A review of the central claims of my book Agents of Influence, which was published in 2021. It examined British strategy and tactics of intelligence operations against the IRA.
Tag: Northern Ireland
Stones Left Unturned: Op Kenova, Collusion and the IRA Assassination of John Bingham
The publication of the Operation Kenova report into a British spy network inside the IRA has left one trail to run cold: Collusion in the murder of Loyalists It all started with a meeting I held with a source in a flat in Portadown. It was the summer of 2015 and I was in the…
UVF to issue “General Order of Disbandment”
Sources close to the UVF tell me that the group’s leadership is close to making a deal with the British government on what is being referred to as a “General Order of Disbandment.”
Imposter Syndrome
Who is “Winkie Irvine”, really? A source I spoke to in the wake of my revelation that Winkie Irvine had been expelled from the UVF confirmed to me just how disliked the former UVF commander actually was inside his own paramilitary group. Then he said something very interesting. “Many people,” he told me, “believed there…
D-Day for the UVF
It has become clear from further reports finding their way to me from multiple sources that a secret meeting did indeed take place on the Shankill on Wednesday night.
No More Nods for the Wink
My sources close to the UVF have confirmed to me that a secret meeting of the 1st Belfast Battalion of the organisation was held last night in the Shankill. I understand that representatives from all UVF 1st Battalion companies were in attendance, as were members of the group’s ruling Brigade Staff. Allegations were made in…
I’m Now on Substack!
“The saying goes that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but in this case… The basic problem is that the author is far too close to his subject to exhibit a meaningful degree of objectivity.” That’s what An Phoblacht, the official media outlet of the Provisional IRA, wrote about me in a review…
When is Border Not a Border?
Critics of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson are reportedly redoubling their efforts to undermine the deal he has struck with the Conservative government in London. Since the announcement of a deal by Sir Jeffrey in the early hours of Tuesday morning, we are finding out more and more details on a drip-feed basis. So far the choreography…
It’s Hobson’s Choice Time for Unionism
In the past few minutes my sources close to the DUP have confirmed that the deal is now done. The party is returning to Stormont. This confirms my analysis in an earlier blog post before Christmas that “talk of talks” was merely a ploy to steady those frightened horses within the party who are evangelically…
The Ghosts of Christmas Past
As far as long-drawn out political negotiations go, the one between the DUP and the British government must be one of the longest in Northern Ireland’s modern history. Even the bargaining between the old Stormont government under Brian Faulkner and Edward Heath regarding the rescinding of security powers in 1972 took less time to collapse…
Is the Mood Music Changing?
As rumours of a General Election intensify some close to the thinking of the DUP suggest that the party is working to a post-Christmas timetable. This is highly significant, particularly in light of how far the DUP has come since it began its boycott of the power-sharing Executive in February 2022. As I revealed on…
The End of Loyalist Paramilitary ‘Group Transition’?
It has become clear in recent days that the UVF Brigade Staff on the Shankill has seen its stock rise in the eyes of its grassroots supporters due to its shock statement a week ago, which saw them announcement the standing down its East Belfast leadership. I argued in an earlier blog post that there…
The UVF Cleans Up its ACT
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a militant loyalist group in Northern Ireland, has disbanded its notorious East Belfast unit, which has been intimately involved in drug-related crimes. This move has provoked fears of violent retaliation within working-class communities. Nevertheless, with this strategic decision by the UVF leadership, the responsibility now falls on law enforcement and intelligence agencies to mitigate potential internecine feuds, ensuring the integrity of the group’s transition process.
Breaking News: East Belfast UVF to be Stood Down
A loyalist source has contacted me to tell me that the East Belfast UVF have been stood down, effective from midnight tonight. The statement is believed to have been issued by the UVF Brigade Staff, the group’s central command. It was read out across different areas as members of the paramilitary group met to commemorate…
Kicking the Can Further Down the Street
The DUP is fast running out of options on what to do about the Windsor Framework. According to a leaked Northern Ireland Office (NIO) briefing note seen by the Belfast Newsletter, some Stormont government departments could face budget cuts of up to 10%. The former Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy told The View from…