Kenny, On the afternoon of Friday, 26th May, Joseph Smyth and James Patrick Murray. four men from the Shankill Road were A fourth man, Thomas Gerard Shaw, who travelling by car along Silvio Street, was lying in bed in his own house nearby, which runs between the Crumlin and was shot and wounded when a stray Shankill Roads when a blue Ford bullet entered his bedroom. A blue Ford Cortina, which had been driving Cortina car (same make and colour as

å s åSpinwatch the Shankill Road car) driving away from as a member of the Parachute Regiment the scene was stopped by police and while Williams’ parent unit was not Captain James Alistair McGregor (29) and disclosed at their first appearance.34 They Sergeant Clive Graham Williams (25) were were stationed at Army Headquarters, arrested. These were members of the Lisburn.35 McGregor, who later attained , Williams’ parent the rank of Colonel, was awarded a CBE Corps being the RMP (Royal Military in June 1992.36 30 Police). The Army issued the following In an Information Policy briefing dated version of the incident at the time: 16th May 1973, almost a year after the ‘Shortly after midday a mobile attack and shortly before the Court case patrol wearing plain clothes and was due to take place, it was noted on surveillance duties was driving that charges against Captain McGregor, eastwards on Glen Road. A group of ‘leader/commander of the MRF in men standing on the bus turnabout Belfast’ had been dropped and that the opened fire on the patrol shattering likely charges against Sergeant Williams a rear window and narrowly missing would be (a) the attempted murder of a soldier. The patrol immediately Hugh Kenny, Joseph Smyth and James fired back and men were seen to fall. Patrick Murray (b) the wounding of Since the incident we have heard that these three men with intent to cause four men have been admitted to the them grievous bodily harm contrary R.V.H.’31 to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and (c) unlawfully The particularly sinister aspect to the wounding Thomas Gerard Shaw shootings is that within a couple of contrary to Section 20 of the same Act. hours of the attack, the Provisional It was noted that John Creaney QC, IRA announced that a ceasefire would a Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve commence from midnight on 26th June (TAVR) Lt. Col., who commanded the in advance of talks with the Secretary 5th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rangers of State, William Whitelaw. The purpose (RIR) would be the defence counsel of the shootings would appear to have for Sergeant Williams and that Brian been an attempt to scupper the initiative Hutton QC would be prosecuting. The before it had even begun.32 involvement of these particular lawyers When Captain James Alistair McGregor, in the case was regarded positively by a veteran of Aden, for which services he the most senior Army officers. In fact, was awarded the in 196833 the trial judge in the case was Ambrose and Sergeant Clive Graham Williams first McGonigal, a former member of the appeared in court on 27th February 1973, elite British Special Boat Squadron who, McGregor was charged with unlawfully according to Dillon, had a reputation for possessing a Thompson sub-machine favouring the evidence of British Army gun and ammunition on 22nd June 1972 witnesses.37 The document refers to the at Holywood, Co. Down. He is alleged to fact that Captain McGregor had been have said: ‘That ammunition has nothing named as head of the Army spy-ring to do with me. It belongs to the police involved in the Four Square Laundry at Castlereagh and was issued by the ‘intelligence gathering operation’ and Special Branch’. McGregor was listed Information Policy believed that the

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å IRA would ‘try to resurrect the Four On 28th June 1973, a jury acquitted Square Laundry operation’. (The Four Sergeant Williams on all charges after Square Laundry operation will be two hours of deliberation.41 dealt with later on in this paper). The document goes on to reveal that Army The case of William Black Public Relations initially covered up the Professor Kennedy Lindsay tells the full involvement of the MRF in the shooting incredible story of William Black in his and then changed their statement. The book, Ambush at Tully-West, which was author feared that the IRA would exploit published in 1980. Only a brief synopsis the use by the unit of a Thompson will be included here. sub-machine gun even though specific Lindsay, a Canadian, was a founder charges in respect of the weapon had member of the Vanguard Unionist party been dropped.38 and a member of the Northern Ireland During the trial, Sergeant Williams stuck Assembly in 1973. In October 1972 he to his story that he had been fired upon was actually advocating that methods by gunmen while on patrol. When he was used by the British in Malaya should asked about the Thompson sub-machine be introduced into Northern Ireland ‘to gun with which he fired the shots, he said defeat the terrorists’ and was, therefore, it was held by the MRF to familiarise the an unlikely candidate to complain about NCOs with weapons used by extremists the activities of British undercover units. and, on the morning of 22nd June 1972, However, like some other Unionist he had taken the gun ‘to use it for politicians, when such methods were demonstrations’. He also told the court used against members of their own that he was on patrol in a civilian car to community, he did a complete volte face. familiarise new recruits with operational William Black was a member of the 39 areas of the city. Plymouth Brethren Church and a non- In a report on the trial in , drinker who had no involvement in Williams was described as a Squad politics. He was 40 years old and married Commander in the Military Reaction with a family of five. He was a skilled fitter Force. He claimed in court that he employed by Short Brothers and Harland received two messages that a gunman and was a part-time member of the had been seen at the bus terminus and, .42 when he went to investigate, he saw In the early hours of 18th August 1972, three men talking together, one of whom Black and his wife, Margaret, witnessed had a revolver. He said that, as the Army what they assumed was the attempted car passed them, another man opened theft of two vehicles by the IRA outside up with what appeared to be a M1 their house on Black’s Road, Belfast. carbine. He claimed that a bullet hit the They called the police and Black rear window and he then leaned out the intervened. He succeeded in preventing passenger window and fired seven shots the escape of one of the thieves. The with the Thompson submachine gun. He police arrived on the scene backed saw two men fall. However, all three men up by the Army. Black was asked to denied they or anyone else in the vicinity accompany the police and he was taken had firearms.40 to Garnock House, an army centre

å s åSpinwatch located a short distance from his home. In the summer of 1973, Black had rented There he discovered that the would-be a cottage in Tullywest, near Saintfield, thieves were, in fact, Army personnel. Co. Down for use as a holiday home. He was taken to the commanding On 26th January 1974, when he visited officer who explained that the men the house after an absence of several were members of the Army’s Special months, he was confronted on the Investigation Branch (the detective stairway of the cottage by two armed branch of the ). One men who shot at him from bedroom can only wonder why those employed to doorways. He sustained very serious police service personnel would engage injuries – two bullets passed through his in such activities. Were they really neck, breaking his jaw in three places, military police detectives or were they on deeply lacerating his tongue, smashing secondment to an MRF unit? As stated out eight teeth and destroying nerves above, Sergeant Clive Williams’ parent connected with taste, hearing, speech corps was the Royal Military Police. and jaw movement. Two other bullets Rather bizarrely, the men (or colleagues ripped through his chest and stomach 43 of theirs) returned to Black’s Road and and one struck him in the back. succeeded in stealing a white Vauxhall Despite his incredible injuries, Black car, which was again witnessed by managed to crawl down the stairs and Margaret Black, who again called the escape. He succeeded in reaching his police. However, she was told that her neighbour’s house. The neighbour drove husband would explain the situation him to Saintfield UDR post where first when he returned. It was reported that aid was rendered. While he was being the purpose of the attempted thefts was treated a strange incident occurred. A to go into Andersonstown to engage in a regular soldier came over and stood surveillance exercise or possibly to plant looking down at him and an impression a bomb or carry out a shooting. Because of hostility was conveyed to the injured of the attempt to steal a number of man. The soldier was six feet in height vehicles it would seem more likely and wore a pistol, which indicated he that a bombing mission was planned. was an officer. He also wore a beret with The chosen vehicles would have been a regimental badge that Black had never recognised and accepted in local seen before. He later described this nationalist areas. badge to the journalist Fisk, who immediately recognised it as the badge Subsequently, there were three attempts of the SAS.44 made on Black’s life, Lindsay believes, because of his perceived interference – A very strange aspect to this shooting on 29th August 1972, 20th January 1973 is the fact that Black was allowed to and the most serious attempt when he escape alive if the intention had been was critically injured, on 26th January to kill him. It later emerged that, as well 1974. He was dismissed from the UDR as the two gunmen upstairs, another on spurious grounds shortly after the first was based in the kitchen downstairs attempt on his life. An attempt was made and a further three positioned in on the life of his eldest son, Tom, an RUC sheds outside. Therefore, it is difficult cadet, on 15th September 1972, when he to understand how he could have was shot at from a passing car. evaded capture. Lindsay claims that,

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å as Black made his way up the road Road area of Belfast on 17th October to the house of his nearest neighbour, 1972.47 It was claimed that Todd was the gunmen again shot at him from the not carrying his legally-held pistol when front doorway of the house but failed he was shot and that it wasn’t found at to hit him. He further claims to have his home.48 However, the Star found at information ‘from inside the officer Black’s cottage bore the serial number of corps of the SAS’ that one of their Todd’s pistol. men, a trained marksman, was sent A police report on the shooting of to Northern Ireland specifically to kill William Black was sent to the Director of William Black and he suggests it may Public Prosecutions. However, the DPP have been the soldier wearing the SAS declined to make a decision on whether beret.45 It seems hardly credible that or not anyone should be prosecuted such a trained expert would have failed and forwarded the report to the Attorney to kill Black when he fired at point-blank General of the UK. The AG decided that, range or that he would have allowed on the evidence before him, no criminal Black to escape. proceedings were warranted. In May In the aftermath of the shooting, the 1977, the Ministry of Defence, while Army issued a statement claiming that continuing to claim that the shooting had a man who was about to open fire on a been an unfortunate case of mistaken mobile patrol had been shot. The Army identity, agreed to pay William Black spokesman said that the man had been £16,700 in compensation for the injuries challenged by the patrol but had raised he had sustained.49 a rifle and had therefore been fired upon. He further stated that the incident When Robert Fisk broke the news that followed an arms and ammunition find in SAS men were serving in Northern Ireland the area.46 It was stated that he had been as undercover agents, he referred to shot by members of the SIB (again the the case of William Black. However, he detective branch of the RMP). However, believed it was a case of mistaken identity Loyalist members of the Northern Ireland and that the soldiers were watching a Assembly, led by Rev. and barn that Black had rented out some including Rev. William Beattie, Professor months previously. However, Fisk may Kennedy Lindsay and Cecil Harvey, have been unaware of the previous claimed that Black had, in fact, been attempts on Black’s life and the planting the victim of a deliberate assassination of the Star pistol and ammunition in his attempt and demanded a ‘major inquiry’ cottage. He did disclose that the Black into the shooting family had been unable to ascertain which Army unit was responsible for the A rather bizarre footnote to the shooting shooting. The Army claimed they were was that an attempt was made to smear uniformed men of 32 Regiment, Royal Black by planting a Star pistol and Engineers based at Long Kesh.50 assorted ammunition in a downstairs room of his cottage. This weapon had The Bawnmore Road incident belonged to a man called John Todd, a member of both the UDR and UDA, In the early hours of 29th August 1972, in who had been shot dead by soldiers of an isolated Catholic area of Greencastle, the Parachute Regiment in the Shankill where a number of attacks on Catholics

å s åSpinwatch from passing cars had occurred, soldiers emerging from the house and vigilantes stopped a car. Two of the three enter the armoured vehicle. Then both men in the car had English accents and Saracens left the area in convoy with claimed to be members of the security the green van.52 forces, although they refused to produce According to Raymond Murray, IRA evidence of this. When one of the men leader was the target. was pulled from the car, his companions He was chatting to another man at the fired a shot and drove off. The man corner of Varna and Leeson Streets left behind had an automatic pistol in when the four men jumped out of the a shoulder holster, which the vigilantes van and began shooting at him.53 He seized. He sat down on the road, put escaped and the soldiers in the deserted his hands on his head and claimed that house opened fire, probably thinking that his name was Peter Holmes of SAS, gunmen were firing on them. Palace Barracks, Holywood. A short time later, troops from 40 Commando The New Lodge gun battle arrived and arrested this man. One of the Commandos is alleged to have said: ‘I At 4.00 am the following day, an suppose you are one of the £200 a head hour-long gun battle took place in the blokes’. Again the Army claimed the man Catholic New Lodge area of Belfast. had been fired on, denied that they were When it ended, one soldier lay dead, members of the SAS but refused to say Robert Cutting of the Royal Marines, to which regiment they belonged.51 while a second was seriously injured. Both sides in the gun battle were The Leeson Street shooting soldiers – one side in uniform and the other in civilian clothes, according to On the afternoon of Saturday, 2nd eyewitnesses. These eyewitnesses September, a large green van drove claimed that a man in civilian clothes, into Leeson Street in the Lower Falls who was shot by a soldier in uniform, area of Belfast. The Army claimed that had been pleading for his life in ‘a definite troops in civilian clothes exchanged fire Belfast accent’ before he was shot. The with a number of gunmen and hit at body of this ‘civilian’ was taken away in least two of them. However, this claim a Saracen and, since no civilian in the was refuted by residents who said that area was reported missing at that time, it the soldiers were the only people who seemed likely that he was a plain-clothes fired shots and also that a number of soldier. The two soldiers named by the soldiers had spent the previous night in Army as having been shot were English a partially bricked-up house in Leeson and would not have had accents that Street to observe the situation in the could have been mistaken by several district. The men who emerged from the eyewitnesses for a Belfast accent.54 green van exchanged fire with men in the house. Two Saracens then arrived in the street. The men ran to the vehicles The murder of Daniel Rooney and for cover and then returned to their van. wounding of Brendan Brennan One of the Saracens drew up beside On Tuesday night, 26th September, the house from which the shooting had residents of the St. James area had come. Residents saw four uniformed noted the presence of suspicious cars

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å cruising around the neighbourhood. into Rodney Parade. When I got to the Four boys, including Daniel Rooney and Crescent I saw my brother Daniel lying Brendan Brennan, were standing talking flat on the footpath and bleeding. I also at the junction of St. James’ Road and saw another boy bleeding…Brendan St. James’ Crescent. They were unarmed Brennan…I heard no other shooting in and having a chat before returning to their the district before, during or after the homes. Around midnight, undercover time I heard and saw the gunfire from soldiers drove past in a Hillman Hunter the car. My brother was not a gunman and gunned down 18-year-old Daniel and had been screened more times Rooney and Brendan Brennan, aged 19. than I can remember by the security Rooney died shortly after admission to forces in the area…They have not hospital while Brennan, although very been satisfied with gunning him down seriously injured, survived. in cold blood. They have reached the depths of cruelty and said that he was The Rooney family – parents and seven a gunman and that he got his just of their eight children – lived in the family desserts. May God forgive them.’ home at Rodney Parade in the St. James area. According to the Association for According to other witness statements, Legal Justice, the Rooney family, in there were two cars cruising around common with many others in the area, the area that night and two witnesses had been systematically harassed by claimed that ‘two lads’ came up to them successive regiments of the British Army and told them that the same cars from although they had no involvement with which there had been shooting in the subversive activity. While two of his area the previous week were ‘in again’. brothers had been interned and others One of the cars was described as large arrested, Daniel was constantly being and dark-coloured. These witnesses stopped and searched and taken in for claimed that about ten automatic shots screening from time to time. The last were fired, the flashes of the gunfire occasion on which this occurred was just lighting the peoples’ faces in the car. three days before the shooting. They saw four of these men – two in the front and two in the back.55 Daniel’s sister, Mary, gave a statement to the ALJ. She was walking along Another eye-witness claimed that, shortly St. James’ Road at 11.55 pm. This is an after the shooting, a Saladin and Saracen extract from her statement: came into St. James’ Crescent. As they passed St. James’ Road the soldiers ‘As I crossed the junction of St. in these vehicles started cheering James’ Road/St. James’ Place, I saw and shouting. a car coming slowly out of St. James’ Crescent and turn down St. James’ The eyewitness evidence was sent to the Road ahead of me. Suddenly I heard Irish Government’s Department of Foreign bursts of gunfire coming from both Affairs who found it so compelling that it sides of the car and saw the flashes. was forwarded to the European Court of I heard screaming and thought to Human Rights at Strasbourg. myself: “My God, someone has been The statements issued by the Army in hit.” I ran down to the Crescent. As I the aftermath alleged that these two ran I heard a further burst as it turned boys were gunmen who had fired on

å s åSpinwatch the patrol. They claimed that Daniel repeated Evelegh’s claims made at the Rooney was an IRA gunman, that his time of the shootings and stressed the activities could be traced back over a necessity of establishing if either Rooney year, and that a couple of weeks earlier or Brennan had connections with the he had been spotted with a gun by the IRA. Carter pointed out that the Army security forces.56 A particularly malicious version relied heavily on the claim that statement issued by the Army OC, a third youth had been involved. The Col. Evelegh57, said that the late Daniel presence of the third youth had been Rooney had got ‘his just desserts’. confirmed at the Inquest by Brennan. The suffering of Daniel Rooney’s family (However, this young man had actually was greatly increased by these false run into a nearby house when he saw and malicious media briefings as Mary the car coming). More tests were needed Rooney’s statement clearly shows. to ascertain the provenance of the bullet holes in the Hillman Hunter to ensure The priests of St. John’s Parish read a they hadn’t been fired from weapons statement to the congregations at all held by the patrol. After the shooting Masses on Sunday, 1st October 1972 the Army had claimed their car had asserting that Daniel Rooney was an bullet holes to prove they had been fired innocent victim and condemning his upon). It was conceded that the forensic 58 murder in the strongest terms. evidence in respect of lead residue was An open verdict was returned at his not in the Army’s favour.60 inquest on 6th December 1973. The soldiers claimed to have been fired on Other unresolved murders in 1972 by two youths with a rifle. This was that may possibly be attributed to denied by eyewitnesses and the forensic the MRF examination of Daniel Rooney failed to Adrian Barton, an 18-year-old Protestant produce any evidence that he had been Queen’s University student, was fatally 59 handling a gun. No information was wounded when shot from a passing car given as to the type of weapon used to on the Springfield Road on 19th May shoot Daniel Rooney. 1972. He died two days later. He had Almost three years after his death, been walking home from a dance at an MoD official, Ken Carter, set out in Queen’s along with two friends. One of a memo to Major Maurice Squier in his friends gave evidence at his inquest Army HQ’s Legal Affairs Department that a car had passed them, then turned the pros and cons of whether it would and, while passing them a second time, be advisable to contest a claim for fired a hail of shots at them. Given the compensation by Daniel’s father, John. location of the attack it is likely that the Carter had been advised that the victim was mistakenly thought to be a 61 outcome would depend on whether Catholic by his attackers. local residents or Army witnesses In the early hours of 27th May, the body of were believed. He suggested that Gerald Duddy, believed to be a member consideration should be given as to the of CESA, was found at the junction of desirability of defending in open court a Riverdale Park South and Finaghy Road case involving a plain-clothes patrol, the North by CESA vigilantes. It is claimed verdict of which could go either way. He in Lost Lives that he was shot by the

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å UDA. However, he was killed at the exact the Middle East during the Second World same location as Patrick McVeigh two War and had sent back his war medals weeks earlier and nobody witnessed his in protest.65 Frank Aiken, the Republic’s murder. He was one of a small number of former Minister for External Affairs and Catholics employed in Harland and Wolfe Mr. David Andrews, TD, Parliamentary shipyard. Secretary to the , attended Francis Lane’s funeral on 3rd October.66 On the following day, a 21-year-old Catholic, James Teer, was shot in the Rory Gormley, aged 14, was murdered same area as Adrian Barton. Lost Lives on 27th November while he was being confidently quotes ‘reliable loyalist driven to school at St. Malachy’s College, sources’ as stating that the UVF killed by his father, an eminent ophthalmic James Teer.62 The body of James Joseph and eye, nose and throat surgeon Boyle was found with a single gunshot attached to the Mater Hospital, when wound to the head on 27th September gunmen opened fire on their car. Peter 1972. (Boyle’s murder occurred on Gormley had been a founder member the day following the murder of Daniel of the Campaign for Social Justice, the Rooney).63 forerunner of the Civil Rights Movement. Mr Gormley usually travelled via Agnes Those responsible for these murders Street to the but, on this may have been loyalists but could just occasion, the Army had closed Agnes as easily have been the MRF. Dillon Street and he was forced to take a states that there were questionable diversion onto Downing Street. The car shootings at that time when no Army was attacked at the junction of Downing statement was issued and people were and Ariel Streets. It was sprayed with deliberately encouraged to believe that bullets from an automatic weapon.67 It is the perpetrators were loyalists.64 believed that the UVF was responsible68 Two other murders occurred in 1972 but the question arises as to how they that may have been the deliberate knew the Army would close Agnes Street targeting of the sons of prominent on that particular morning and that cars and outspoken Catholic members of would be diverted onto Downing Street. the medical profession. The killings It is quite a coincidence that the sons were ostensibly at least, the work of of two prominent surgeons at the Mater loyalists. Francis Peter Lane, aged 23, Hospital who were both opposing the a medical student at Queen’s University status quo should be killed within two was killed on 30th September. His body months of each other. was found on waste ground near the Glencairn housing estate. His father, The Four Square Laundry incident, Patrick Lane, a consultant surgeon in Gemini Massage Parlour and the the Mater Hospital, was an outspoken abduction of Kevin McKee and critic of the British Army’s methods of Séamus Wright interrogating detainees and he had tried The Four Square Laundry was a bogus unsuccessfully to raise their ill-treatment service operated by MRF in order to with the British Medical Council the carry out surveillance and to gather previous year. He had served with the intelligence. By the beginning of October British Army Medical Corps in France and 1972 it had been operating for about

å s åSpinwatch two months in the Twinbrook estate and refused, for security reasons, to allow other nearby areas. Clothes collected her to be interviewed.76 by them for laundering were taken to The IRA claimed to have killed two Army HQ at Lisburn to be forensically other spies, whom they said were tested for explosive residues before being hidden in the roof of the laundry van laundered by a legitimate service – the but no corroborative evidence has ever Monarch Laundry on and emerged. Dillon completely discounts then returned to the customers by Four the claim.77 However, according to Ken Square. According to IRA sources, the Connor, the longest serving soldier in laundry van was garaged at a house on the SAS, the laundry vans were fitted the .69 There were rumours with false roofs, concealing intelligence at the time that similar services, such as operatives who used cameras and an ice-cream van, a hot-dog van and electronic surveillance equipment to window cleaners, were ‘withdrawn’ from document the movements and contacts housing estates in west Belfast.70 of IRA suspects.78 Robin Ramsey claims that one of An hour after the attack on the laundry the operations of the Palestine ‘killer van a shooting incident took place at squads’, which grew out of a unit called 397 Antrim Road in which one man was the Police Mobile Force, involved the use of a laundry van as cover.71 injured. The premises of Gemini Massage Parlour, another MRF operation, nd On 2 October, at 11.15am, Sapper were located above a Bank of Ireland Telford Edward (Ted) Stuart of the Royal branch and a hairdressers. It placed Engineers was shot dead in Twinbrook advertisements ‘for gentlemen only’ by the IRA. Stuart was, in fact, a plain- and offered ‘attractive masseuses’. It clothes soldier and a native of Ardstraw, provided much more than massages, 72 Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. He was which left its clientele very vulnerable driving a green Bedford Commer van and open to blackmail. The injured man for the Four Square Laundry operation. was shot in the arm in a waiting-room. His companion was Lance-Corporal The massage parlour had been open for Sarah Jane Warke, Provost Company, business for just a few weeks. Royal Military Police, who survived the gun attack by sheltering in a house on A short time later, about 12.40 pm, two the Twinbrook estate where she been women, one of them armed, followed by collecting dirty laundry.73 She was a two men, one of whom was also armed, native of , Co. Derry.74 Warke pushed their way into an office block was awarded the for at 15, College Square East. The IRA bravery in September 1973.75 She was believed these premises to be the offices the first member of WRAC to receive of Four Square Laundry. The armed man the military decoration. She used the tripped on the stairs and his gun was name Kate while working in ‘Operation discharged accidentally. They proceeded Four Square Laundry’. A spokesperson up to the top floor but the office was for the Ministry of Defence said the empty at the time. The two operatives, award was being made for other work it was claimed, had a flat at 247 Antrim she had done in Northern Ireland, as Road, which they shared with two other well as the laundry operation. The MoD agents said to be ‘Bossman’ Jim and

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å a woman who it was alleged was the of McKee and Wright were never found daughter of a British Army Brigadier. The and they are two of the ‘Disappeared’, IRA claimed to have killed Jim and the although Dillon claims that, because of Brigadier’s daughter but, again, this has his close family connections to the IRA, never been corroborated. The offices at McKee’s body was returned to his family College Square East had been rented for and given a secret burial in Milltown £80 per annum at the beginning of June. Cemetery.83 This claim has never been During the trial of a man charged with authenticated. They were the first of the murder of Sapper Ted Stuart, Crown several victims who were abducted and Counsel said Stuart was a member killed by the IRA whose bodies were not of MRF. returned to relatives. Dillon claims that he Séamus Wright, named as ‘an IRA was told by an IRA source: ‘We identified informer used by the MRF’ in an internal Wright, who gave us McKee, who told us about Hammond.’84 Army Information policy brief,79 had been (The tragic story of Louis Hammond will be related later in the arrested on 5th February 1972 during pamphlet). an Army swoop on Bombay Street. He was missing for six months and then arrived home unexpectedly. He told his The Special Reconnaissance Unit wife that he had been living in a house (SRU) within the British Army compound at It was clear to the British security forces, Palace Barracks, Holywood.80 The IRA after the Four Square Laundry episode, had become suspicious of Wright during that changes were urgently needed in his absence and picked him up for their counter-insurgency strategy. The questioning at the earliest opportunity. weaknesses identified by the study of that He readily disclosed his involvement with debacle indicated that there should be MRF believing he would be of use to the teams of undercover soldiers established IRA as a double-agent. The IRA decided who were properly trained for this type to go along with this suggestion and he of operation.85 During the short lifetime was used in this role for some time. As of the Military Reaction Forces, there a result, they were successful in learning had been too much exposure of their a great deal about the modus operandi activities to the public at large. Apart from of the MRF. Wright informed them of the the Four Square Laundry affair, this was involvement of Kevin McKee, who was a particularly the case in relation to the nephew of IRA leader, Billy McKee. This Glen Road shootings for which Sergeant caused some consternation and led to Clive Graham Williams was due to stand McKee being interrogated. When McKee trial the following year. Its use of ‘Freds’ eventually broke, he became a mine of also left it open to scrutiny. It was an information and revealed details of the amateurish outfit with many untrained Four Square Laundry operation and the operatives. massage parlour.81 Ken Connor discloses that he was one On the evening of the day the Four of a three-man assessment team sent to Square Laundry was exposed, McKee Northern Ireland to evaluate the Military and Wright, described by the British Army Reaction Forces in the aftermath of the as ‘turned terrorists’,82 were abducted Four Square Laundry shootings. Their by the IRA and later killed. The bodies assessment was that the MRFs’ cover

å s åSpinwatch was blown and the group of people running it were so out of control that it had to be disbanded at once.86 In late 1972, according to a Northern Ireland Office brief, its operations were brought under a more centralised control and a higher standard of training was introduced by establishing a Special Reconnaissance Unit (SRU) of 130 all ranks under the direct command of HQNI.87 It was classic British modus operandi in the wake of bad publicity – to re-form and re-name. On 15th November, a top-level memo entitled ‘Special Operations for HQNI’ was sent from Major JB Howard to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Lord Carrington informing him that the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) accepted the need for an organisation to handle special The Special Reconnaissance Unit was troops despite the heavy overheads much more disciplined and sophisticated that would be involved in recruiting and than its predecessor and its operatives maintaining such a high calibre of soldier. all had SAS training. It operated under He specified that nobody who had the cover name of NITAT (NI) – Northern served in the SAS for the previous three Ireland Training and Advisory Teams years would be allowed to join. Soldiers (NI), ostensibly the equivalent of genuine would volunteer for an unaccompanied NITAT teams in UK Land Forces and tour of one year for special plain-clothes British Army on the Rhine (BAOR).89 intelligence duties in Northern Ireland. Several detachments came under the The GOC undertook to report to CGS umbrella of the Special Reconnaissance on the numbers required at a meeting on Unit and were given normal military 17th November.88 names such as Four Field Survey Troop The Defence Secretary, Lord Carrington, and 216 Signals Unit. Four Field Survey sent a similar minute to the Prime Troop was declared to be part of the Minister on 28th November in which , so nothing could be he sought agreement for the use of more innocuous on the Border where volunteers with SAS training as the basis roads were being cratered.90 The Four for reorganising ‘the old Military Reaction Field Survey Troop detachment was Forces’ into what became the Special based at Castledillon, Co. Armagh while Reconnaissance Unit (SRU). He agreed 216 Signals was based at Ballykelly. that serving members of 22 SAS and An inside source claims that a unit was any men who had served with them based in Dublin, which consisted of 12 within the previous three years would be men. The source further claims that the excluded and every attempt would be Northern units would also have travelled made to conceal SAS involvement. to the Republic where they would operate

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å in twos in order to avoid attracting and departed at 2158 hours.’ This attention to themselves. IRA members contradicts claims made over the years were the main targets of their surveillance that Nairac was a maverick acting alone but certain Irish politicians would have without support or control. The report been under observation as well.91 quotes the publican at the Three Steps Inn as saying that, when he left the in a letter to with two men, Captain Nairac appeared dated 13th May 1987 – not published to be drunk. Jones comments that by them but subsequently published by this was his ‘normal method of op’.94 Lobster the following month, claimed However, in a memo of the same date that Four Field Survey Troop, under Capt. to his Minister of State, J. Dromgoole, Julian Antony (Tony) Ball and 2 i/c Capt. Assistant Under Secretary, General Staff , had operated under the describes Nairac as a liaison officer name NITAT. He wrote that they were co- between RUC Special Branch and the located at Castledillon, Co. Armagh with Army, primarily SAS but not a member an Engineer Regiment, which was fed of SAS. Dromgoole goes on to state that this information. Holroyd’s claim has now Nairac had served previously with NITAT been borne out by the document from (NI), in other words SRU.95 the Prime Minister’s papers providing details of the SRU. The primary task of the SRU was ‘to conduct covert surveillance of terrorists On the Special Forces roll of honour, as a preliminary to an arrest carried Tony Ball is listed under the heading of out by security forces in uniform.’ The 22 SAS as follows: Lt. Col. Julian Antony SRU was also used ‘to conduct and Ball, Sultan of Oman’s Special Forces; handle agents and informers and for the Parachute Regiment (Private); King’s surveillance and protection of persons Own Scottish Borderers (Officer); 22 SAS and property under terrorist threat.’ The th (Captain); 14 Int. (Lt. Col.); Awards – SRU worked to a great extent on RUC MBE, MC; killed in a road traffic accident, Special Branch information and Special nd Oman on 2 May 1981, age 37 (with Branch had a high regard for it. Andrew Nightingale of KMS Ltd., – On 5th June 1973, in a report on a former 22 SAS).92 recent visit to Northern Ireland the Capt. Robert Nairac, , CGS referred to NITAT stating that ‘the was abducted from a pub in south new organisation is working extremely Armagh and killed by the IRA in May well on its surveillance tasks’ and that 1977. He was posthumously awarded it ‘could play a very important part in the .93 Immediately after the plans for capturing a top Provo.’ A his abduction, in a secret initial report by minute from Lt. Col. D.J. Ramsbotham Major APA Jones, Nairac is described to various Army sections dated 26th as ‘a member of the permanent cadre July was celebrating just such a of SAS Det. [Detachment] NI acting as success. Ramsbotham claimed that an SAS LO [Liaison officer]’. This gives a very successful attrition rate against the lie to the British claim that Nairac PIRA was being maintained and that was not a member of the SAS. Jones ‘the capture of Jerry (sic) Adams and goes on to state that Nairac ‘was briefed the other high-ranking members of at SAS HQ, at 2135 hours the Belfast Brigade last Thursday’ was

å s åSpinwatch the result of an extremely successful serving with the SRU since January combined operation involving Special 1974 were due to resume service with Branch, NITAT (in reality SRU) and 22 SAS by 7th April. Their presence with battalions in 39 and 3 Brigades. the SRU had gone undetected for well over a year until Robert Fisk published an On 31st August, Mr. R.C. Stevens, article in The Times on 19th March 1974, Assistant Private Secretary to the which blew the lid on SAS involvement in Secretary of State for NI received a minute Northern Ireland. from MoD stating that the new-style SRU had proved extremely effective, achieving In response to Fisk’s article, a minute successes out of all proportion to its size. from the Secretary of State for NI to the Secretary of State for Defence of 21st A Northern Ireland Office brief reported March, confirmed that the policy of the that the three-year rule regarding SAS two years’ embargo had been changed members had been ‘slightly breached’ in and confirmed that soldiers direct from May 1973 with the appointment of a new SAS service had been sent to Northern commanding officer and in September, Ireland in January 1974 to serve the SRU. it was agreed, in order to help bring the unit up to strength, that the three-year It was almost two years later, January embargo should be reduced to two.96 It 1976, before the SAS was openly was clearly stated that the purpose of deployed to amid great the embargo rule was to make it ‘that fanfare in response to a spate of sectarian much easier to reject allegations that murders. In the meantime the two-year current members of SAS are employed embargo on members of the SAS joining in Northern Ireland’. The term SRU and the SRU had been re-imposed. Roy the details of its organisation and modus Mason, the Secretary of State for Defence operandi were being kept secret. Lord sent a memo to the Prime Minister on Carrington, the Secretary of State for 8th September 1976, regarding a review Defence, approved the reduction in the he had carried out on the relationship embargo in September.97 between the SRU and the SAS. He declared that the purpose of the embargo However, by December concern was was ‘to strengthen our hand in denying again being expressed that, despite the any allegations that we had surreptitiously reduction in the embargo of SAS men deployed the SAS to Northern Ireland.’ serving in the SRU, the position had, in This had caused a problem in that SAS fact, got worse with the unit some 40 instructors had been prohibited from operators below strength. The Defence visiting the SRU, which was considered Secretary proposed to abolish the desirable in order to strengthen the link embargo altogether, rejecting a further between operations and training. Mason reduction. It was proposed that, when was greatly relieved that, because of the unit was again up to strength, the the deployment of the SAS to County two-year embargo, or perhaps a shorter Armagh, this no longer presented a one, should be re-imposed. problem. In his review he recommended Men who had served in the SAS were that the existing structure of the SRU serving in the SRU but no actual SAS should be maintained; there should units were serving in Northern Ireland as continue to be rigorous assessment of of April 1974. One officer and 30 soldiers all volunteers to the unit; the SAS should

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å continue to train candidates for the pm on 3rd February, he noticed two SRU in Britain but the SAS should be friends of his, Jim McCann and Jim Sloan allowed to attach temporarily to the unit standing talking across the street. His in Northern Ireland. Most importantly, he attention was, however, quickly drawn recommended that the two-year embargo to a dark-blue four-door Morris 1800 should again be abolished. However, in driving up the New Lodge Road and order to be able to continue to deny that onto the Antrim Road. As a mechanic, SAS were serving the SRU, he proposed he was familiar with car suspensions and that volunteers for the unit should be ‘re- believed the vehicle was weighted down capbadged’98 and posted back to their with armour plating. He was convinced ‘parent unit’ before joining the SRU.99 it was a military vehicle or had previously been used as one. In the garage where It is interesting to note the Machiavellian he worked some military vehicles were machinations in which British ministers re-sprayed from the original green to and army officers engaged so as to be in the same shade of dark blue. One of a position to deny that the SAS had been the passengers in the car attracted his deployed to Northern Ireland (apart from attention. He later described this man as County Armagh). It was of course the clean-shaven with a military-style haircut. SAS by any other name. He was dressed in black and was holding Arrest of Martin Watson a sub-machine gun, either a Sten or a On 5th January, 19-year old Martin Sterling. As the car turned the corner this Watson was arrested on the Falls Road man opened fire, the car did a U-turn and by members of the security forces in came back up the Antrim Road. Breslin’s plain-clothes. The Civil Rights Association impression was that the gunman acted claimed that a car containing three with military precision. The car continued men ‘screeched to a halt’ at the corner down the Antrim Road towards Girdwood of Clonard Street where a group of barracks, firing a second burst of shots at youths were chatting. One of the men a Chinese restaurant as it went past. jumped out of the car and held a 9 mm Meanwhile, McCann and Sloan, who were Browning automatic pistol to the youth’s both members of the IRA, were lying dying head and forced him into the car, where on the pavement. Eight bullets had hit another man was sitting with a sub- McCann while three had struck Sloan. As machine gun. Watson was taken to the car was making its getaway it met a North Howard Street Army post where he Saracen armoured personnel carrier, which was questioned and told he was being made no attempt to intercept or pursue it. arrested under the Special Powers Act for Other eyewitnesses claimed that the same IRA membership. He was then driven to car had been seen several times passing Springfield Road RUC station where he through the New Lodge district earlier in was released almost immediately having the day and the soldiers in the observation signed a statement giving his name, posts would have logged it. address and some family details.100 Soldiers from the Saracen then took up firing positions and subsequently killed New Lodge murders four more local people, three civilians and As Desmond Breslin left McLoughlin’s one IRA member, Tony Campbell. The Bar on the Antrim Road around 11.40 purpose of the double attack was to lure

å s åSpinwatch the IRA into a gun-battle with the Army.101 bland manner such as in a response to a The initial attack bore all the hallmarks of planted Parliamentary Question. It would the MRF. The name may have changed appear that the media was used instead. but the SRU was still using the same Just over a year later, on 14th April tactics as its predecessor. 1974, an undercover soldier, Captain Anthony Pollen was killed by the IRA Derry shooting in Derry. Mark Urban claims this was A shooting incident occurred in Derry’s the first member of 14th intelligence to Bogside in the early hours of 5th March. be killed.104 However, the name 14th John Hume described it as follows: intelligence had not yet been given to these units and Pollen would actually Now we have a clear case in which have been a member of the Special armed plain-clothes members of the Reconnaissance Unit. There would British Army are clearly admitted to be several incidents involving 14th have been travelling within the Bogside intelligence in Derry in the years from area in a car, and to have attempted to 1977 to 1984.105 assassinate one of our civilians. Surely it is time the public, not only here but in Ranger Louis Hammond and Britain as well, were made aware of the other ‘Freds’ full facts. Are these groups official, or are they undisciplined revenge groups?’ Louis Hammond, a deserter from the Royal Irish Rangers, was found alive The Bogside Community Association near the Ormeau Road, Belfast, having described the shooting as a deliberate been shot three times in the head and attempt to stir up sectarian violence once in the abdomen on 29th April in Derry. 1973.106 It appears that Hammond had The British Army admitted that a number joined the Royal Irish Rangers in 1969 of shots were fired by a member of the and had deserted while on leave early security forces, “in what appeared to be in 1972. He is said to have become an unauthorised circumstances.”102 intelligence officer with E Company of the 1st battalion of the Provisional IRA. It is not known what action, if any, The Army arrested him in May 1972. was subsequently taken against the His status as a deserter was discovered soldier involved. during interrogation and, rather than face A May 1973 Irish Times article refers to a court martial for desertion, he agreed the scaling down of plain-clothes patrols to work for MRF.107 A 1976 Army memo in civilian cars due to ‘incidents in both confirms that he deserted at the end Belfast and Derry where members of of January 1972, returned to Northern these patrols were charged by the police Ireland and enrolled in the Provisional with the attempted murder of innocent IRA. He was arrested in a house raid civilians’.103 Just such pre-emptive action in May and was persuaded to work for was recommended in an Information the Army as a ‘turned terrorist.’ He was Policy briefing on Sergeant Clive Williams employed in this way until December of 16th May in the run-up to his trial. It 1972. The memo states that he became was suggested that the announcement unreliable and had tried to make contact on the scaling down could be made in a with the Provisional IRA. It was decided

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å that he had ‘outlived his usefulness on the same week, Christopher Walker intelligence duties’.108 provided further ‘evidence’ of the embezzlement. His source of information The Royal Irish Ranger referred to by was, again, the Army.112 Geraghty in his description of defectors is almost certainly Louis Hammond. Two After the shooting of Hammond at the of his companions in Palace Barracks, end of April further articles appeared Holywood were Séamus Wright and in The Times written by Christopher Kevin McKee.109 Sweeney and Christopher Walker on 12th and 14th May and in the Sunday The publication of a ‘dirty tricks’ story Times on 13th May by Eddy and Ryder. in newspaper on 8th In their article, Eddy and Ryder named April 1973 led directly to the shooting of Hammond as the man who had ‘exposed Hammond. Proof can now be provided the embezzlers’. They suggested that that this was an MRF sting, as Dillon Hammond was a , in reality claims.110 Two journalists, Paul Eddy passing minor information to the Army and Chris Ryder, published a headline while giving very important information on story – ‘IRA Provo chiefs milk £150,000 the MRF to the IRA. However, the much from funds.’ The article claimed that more likely scenario is that the Army was senior officers of the First Battalion had using Hammond one last time in order to siphoned off funds for their own use, support their ‘embezzlement’ story and which had been the proceeds of bank were prepared to sacrifice him to the IRA robberies. The story originated with the now that they had no further use for him. Army who ‘revealed’ that a report from Liam Shannon, (adjutant of the Long Around the same time at Army HQ NI, Kesh Battalion) to Séamus Twomey, Col G.W. Hutton prepared an Information (O/c the Belfast Brigade) had been Policy brief on Sergeant Williams in intercepted by them while being taken anticipation of his forthcoming trial out of the prison. The report was alleged the following month. Concerns were to have named seven ‘Provisionals’ who expressed in relation to the possible had been involved in embezzlement. This disclosure of information about the document was purportedly shown to the activities of the MRF in court and the journalists who accepted it at face value. desirability of seeking to have the case However, other journalists claimed that heard in camera was suggested. Hutton the document had been doctored before went on to comment that, although the being shown to Eddy and Ryder.111 In the term MRF had been used in the press, same article, they claimed that the former only two papers had got the name right intelligence officer of E Company, First (Military Reaction Force). He mentioned Battalion, had come forward to confirm the recent articles in Sunday Times of13th th that the report was ‘totally correct’. May and Times of 14 May as having provided the reading public with more The reference to the intelligence officer information about the MRF, which might in the article would have clearly identified help to reduce subsequent propaganda Hammond and would obviously have speculation. An official has noted in the led to the attempt on his life later the margin ‘deliberately misleading’, which same month. proves that the information contained in In follow-up articles in The Times during the articles was black propaganda, which

å s åSpinwatch almost certainly emanated from the The Security Director next referred to Information Policy Unit.113 The newspaper Ranger Hammond and remarked that, articles, therefore, served a dual purpose although on this occasion, they had 24 – to expose the IRA as criminals and to hours’ notice, there was confusion as to leak selective information about the MRF his method of travel ‘and a duplication in advance of Sergeant Williams’ trial. of effort with the RAF’. He went on to mention a third ‘Fred’ whose name has When he was found shot Hammond been redacted and whom he claimed was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital was treated at the Millbank Hospital and was later transferred to the military between 2nd and 7th February and from wing of Musgrave Park Hospital for his 24th April to 29th May 1973. He related own safety. He was evacuated from that this man was clearly of security Northern Ireland on 15th May 1973 to interest to HQ NI as the alias of ‘George the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich. Brown’ was used and not his real name. However, his family was not informed When he was discharged on 29th May of his whereabouts for quite some he was collected by a Captain and time afterwards.114 Sergeant, both in plain-clothes, under On 1st June, the British Army’s Director HQ NI arrangements. He understood of Security, in an internal memo, entitled that this man intended to join 1 Green ‘Protection outside Northern Ireland of Howards in July and, that like yet key military witnesses and ex-Northern another ‘Fred’ serving in 3 Royal Green Ireland intelligence agents’ expressed Jackets, he would have to be placed serious concerns about what he under passive surveillance. He stated described as ‘security near misses’. He that a number of ‘ex-Freds’ had been made particular reference to three ‘Freds’, discharged back into civilian life.117 who had all been injured in Northern The Attorney General commented in a Ireland and who had been evacuated to memo that the Under-Secretary of State for medical treatment. (Army) had compiled a report on Ranger He complained that a Staff Sergeant Hammond on 16th May and advised that Green had arrived at the Royal Herbert he was trying ‘to tie up the loose ends’ Hospital, Woolwich on 12th April without so that he would be in a position to the prior knowledge of the Security advise what action should eventually be Directorate or Metropolitan Police Special taken on Hammond’s future and what, Branch. He believed Green was a if any, the service liability for him would possible IRA target. Staff Sergeant Green be, bearing in mind the circumstances may well be James Green, the driver of of his employment. He explained that a black taxi, who was shot dead by the he needed to establish certain facts IRA on 5th May 1977. Dillon discloses about Hammond’s absence and ‘any that James Green had, like Louis other military offences he might have Hammond, spent some time in the Royal committed,’ before making a decision Irish Rangers.115 It is suggested in Lost on what administrative and disciplinary Lives that Vincent Heatherington may action should be taken. have named Green to the IRA as a British He had been advised by the Director agent.116 (The role of Heatherington will of Army Legal Services that to take be dealt with later). a ‘Summary of Evidence’ would not

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å be recommended because Ranger injuries, had not stabilised sufficiently Hammond would have to be offered to permit a final settlement. Johnson the services of a solicitor to advise him expressed concern about possible and be present at the hearing and he publicity the case might attract.120 feared that might attract publicity. The These memos give a very chilling insight AG therefore recommended that an into the expendability of informers and Army Legal Services Officer should take the callous way in which they were a statement from a particular officer used and abused by the British Army who knew the details of Hammond’s and Government, even to the extent employment. This officer had asked of denying poor Hammond the right for assurances that anyone giving of having a solicitor present at his evidence would be free to do so without hearing, having already set him up to be fear of subsequent disciplinary action shot by the IRA. In 1973, Ian Gilmour against themselves or others they might was Minister of State for Defence and implicate. He reported that Hammond succeeded Lord Carrington the following was making satisfactory progress and year as Secretary of State for Defence. had been removed from the seriously ill list. However, he said that the specialist Séamus O’Brien may also have been was guarded about predicting his future named to the IRA as an agent by because of residual metal fragments Vincent Heatherington. O’Brien left his remaining within his brain.118 wife at Easter 1973 to live with a young Protestant woman in Larne. A year In a further internal memo of 22nd June later they moved to a loyalist estate in from Mr. Ian Gilmour to the Secretary of Bangor. Faligot states that a short time State expressing relief that arrangements later O’Brien became involved with were now being made to ensure that any ‘Bobby’ who claimed to be a member informer would, in future, glean very much of the and to less information about ‘our methods’ and have a strong socialist philosophy. He hopefully none at all about his colleagues. further claimed to be working inside RHC He advised that if they ever got another for an organisation called the People’s case like Hammond, where they had Revolutionary Army. He told O’Brien the reason to suspect that a ‘Fred’ might try aim of this organisation was to put a stop to contact a terrorist organisation after to sectarian murders by eliminating all being dropped, then Ministers should be those involved in such killings and who told and their advice sought before the were preventing the emergence ‘of an informer would be paid off.119 In the Army inter-community socialist force.’ memo of August 1976, CE Johnson, Head of DS10, reveals that Hammond ‘Bobby’ in reality worked for British was paid from May 1972, when he was intelligence and suggested to recruited, until June 1974 when he was O’Brien that he make contact with discharged on medical grounds. He was INLA Headquarters. He was given assisted in obtaining a disability pension photographs of loyalists deemed to be and in preparing a case for compensation responsible for the killing of Catholics under the NI Criminal Compensation Act. to pass on to the INLA and to try However, his medical condition, more to encourage them to build up links than three years after he sustained his with ‘Bobby’s’ group, the People’s

å s åSpinwatch Revolutionary Army. If the INLA leaders week later, on 17th January, the body of had been naïve enough this could Séamus O’Brien was discovered by a have sparked off a campaign against roadside ditch in the Glen Road area.124 Protestants who were most likely not The IRA’s Belfast Brigade said he had guilty of any crime. This would, in turn, been killed for spying for both the British have discredited the INLA and provoked Army and a Loyalist paramilitary group. A a backlash from loyalists. statement was issued by an organisation At the beginning of 1975, as a feud calling itself the Ulster Army stating that developed between the Official IRA and O’Brien had been passing information the IRSP, ‘Bobby’ indicated to O’Brien the about both the Official and Provisional location of OIRA arms dumps which the IRA to them for over a year. They said INLA could raid and suggested that, in O’Brien had been a true Ulsterman and exchange for arms, the INLA should give loyal Catholic who wanted to break the him information on the Provisional IRA. stranglehold of the Republicans over ordinary Catholics.’125 The true source O’Brien moved to the Catholic enclave of of the statement was undoubtedly the Short Strand where ‘Bobby’ introduced Information Policy Unit. him to ‘Brian’. ‘Brian’ offered O’Brien money for any information he could Heatherington also named a young obtain on PIRA so that their socialist Protestant man, Gregory Brown, as also aims could be achieved.121 Faligot gives working for British Military Intelligence. no indication as to the source of his He told the IRA he had met Brown in information but he himself was, in the Palace Barracks Army base and that he mid-1970s, a member of the IRSP. (He had been part of a unit which had killed was arrested and held for questioning the UDA leader, Tommy Herron in 1973. in relation to the bombing of the railway Herron had undertaken to open up a line line at Baronrath Bridge, near Sallins, Co. of communication with Republicans.126 Kildare in June 1975, and the murder of The information provided by 122 Christopher Phelan, which was later Heatherington was passed on to the proven to be the work of loyalists). UDA. Brown was gunned down by the O’Brien was alleged to have been UDA as he walked along the Cregagh involved in a bomb attack on the Strand Road near his home on 13th May Bar, Short Strand in which six people, 1976. In the aftermath of his death four of them women, were killed. The David McKittrick wrote that Brown had attack took place on 12th April 1975 been part of a gang which consisted, killing the women and one man instantly. as well as Brown, of an RUC detective The sixth victim, a second man, died a constable, not attached to Special week later.123 Branch but to CID, a woman who was either a foreign journalist or a native of The IRA abducted Séamus O’Brien, Belfast and a Catholic who had once along with his brother Paddy, in the lived in east Belfast and now lived in latter’s flat in Andersonstown in early Craigavon.127 January 1976. Two days later, Paddy O’Brien was dumped from a car on On 1st July 1976, an unemployed Kennedy Way having been warned not barman from the Falls Road, Brian to inform the security forces. Exactly a Palmer, was murdered by the IRA while

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å drinking in the Roadhouse pub, Finaghy one where two children were killed at Road North. The IRA issued a statement a bar in Corporation Street. However, on the following day claiming that Heatherington’s description of how this Palmer was ‘an active member of MRF’. bombing was carried out differs from However, there is no evidence in the what actually happened. Heatherington is public domain to support this claim. He, alleged to have said that McGrogan was too, may have been named by Vincent driving the car and threw a bomb at the Heatherington. bar in Ship Street on 31st October 1972128 After the murder of two police officers whereas, in actual fact, a car containing in Belfast on 10th May 1974, Vincent the bomb was left outside the pub, which Heatherington and Myles McGrogan, exploded shortly afterwards killing the two 129 two young men in their late teens, were children. Like all good propagandists, charged and remanded in custody Heatherington’s ‘confessions’ were a to prison. These were mixture of true facts and lies. trumped up charges and the young men McGrogan did not ‘break’ at all but were actually Freds planted by British a note planted by him was found in intelligence. They were admitted to A Heatherington’s bed warning him wing by the IRA O/c, Brendan Hughes, against giving any information to his after an initial interview in which they interrogators. Eventually, Heatherington claimed to be members of the IRA’s 1st ‘admitted’ that the purpose of their battalion. Enquiries were made with the incarceration on A wing was to poison IRA outside the prison as to their bona three top IRA members including fides and information was soon received Brendan Hughes, O/c of the Belfast that these men were not members of Brigade. This information caused panic the IRA and had not been involved in the on A wing, particularly when poison was murder of the policemen. discovered in the prison after details of When questioned, the young men the plot were conveyed to the prison admitted they were not involved but governor. This episode created paranoia claimed that the police had forced them among the IRA leadership in the prison to sign statements admitting their guilt who did not know what to believe and and they had requested to be accepted led to great difficulties in the organisation, onto A wing because they felt they would which was, of course, the intention.130 be in danger from loyalist prisoners Vincent Heatherington’s body was found considering the nature of the charges on the Glen Road where he had been against them. After a considerable period blindfolded and shot by the IRA on 6th of debriefing, Heatherington appeared July 1976. Myles McGrogan met the to break and began giving information same fate on 9th April 1977, a month of working for Special Branch, and before James Green was killed.131 subsequently for MRF, having being caught with an old Lee Enfield weapon Controversial shootings at Shaw’s in 1971. He began naming names of Lake and Mowhan Post Office, many members of the IRA, both inside and outside the prison, who he claimed County Armagh were working as agents. He claimed In the early hours of 20th March to have carried out bombings including 1974 two plain-clothes soldiers were

å s åSpinwatch accidentally shot dead by members shooting had occurred at 12.50 am of the Armagh Special Patrol Group and mentioned that two Army vehicles (SPG) of the RUC. Shortly after had been involved. Later still, when midnight, an Orange-coloured Commer pressed as to why the first vehicle had van containing about four soldiers been travelling in a northerly direction if developed engine trouble and stopped those inside were returning from leave in outside a house in Glenanne. They Germany, the Army’s response was that sought assistance from the householder the vehicle was on an ‘administrative’ run, and were given oil, which enabled dropping off individuals to units based them to re-start their vehicle. They also in and Newcastle, contacted their base at Gosford Castle . It was claimed that it was seeking assistance. However, the van only because of the breakdown that the broke down a second time beside van was heading back in the direction Shaw’s Lake and it was there that the of Gosford. However, the incident raises first shooting occurred. Members of a number of questions. Why were men, the SPG came on the scene, were returning from leave, not transported in suspicious of the occupants of the van, a more regular fashion? Why were plain- particularly when a sub-machine gun clothes armed soldiers wandering around was spotted, and they opened fire. isolated roads of Armagh where danger The van driver was shot through the could be expected? Why were they not in head. The remaining men surrendered, direct contact with their base? Why had telling the police they were soldiers. the RUC not been informed beforehand? Meanwhile, another Army vehicle, When a rescue-party was sent out, why a white-topped Land Rover, again were two plain-clothes soldiers in a Land containing plain-clothes soldiers, was Rover sent out alone along deserted speeding south, purportedly to render roads and why did they have to rely on a assistance to their comrades. The Land public telephone to contact their base? Rover drew into the forecourt of the It seems much more likely that these post office at Mowhan and a soldier got soldiers were part of an undercover out to make a phone call in the public unit or perhaps two undercover units. kiosk. He was cut down by automatic Supporting evidence for this belief fire directed from a police vehicle on the comes from a rather bizarre incident far side of the road. The post mistress, that is alleged to have occurred a few who was awakened by the shooting, hours before the shootings. The incident, saw a man lying on the ground and which involved a loyalist named Williams, another standing against a wall with his occurred in a pub in the Edgarstown area hands up and there was a small group of . Two men walked up behind of armed police. Williams at the bar, one stood behind The Army statement claimed that him and placed a small black revolver two soldiers returning from leave in at the back of his head and said in an Germany had been shot in separate English accent: ‘You are coming with shooting incidents by the RUC. A us, kid.’ However, Williams managed second statement was issued jointly to break free and the two men left in by the Army and RUC much later the a blue saloon car. The barman and a same day, which stated that the first customer said that one of the dead

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å soldiers, whose photograph appeared The activities of this gang, which in newspapers in the aftermath of their comprised members of the RUC, the killings, was identical to the man who UDR and loyalist paramilitaries (a classic had attempted to abduct Williams.132 The pseudo-gang) working under the direction parent regiment of the dead soldiers, of Four Field Survey Troop and possibly Michael Herbert and Michael Cotton, other units of the intelligence community was 14th/20th Hussars133 but this does and Special Branch, are well documented not preclude them from being members elsewhere. They were responsible for of SRU. many murders in the Murder Triangle area from 1972 to 1977, including the Links between the Special Miami Showband murders, as well as Reconnaissance Unit (Four Field cross-Border bombings – the Dublin and Survey Troop detachment) and the Monaghan bombings of May 1974, the Glenanne gang bombing of December 1975, the The detachment of the SRU known as bombing of March 1976 Four Field Survey Troop, which was and the murder of IRA member, John based at Castledillon House, County Francis Green, in January 1975. Armagh and connected to the Special In their 1993 documentary on the Dublin Duties Team at Army HQ in Lisburn, and Monaghan bombings, Yorkshire were working with what television quoted a former soldier of Four describes as ‘some sort of pseudo gang’ Field Survey Troop as stating: in 1974. He stated in a letter to a former We were a specialist unit with training colleague, dated 14th August 1975, that in surveillance and anti-surveillance, the sectarian killings that took place at silent weapons, breaking and entering. the end of 1974: We were also trained in weapons ‘Were designed to destroy Rees’ for sabotage with explosives and attempts to negotiate a ceasefire, assassinations. We also crossed and that the targets were identified the Irish border with explosives to for both sides by Int/SB people. They booby-trap arms dumps and for other [Craig’s people – Craig Smellie of MI6] missions.135 believe that some very senior RUC officers are involved with this group. In short it would appear that Loyalist paramilitaries and Int/SB members have formed some sort of pseudo gangs in an attempt to fight a war of attrition by getting paramilitaries on both sides to kill each other and, at the same time, prevent any future political initiative such as Sunningdale.134 He goes on to disclose that he was given information that those responsible for the Dublin [and Monaghan] bombings were working closely with Special Branch and Intelligence at the time.

å s åSpinwatch Conclusion

he aim of this paper is to by demolishing the police station in provide some information which they were being held. The usual Ton the modus operandi of black propaganda was disseminated in British undercover units operating the aftermath). in Northern Ireland in the early- By shining a light on these undercover mid 1970s – the Military Reaction units it can be shown that senior Forces and its successor the Special members of the British security forces/ Reconnaissance Unit. Other units have services and politicians were and are followed – the Northern Ireland Special prepared to use civilian assassinations, Patrol Group, 14th Intelligence, the bombings and black propaganda to and, most recently, achieve a military, rather than a political, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, solution to the Northern Ireland conflict which currently operates in Iraq and and other conflicts in which they are Afghanistan. (A chilling operation by involved. Undoubtedly, other covert this unit in Basra shows that their work agencies were also heavily involved continues apace. In September 2005, in Northern Ireland including the RUC two men in Arab dress captured by Special Branch, MI5 and MI6. Obviously, police turned out to be British soldiers. the cases outlined here are only ‘the tip They had been travelling in a civilian of the iceberg’ and most of the deeds car packed with explosives. Their Army and misdeeds of these units remain colleagues later freed them from custody hidden and may never be exposed.

The controversial Force Research Unit in the late 1980s, one of the army units to emerge from the MRF tradition.

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å Endnotes

1 ‘Low-intensity operations’ is a 8 National Archives of UK, PREM 25 Murray, Raymond, The SAS in military term for the deployment 16/154, Prime Minister’s Office Ireland (1990), Mercier Press, p.48, and use of troops and/or assets in registered papers. quoting Magill, September 1978, situations other than war. Generally article by Ed Moloney. 9 Ibid, FCO33/1486/109691, 4th these operations are against October 1971. 26 Irish Times, 13th May 1972. non-state actors and are given terms like counter-insurgency, anti- 10 EOKA was a Greek Cypriot 27 Ibid, 3rd March 1994. nationalist paramilitary organisation subversion and peacekeeping. 28 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, (2007) that fought to end the status of 2 Frank Kitson, b. 1926, was Mainstream Publishing, p. 183. Cyprus as a crown colony of the commissioned into the Rifle British Empire. It desired political 29 Hibernia, 30th March 1973. Brigade. He was awarded the with Greece. Military Cross in 1955 for service 30 National Archives of UK, DEFE in Kenya against the Mau Mau 11 National Archives of UK, 24/969, Information Policy Brief, uprising (1952-60). He was PREM16/154, Prime Minister’s with accompanying letter sent to awarded a bar to it in 1958 for Office registered papers. Lt. Col. F.M.K. Tuck, MoD (MO4), Whitehall, London from Col. G.W. service in Malaya. He served 12 Dillon, Martin, The Enemy Within: Hutton for GOC, HQ, Northern in Northern Ireland in the early The IRA’s war against the British Ireland, 16th May 1973. 1970s for which he was awarded (1994), Doubleday, p.120. a CBE for his operational 31 Ibid, Defensive Press Brief from 13 Saville Inquiry, Day 339, pp.215- services. He is author of Gangs A.W. Stephens, Head of DS10, to 6, testimony of Ian Hurst (Martin and Counter-gangs (1960); Low- Permanent Secretary and Under- Ingram). intensity operations (1971) and Secretary of Secretary of State Bunch of Five (1977). The Mau 14 Faligot, Roger, Britain’s Military (Army, 22nd June 1973. Mau was a Kenyan anti-colonial Strategy in Ireland, (1983), p.14. 32 The Irish Times, 23rd June 1972. group dominated by the Kikuyu 15 Kitson, Frank, Low Intensity tribe. 33 Supplement to the London Operations: subversion, insurgency, Gazette, 23rd January 1968. 3 A pseudo-gang is a state- peacekeeping, (1971) p.100. sponsored group used to advance 34 Hibernia, 30th March 1973. 16 Oral source No. 1. an agenda while discrediting the 35 The Times, (London), 4th May real opposition. 17 Dorril, Stephen, MI6, (2001) p.739. 1973. 4 Richard Clutterbuck (1917-98) was 18 National Archives of UK, CJ 36 Supplement to the London a pioneer in the study of political 4/266, Correspondence from Sir Gazette, 13th June 1992. violence. He was a professional Harry Tuzo to SSNI, 9th July 1972, soldier and later in life an Conduct of Military Operations 37 Dillon, Martin, The Trigger Men, academic. He was commissioned in NI. (2004), Mainstream Publishing, into the Royal Engineers in 1937. p.61. 19 National Archives of Ireland, Dept. After the Second World War he of Foreign Affairs 2003, Report of 38 National Archives of UK, DEFE served in Palestine during the Irgun Association for Legal Justice, April 24/969, Information Policy Brief, campaign. In north-east Thailand 1972; Hibernia, 30th March 1973, with accompanying letter sent to in 1966-8 he put into practice p.17. Lt. Col. F.M.K. Tuck, MoD (MO4), the counter-terrorist philosophy Whitehall, London from Col. G.W. 20 The Times (London), 3rd March he was gradually evolving. Hutton for GOC, HQ, Northern 1973. When he became Chief Army Ireland, 16th May 1973. Instructor of the Royal College of 21 Irish Times, 20th January 1973. Defence Studies, he specialised 39 The Irish Times, 28th June 1973. 22 Renwick, Alastair, Oliver’s Army, in the teaching of low-intensity 40 Ibid, 29th June 1973, p.9. operations. Chapter 8, website of – statement made 41 Ibid. 5 Porter, Bernard, Plots and by Northern Ireland veteran at a 42 Lindsay, Kennedy, Ambush at Paranoia, (1992), Routledge, Troops Out public meeting in 1978. Tully-West, (1980), Dunrod Press, pp.198-9. 23 The Times (London), 3rd March pp.18-19. 6 Lobster, Issue 18, October 1989 1973. 43 Ibid, p.56. 7 Geraghty, Tony, Inside the SAS, 24 Hibernia, 30th March 1973. 44 ibid, p.57-8, 67. (1987), p.29.

å s åSpinwatch 45 Ibid, p.67. January 1986, ‘Kitson, Kincora and DEFE24/1670, Initial report on the counter-insurgency in NI’. disappearance of Captain Robert 46 Irish Times, 28th January 1974, Nairac, Grenadier Guards, 16th p.1. 72 Irish Times, 6th June 1973, p.9. May 1977. 47 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives (2007), 73 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, 95 Ibid, DEFE13/1403, Abduction of p.283-4. (1990), Routledge, p.38. Captain Nairac, 16th May 1977. 74 Sunday Independent, 8th October 48 Lindsay, Kennedy, Ambush at 1972, p.10. 96 National Archives of UK, Tully-West, pp.63-4; Lost Lives, CJ4/1304, Brief from G.W. Watson 75 Irish Times, 19th September 1973, pp.283-4. to Mr. Smith, NIO, 5th December p.8; Supplement to the London 1973. 49 Ibid, p.81, 83. Gazette, 18th September 1973. 97 Ibid, Letter from Christopher 50 The Times, (London), 19th March 76 The Times, 19th September 1973, , 10 Downing Street to NH 1974. p.2. Nicholls, Ministry of Defence, 13th 51 Hibernia, 30th March 1973. 77 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, September 1973. (1990), p.38. 52 The Irish Times, 4th September 98 To be re-capbadged meant that 1972; Hibernia 30th March 1973. 78 Connor, Ken, Ghost Force: the a soldier, having served with secret history of the SAS, (1998), 53 Murray, Raymond, The SAS in the SAS, would be returned Cassell, p.268. Ireland (1990), p.69. to his parent regiment before 79 National Archives of UK, DEFE commencing service with the SRU. 54 The Irish Times, 4th September 24/969, Information Policy brief In this way, it could be denied that 1972; Hibernia, 30th March 1973. with accompanying letter to Lt. the soldier had served with the 55 National Archives of Ireland, Co. F.M.K. Tuck, MoD (MO4), SAS immediately beforehand. Whitehall, London from Col. G.W. Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Dublin, 99 National Archives of UK, Hutton for GOC, HQ, Northern 2003/17/420, Eye-witness FCO87/583, Memo to the Prime Ireland, 16th May 1973. statements made to Association Minister from Roy Mason, SSNI, for Legal Justice 1972. 80 Sunday Independent, 8th October 8th September 1976. 1972, p.10. 56 Ibid, Report of Association for 100 Irish Times, 6th January 1973, p.9. 81 Dillon, Martin, The Trigger Men, Legal Justice 1972. 101 Dillon, Martin, The Trigger Men, (2004), pp.66-7. 57 Lt. Col. Evelegh was Commanding (2004), pp.144-53. 82 National Archives of UK, DEFE officer of 3 Royal Green Jackets 102 Irish Times, 6th March 1973, p.9. based at Springfield Road RUC 24/969, Letter from F.M.K. Tuck, 103 Ibid, 19th May 1973, p.8. station. Based on his experiences in MoD, M4, Whitehall, London to NI he published Peace-Keeping in Under-secretary (Army), 23rd May 104 Urban, Mark, Big Boys’ Rules, a democratic society – the lessons 1973. (1992), Faber and Faber, p.42. of Northern Ireland in 1978. Robin 83 Dillon, Martin, The Trigger Men, 105 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives. Ramsey describes his book as a (2004), p.68. 106 The Times (London), 14th May ‘long wistful look at the powers 84 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, 1973, p.2. available in previous real colonial (1990), p.67. 107 Ibid, 12th May 1973, p.1. wars not available in NI’ and 85 Oral source No. 1. believes the proposals in his book 108 National Archives of UK, to be more draconian than Kitson’s. 86 Connor, Ken, Ghost Force, (1998), DEFE13/1044, memo from CE p.269. Johnson, Head of DS10 to Minister 58 National Archives of Ireland, of State, 23rd August 1976. Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Dublin, 87 National Archives of UK, 22003/17/420, Appendix. PREM16/154, Defensive brief, NIO, 109 Irish Times, 14th May 1973, p.8. 2nd April 1974. 59 Irish Times, 7th December 1973, 110 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, p.12. 88 Ibid, CJ4/1304, Memo from J.B. (1990), pp.55-62. Howard to GOC, 15th November 111 Ibid, p.59. 60 National Archives of UK, 1972. DEFE24/981, memo to Major PHM 112 The Times (London). 10th and 11th 89 Ibid, PREM16/154, Prime Squier from KJH Carter, MoD, 8th April 1973. Minister’s Registered Papers, July 1975. Defensive brief, 2nd April 1974. 113 National Archives of UK, DEFE 61 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, p.189. 24/969, Information Policy brief 90 Oral source No. 1. 62 Ibid, p.192. prepared by Col. GW Hutton for 91 Oral Source No. 2. GOC, Army HQ NI. 63 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, (2007), 92 http.www.specialforcesroh.com p.269. 114 Sunday News, 20th May 1973, p.1. 93 Second Supplement to London 64 Dillon, Martin, The Trigger Men, 115 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, Gazette, 12th February 1979. (2004), p.54. (1990), p.79. The George Cross is the 65 Irish Times, 2nd October 1972, p.1. 116 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, p.720. highest civil decoration of the 66 Ibid, 4th October 1972, p.8. United Kingdom. It is the civilian 117 National Archives of UK, DEFE24/969, MoD papers, Internal 67 Ibid, 28th November 1972, pp.1, 8. counterpart of the Victoria Cross and the highest gallantry award memo from Director of Security 68 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, (2007), (Army), 1st June 1973. p.295. for civilians as well as for military personnel in actions which are 118 Ibid, internal memo on Ranger 69 Sunday Independent, 3rd October not in the face of the enemy or Hammond from AG to Under- 1972. for which purely military honours secretary of State (Army, 6th June 70 ibid. would not be normally granted. 1973. 71 Ramsey, Robin, Lobster No. 10, 94 National Archives of UK, 119 Ibid, internal memo on Ranger

Counter-gangs: A history of undercover military units in Northern Ireland 1971-1976å s å Hammond from Ian Gilmour to Secretary of State, 22nd June 1973. 120 Ibid, DEFE13/1044, memo from CE Johnson, Head of DS10 to Minister of State, 23rd August 1976. 121 Faligot, Roger, Britain’s Military Strategy in Ireland, (1983), pp.39-41. 122 Irish Press, 28th June 1975. 123 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, p.617. 124 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, (1990), pp.76-7. 125 Irish Times, 19th January 1976. 126 Faligot, Roger, Britain’s Military Strategy in Ireland, (1983), p.42. 127 Irish Times, 15th May 1976. 128 Dillon, Martin, The Dirty War, (1990), p.72. 129 Irish Times, 1st November 1972; Lost Lives, p.289. 130 Oral source No. 3. 131 McKittrick et al, Lost Lives, pp.660-1, 714-5. 132 The Times (London), 10th May 1974. 133 Irish Times, 21st March 1974. 134 Letter from Colin Wallace to AH Staughton, 14th August 1975. 135 ‘Hidden Hand: the forgotten massacre’, First Tuesday, broadcast on ITV, 6th July 1993.

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