Beste Ruc podcasts (2024)

1
The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Intelligence Collisions and Contamination 47:39

11d ago47:39

47:39

This episode continues my look at the Royal Ulster Constabulary and allegations of collusion. To be honest, I naively thought that I would, most likely, have provided an overarching look at the subject in a couple of episodes. I was wrong. Given the amount of material I've obtained, together with ex-RUC and military colleagues I've gathered much mo…

1
Quick Changeover 10:12

22d ago10:12

10:12

This is just an extremely brief update to let you know what to expect on the next episode. Also, Buzzsprout have put a link on the Stray Bullets webpage which lets you send me feedback about the podcast (they call it 'fan mail', but that's quite subjective I imagine!). Many thanks, Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank yo…

1
IRA B*MBS, BOOBY-TRAPS & LOYALIST LEADERS | Violence In 1990s Belfast | Rob Millington 1:25:39

27d ago1:25:39

1:25:39

Rob Millington, ex-british army trooper, spent 6 months in Belfast during the final decade of the conflict that gripped the lives of anyone in the 6 counties. Rob talks to us almost getting caught in an IRA b*mb which was set up to blow up security forces responding to sh*oting, the impact that first seeing dead bodies had on him and aftermath of t…

1
The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part II 27:37

1M ago27:37

27:37

This is the concluding episode in which I look at issues related by a retired RUC Special Branch officer as quoted from the work cited below, as well as my thoughts on such. Work cited in this episode: Barker, Alan, 'Shadows: Inside Northern Ireland's Special Branch', Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, 2004 Click here if you’d like to s…

1
The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part I 1:00:43

1M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

This episode continues my look at allegations of collusion against the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Obviously, there's nothing revelatory within (other than some aspects of agent handling and possible pitfalls of such). There's nothing to breach the Official Secrets Act either. In saying all that I sincerely hope that the biographical book extracts, …

1
INSIDE THE 1980 IRA/INLA HUNGER STRIKE | Long Kesh Prisoner & Hunger Striker, John Nixon 2:28:56

1M ago2:28:56

2:28:56

John Nixon, ex-Offical IRA and INLA member begins this episode at the start of his second prison term in Long Kesh during which he would volunteer for the IRA/INLA Hunger Strike of 1980, led by Brendan “The Dark” Hughes. John speaks about the horrors and trauma of years in prison, beatings and torture from the guards and his account of the hunger s…

1
PATROLLING BANDIT COUNTRY | South Armagh & Fermanagh IRA, Mortar Attacks & Mines | Ralph Brooker 1:54:14

1M ago1:54:14

1:54:14

Ralph Brooker served in the British army touring Fermanagh, Derry and the infamous South Armagh, better known as "Bandit Country". Having spent the majority of his time in rural, border areas Ralph recounts the British army's constant attempts to counteract the IRA's ever evolving methods and tactics. Ralph speaks to us about being on the receiving…

1
The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Impromptu Episode: Intelligence Streams 29:40

2M ago29:40

29:40

This is an interim, or rather impromptu, episode of sorts. In it I consider my working relationship with an Intelligence Cell within the British Army during the very early years of my career, and how it became affected following the brutal murder of Loughlin Maginn in 1989. As such I hope to complete a more comprehensive and concluding episode look…

1
Mi6 SPY In Garda Special Branch | Patrick Crinnion & How Mi6 nearly Brought Down The Irish Govt. 1:00:22

2M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

David Burke’s most recent book “Puppet Masters” shines a light on mysterious case of Patrick Crinnion, the garda (Irish police officer) who was passing information to Mi6 while he was in the Gardai’s secretive intel department. David, joining me for the third time, tells us about the state of the Republican movement in the years prior to the outbre…

1
Mi6 SPY In Irish Dept. of Justice Offices- How High Up Did The Corruption Go ? | David Burke 51:03

2M ago51:03

51:03

****Q&A COMING SOON SO PLEASE SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE ANSWERED IN THE COMMENTS**** In a recent episode David Burke re-joined us to talk about the mysterious case of Garda Patrick Crinnion, a spy within the Garda Special Branch (Intel dept) who passed information to the British intel network. The release of David's book on the subject has pr…

1
INLA BLANKETMAN Tells The Inside Story of "BLANKET" & "NO-WASH" Protest | John Nixon - Part 2 1:06:06

2M ago1:06:06

1:06:06

In part 2 of my interviews with ex-official IRA & INLA member, John Nixon. In this episode we discussed some of the INLA’s most prolific operations as well as some of the organizations most well known members including Seamus Costello and Dessie O’ Hare. (Part 1 - https://youtu.be/9YOpiW1jU6c?si=81DqiPlwIAz4HOHQ) I asked John about second prison te…

1
RUC 10 Planetary/Ecological Sin with Dr. Jame Schaefer 59:14

2M ago59:14

59:14

On this Feast Day of Creation I am releasing an interview with Dr. Jame Schaefer, an environmental advocate and theologian known for coining the term "planetary sin". As a high school religion teacher, I was not satisfied with the three traditional categories of sin found in the Catholic Catechism: original, personal, and social. So I decided to re…

1
RUC 9 Rev. Danny Bryant's Church pays Black therapists' student debt 42:33

2M ago42:33

42:33

In the spring of 2024 there was a lot of buzz about student loan forgiveness in the United States. One congregation in Nashville, Tennessee believes that the North American church should be leading the way. St. Mary of Bethany Parish is paying Black therapists' student debt as an act of repentance and reparation for its complicity in racism. I talk…

1
Blue Lights and Love Squads 26:27

2M ago26:27

26:27

Another unplanned episode, but one generated from a number of questions I've received from listeners asking if I'd planned to discuss Blue Lights Season 2 in much the same way as I did for Season 1. Also, the anecdotes about illicit love trysts in the PSNI was of great interest (which also featured as part of the Blue Lights episodes). To be honest…

1
The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion. Part I: Personal Observations 52:35

3M ago52:35

52:35

Given the contentious nature of the subject topic discussed in this episode I've added some caveats which I've outlined at the beginning. I'd just have to reiterate that the episode just reflects my own personal observations plus awareness of incidents, and remain my own interpretations of such. Having said that, I feel this subject will inevitably…

1
IRA's GREATEST JAILBREAKS | The Troubles, War Of Independence & more | James Durney, Author 52:57

3M ago52:57

52:57

My guest for this week is James Durney, historian and author of “Jailbreak” which details the various “great escapes” perpetrated by Irish Republican prisoners from 1865 onwards into the 1980s. James tells us about the most daring and dangerous prison escapes, both successful and otherwise, of the troubles-era including the story of the Crumlin Kan…

1
Policing The Troubles | East Tyrone, Belfast, Riots & Near-Death Experiences | Hilton McCabe, Ex-RUC 2:40:51

3M ago2:40:51

2:40:51

Hilton McCabe served in the RUC in both East Tyrone and Belfast during the second half of the conflict we know as “the troubles”. Hilton tells us about policing rural East Tyrone and the horror of cleaning up body-parts after the one of the IRA’s most deadly roadside b*mb attacks, the Ballygawley Bus Ambush. Hilton shares with us his stories of rio…

1
SOUTH ARMAGH AGENT HANDLER | Recruiting & Running Informants In BANDIT COUNTRY| Ex-FRU Handler 2:34:26

3M ago2:34:26

2:34:26

Ex-FRU agent handler "Will Britten" (alias) actively ran and recruited agents in South Armagh, one of the most dangerous places to be a British soldier during the conflict, in the 80s and is the author of "The Deadly Game". We speak in depth about the recruitment methods of the FRU, how to successfully run an agent in such a dangerous area, the leg…

1
Armagh GAA Bags All-Ireland Win As PSNI On Hot Coals Overs Flags 32:42

3M ago32:42

32:42

Another 'impromptu' episode! This time I'll be (hurriedly, sorry time waits ... ) discussing the political rants following Armagh GAA winning the All-Ireland title on Sunday 28th July 2024. Moreso, because a PSNI Community Policing Officer joined in with his community celebrating in Camlough (I used to just be flown over it and dropped off nearby f…

1
Witnessing His Father's IRA M*rder | Alan Miles' Story, Son of H-Blocks Deputy Governor Albert Miles 55:43

3M ago55:43

55:43

In a recent episode I interviewed author Dan Lawton about his book focusing on the fallout from the murder of dept Governor, Albert Miles, of the infamous Maze Prison in November 1978 in which an innocent man was convicted. Alan Miles witnessed his father’s brutal murder as a young man at the hands of the IRA but almost immediately got to a place i…

1
Our Troubled Past: The Glory and the Grief 54:56

3M ago54:56

54:56

In this episode I attempt to conclude my thoughts on the aspects of Forgiveness and Recrimination in Northern Ireland's post-Troubles' society. In saying that, I'll add the caveat that I'll most likely be revisiting nuances of such topics threaded through future episodes. For the time being I'm looking at how we memorialise the past in terms of 'is…

1
IRA's K*LLING FIELDS - The Story Of The EAST TYRONE IRA | Jon Trigg, Ex-British Army & Author 1:48:13

4M ago1:48:13

1:48:13

Jonathan Trigg’s book “Death In The Fields” examines, in great detail, the infamous East-Tyrone IRA and how this rural group complied some of the republican’s biggest wins and conversely, their most devastating losses. We examine the early days of the unit and how they were formed, the autonomy they enjoyed, the Jim Lynagh “A-Team” era and their de…

1
EX-RUC SPECIAL BRANCH HANDLER Tells His Story | Informers, IRA & M*rder | William Matchett 1:59:14

4M ago1:59:14

1:59:14

William Matchett is an ex-RUC officer who spent years working in the secretive and murky world of informants and agents during his time in Special Branch while “the troubles” raged on. William shares with us his motivations for joining the RUC during such dangerous times, the techniques they utilized to recruit informants, death threats he’s receiv…

1
Squaring The Circle 50:12

4M ago50:12

50:12

Will there be a time when we, in Northern Ireland, see our seemingly parallel divergent histories cross? Our opposing narratives blend with commonality. As a society still raw from sectarian and political conflict many are trying to step away from hate, but there are still those who fear any admission of culpability will render them vulnerable. In …

1
CATHOLIC PRIEST on Capitol Hill Fighting For IRISH FREEDOM | Fr. Sean McManus 1:48:14

4M ago1:48:14

1:48:14

**Sorry for the late upload my good people.. feel free to follow on YouTube where I'm a bit more on top of things** Fr Sean McManus hails from Co. Fermanagh but was sent, by his superiors in the Catholic, to America early in his career where he continued his fight for Irish freedom. Fr McManus’ tells us about his early life, his older brother who w…

1
Rattlebag II: Addendum - The Forgotten Op 18:57

4M ago18:57

18:57

Just a bolt-on tale I omitted to include in the previous episode: 'Rattlebag'. Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.Door E.S. Haggan

1
Rattlebag: An Interlude 37:51

4M ago37:51

37:51

This episode is, in itself, an interlude before I continue my theme of reconciliation and recrimination. I just needed a breather of sorts and to realign my thoughts, which had been threatening to scatter. Just some (brief) ruminations herein on a few innocuous memories from my time in both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and PSNI. Many thanks to tho…

1
BATTLING THE IRA & LOYALISTS IN TROUBLES-ERA BELFAST | SAS & DET. SURVEILLANCE OPERATOR Mick Hawkes 2:09:28

5M ago2:09:28

2:09:28

Mick Hawkes is an ex-SAS soldier and 14th intel company (the Det.) operator who worked against the IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland as part of his military career. Mick tells us about the daily ins and outs of carrying out surveillance on dangerous insurgents, the differences between republican and loyalist paramilitaries, how he…

1
Being IRISH in Birmingham during IRA ENGLAND B*mbing Campaign | Dr. Michael Flavin 1:05:13

5M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

My guest this week is Dr Michael Flavin, child to Irish parents who grew up in Birmingham, England during the IRA’s bombing campaign in England during the troubles. Michael speaks to us about being a part of the Irish diaspora in England, anti-Irish discrimination at the time as well Michael’s writings on IRA leadership and INLA splits. 00:00 “NO B…

1
A Hard and Bitter Circle 53:25

5M ago53:25

53:25

In this episode I'll be continuing to look at the aspect of Forgiveness and Recrimination which I began in the episode, 'I Bear No Grudge'. Given the amount of material I've gathered to date, I sense that the topic will continue on for several more episodes. In this episode I employ two poems by John Hewitt: 'The Iron Circle' and 'The Bloody Brae' …

1
INNOCENT MAN FRAMED for IRA M*RDER | How Kevin Barry Artt was falsely convicted & Escaped LONG KESH 50:52

5M ago50:52

50:52

Dan Lawton’s thrilling new book “The Hunted” explores the story of Kevin Barry Artt and how he was false-convicted of the IRA murder of deputy Maze prison governor, Albert Miles. We speak about the so-called “confession factory” Castlereagh, Long Kesh’s Maze prison, the horrors of the “blanket”/“no-wash” protests and how Kevin Barry Artt took part …

1
UK's INTEL WAR against the IRA | Derry IRA, Rural Units & Peace Talks | Thomas Leahy 59:38

5M ago59:38

59:38

For this episode I’m joined by author and lecturer, Thomas Leahy, whose book “The Intelligence War against the IRA” gives a through and detailed account of Britain’s attempts to disrupt and defeat the IRA by way of intel gathering. We discuss the various methods of intel collection, what “intel” is and can be used for in this context, the various t…

1
An Unintended Interlude 46:36

5M ago46:36

46:36

I'd just recorded Part II of my consideration of Forgiveness and Recrimination in a post-conflict Northern Ireland when my SSD gave up the ghost. On retrospect it may have been a blessing in disguise as I wasn't completely happy with the experimental format of the episode, besides I'd only noticed several dropouts in the recording just as I was com…

1
TROUBLES-ERA PARA & SAS man tells his story | Belfast RIOTS, South Armagh & more | Harry McCallion 2:09:49

6M ago2:09:49

2:09:49

Harry McCallion is an ex-paratrooper and SAS solider who served in the north during some of the troubles’ most violent years. Harry tells us about the brutal training regime they underwent before deployment, his thoughts on the mistakes that the British army made, his views on the “Ballymurphy Massacre”, his emotional state while policing violent r…

1
1974 DUBLIN/MONAGHAN B*MBING | Robin Jackson, British Army Involvement & more| David Burke, Author 1:09:40

6M ago1:09:40

1:09:40

Author, lawyer and past guest of the show, David Burke reveals a previously unreleased statement from ex-Tara member and close-friend of Robin 'the jackal" Jackson, Charlie Simpson uncovering Jackson and the British Army's involvement in one of the trouble's most heinous attacks. We talk through the events of the tragic day, the logistics of the UV…

1
IRA HELICOPTER ESCAPE Mastermind & Portlaoise Jail Break| Brendan Hughes (Tyrone) IRA COMMANDER 1:50:51

6M ago1:50:51

1:50:51

Brendan Hughes (not to be confused with the deceased Brendan ‘The Dark” Hughes) shares his truly extraordinary life story, a life shaped by his membership of the East-Tyrone PIRA in the early days of the conflict in the North. Brendan tells us about his time ambushing British soldiers in the countryside and robbing banks to fund raise for the IRA a…

1
TROUBLES-ERA BMB DISPOSAL EXPERT | Taking on Belfast's IRA BMB-MAKERS | Steve Smith, British Army 1:09:27

6M ago1:09:27

1:09:27

My guest this week is ex-b*mb disposal man, Steve Smith. Steve worked as a EOD officer in Belfast during the early 80s and worked to rid the city of IRA & Loyalist b*mbs. Steve gives us his insight into the various types of explosives used throughout the conflict, the differences between IRA & Loyalist b*mb-makers, how it feels to put on the b*mb-s…

1
Ex-TEEN UDA FOOTSOLDIER tells his story | RUC Collusion, Sectarian Violence & Escaping the Conflict | Graham Cousins 48:16

7M ago48:16

48:16

Graham Cousins grew up protestant in East Belfast and spent his late-teen years and early 20s in the Ulster Defense Association better known as the UDA, a loyalist paramilitary group formed in the early 70s. He has since become close friends with ex-paramilitaries from the other side including my last guest, ex-b*mb-maker Packy McMahon (https://you…

1
EX-IRA BMB-MAKER tells his story | Bmb-making, Long Kesh & Informers | Packy McMahon 1:13:37

7M ago1:13:37

1:13:37

Patrick “Packy” McMahon is a former provisional IRA bomb maker who was jailed after being caught in the act of manufacturing a 1,500 LB bomb. Packy tells us about growing up as the conflict raged and how his life-long battle with British soldiers began. We spoke about the in and outs of how the IRA manufactured its bombs/explosive devices from begi…

1
EX BRITISH SPY HANDLER speaks out| Stakeknife, Frank Hegarty & Operation Kenova | Ian Hurst ( Martin Ingram) 3:10:21

7M ago3:10:21

3:10:21

Ian Hurst, better known to some as “Martin Ingram” was a member of the Force Research Unit, an intel gathering and spy-handling British security forces group and spent time as a handler in Derry during which time he worked with Frank Hegarty. Ian is best known for co-authoring the book ’Stakeknife” which exposed the exploits of one of the North’s m…

1
Why did SCAPPATICCI become an AGENT?? | EX-BRITISH INTEL MAN IAN HURST speaks out 16:51

7M ago16:51

16:51

*** PREVIEW CLIP*** (I usually don't do this but to fill the void this week here's a snippet from the full episode which will be available on YouTube this week and on podcast platforms next Monday) In a clip from our upcoming 3 + hour interview, ex-FRU handler Ian Hurst (Martin Ingram) gives his take on how he thinks the infamous "Agent Stakeknife"…

1
I Bear No Grudge 40:21

7M ago40:21

40:21

This episode is Part One of Two in which I look at two atrocities, one in 1972 and one in 1987, through the words of two fathers who both experienced the murder of one of their children. Ultimately, this episode will, I hope, help me explore the aspect of 'forgiveness' in the context of conflict, specifically the Troubles. In Part Two (the concludi…

1
THE IRA-SPY THAT STAKEKNIFE K*LLED ?? | Frank Hegarty, Martin McGuinness & Gaddafi's Guns| Henry Hemmings, author 51:40

7M ago51:40

51:40

For this episode I spoke with author Henry Hemming about his most recent book “Four Shots in the Night”, an excellently written true-story of a British army agent within the IRA named Frank Hegarty. Henry talks to us about the army unit that recruited and ran Hegarty, the now infamous FRU (force research unit) and their unique approach to running a…

1
BELFAST'S DARKEST TROUBLES-ERA SCANDAL | The Missing Boys, Kincora, MI5 & Cover-ups | Des Henderson 56:24

8M ago56:24

56:24

For this episode I spoke with filmmaker Des Henderson, about his recent, extremely powerful documentary "Lost Boys: Belfast's Missing Children" which focus on the disappearances of a number of boys in Northern Ireland during the troubles and explores the dark story of Kincora Boys Home. Des tells us about the links that these disappearances may hav…

1
OPERATION KENOVA | STAKEKNIFE, The IRA's Internal Security Unit & Boucher's Report| Ricky O' Rawe 54:14

8M ago54:14

54:14

Ex-IRA volunteer and author of the “Stakeknife's Dirty War", Richard O Rawe returns to the pod to share his analysis on the recently published and long awaited, Operation Kenova (interim report). This was an investigation into the FRU (force research unit) agent code named Stakeknife and the IRA’s internal security unit better known as the “nutting…

1
"THE DISAPPEARED" in IRISH HISTORY - The Troubles, War of Independence and more | Padraig Og O' Ruairc 1:17:55

8M ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Padraig Og O' Ruaric, historian and author of "The Disappeared" speaks to us about his the forced disappearances the have taken place for political reasons in Ireland's often bloody history. We speak about the different reasons for forced disappearances in Ireland's war of independence and civil war committed by both Irish guerrilla fighters and th…

1
THOMAS NEIDERMAYER KIDNAPPING/MRDER | 1973 LONDON BMBINGS, THE PRICE SISTERS & AN INNOCENT MAN'S TRAGIC DEATH 54:52

8M ago54:52

54:52

In this episode author David Blake Knox ("Facedown: The disappearance of Thomas Neidermayer") takes us through the tragic case of German man, Thomas Neidermayer, who was living in the north when he was kidnapped (and killed) by the IRA in an attempt to get Marian and Dolores Price moved to an Irish prison after their 1973 London b*mbing attack. We …

1
Doorstep Shootings Part II: Tunnel Vision 50:14

8M ago50:14

50:14

In this episode I am focusing on two Troubles' murders, those of RUC Sgt Hugh Brendan McCormac and Pat Finucane. Both men were slaughtered in front of their wives and young children. While this episode concludes the theme of 'Doorstep Murders' I felt that these two cases - from the thousands murdered during the Troubles - demonstrated how the kille…

1
SHOT & BLINDED by BRITISH SOLDIER with a RUBBER-BULLET aged 10 | RICHARD MOORE'S STORY 56:05

9M ago56:05

56:05

Richard Moore grew up in Derry and as a young child experienced life in pre-troubles Northern Ireland before the eruption of a conflict that had been brewing for years. Richard tells us about his memories of the British army as they first came to N.I following the Battle of the Bogside and how they were originally welcomed by the community and how …

1
FRANK KITSON'S LEGACY IN N.I | The MRF, IRA DOUBLE-AGENTS (The "Freds") & Britain's DIRTY WAR IN IRELAND 1:20:42

9M ago1:20:42

1:20:42

David Burke, author of "Kitson’s Irish War: Mastermind of the Dirty War in Ireland" breaks down the work/influence of Brigader Frank Kitson and the infamous "Military Reaction Force" better known as the MRF, The British Army branch who were "there to act like the IRA". David tell us about how Kiston developed the tactics that would used against the…

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