The "Intelligence War" certainly made it very tough for the IRA, identified the major players, and depleted them, leading to imprisonments and ambushes on their fighters, and led to numerous set-backs for the IRA, but it did not cripple them completely, it just made them think smarter, and they shifted their focus. It's more fair to say the intel war assisted to reach the current circumstances, saved lives along the way, and did not outright defeat the IRA. I think the reality is, that the IRA bombings against the major financial districts, and city centres, and warnings in advance to help prevent civilian casualties, caused such huge economic damage and uncertainty, that the British eventually decided to enter into negotiations with Sinn Féin. I don't think the British would like to admit that, or have it seen that way historically, as the IRA cannot be seen to have "won" the war in this manner. The IRA proved they could not really be stopped on those kinds of missions, it was simply impractical to stop a carefully planned bombing operation, and the price of a bomb, versus the damage was not a ratio that was sustainable. Obviously the initial British stance was, that they would not negotiate with terrorists under any circumstances, and eventually that's pretty much what actually transpired after the Troubles, to bring peace to Ireland.
I must say your overall summary of the conflict is bang on the money to my mind. By the time of the GFA I think it suited all sides to stop, what a shame it took so long though as the GFA is largely Sunningdale + extras which was agreed in 1974 if I recall correctly?
@@Sean-zg4iy It was all before my time really. I was kind of wrong in one sense, the UK intel services had really really great intel, using the latest technology available at the time, and nearly stopped, and did stop some of the bombing attacks, as they did in Gibraltar, but they just couldn't be everywhere, all of the time, that was a massive resources time-sink and you can imagine the financial cost to follow just a few individuals around 24x7. The IRA would also hate to admit that they had informants, who just wanted an end to all the killing and saw there was an opportunity to negotiate. I read a number of books on the topic, my own ancestry is Scot-Irish-English but live in another country entirely, and was never exposed to the hatred and conflict. It is to Sinn Féin's credit that they decided to negotiate in circumstances that didn't really suit them entirely, as there was never going to be a perfect time to reach a peaceful outcome, sensible heads finally prevailed on both sides, people swallowed their egos, and ended the suffering. That was a pretty big thing given that atrocities had been committed on both sides and were still fresh in the minds of many. You are definitely right on the GFA. The Sunningdale agreement was signed 9th December 1973 and soon collapsed in May 1974. "Bandit Country" is certainly one of the best books on the topic. I haven't read "Killing Rage" yet but it looks like a compulsory read.
@@VenturiLife The Secret History Of The IRA by Ed Moloney is the book stand-out book for me on the subject to date although Peter Taylor's Brit's, Loyalist's & Provo's is well worth a read amongst others.
@BxxDxx Hoodoo Don't mind if I do LOLOLOLOL LOLOLOLOL... there's a theory for ya let The Provo's blast an entire city into a waste land & spend gazillions in funds to fix up the place what a brilliant plan.... now that's what I call a plan on redecorating....
A book written by a bitter Unionist, former RUC Special Branch officer, who's nose is spectacularly out of joint because the intelligence services he was involved with, haven't been credited with any positive, meaningful, constructive contribution to bringing about the peace process. There's a reason for that. A few actually, not least the Special Branch's own descent into criminality and terrorism during the Troubles. He glosses over the fact that the Special Branch he was involved with were in collusion with loyalist paramilitaries leading to the deaths of Irish men and woman, which has been acknowledged by the former head of RUC Special Branch who admitted there was "a cadre" of security force personnel involved in collusion with loyalist paramilitary organisations and the murders they carried out. As soon as the Special Branch as officers of the state, indulged in that kind of criminality they ceased to be upholders of the law but willful illegal participants in the conflict and became the terrorists they claim to be opposed to. So the good Doctors credibility and morality are shot to pieces right away. As to his claim that the IRA were defeated, they clearly weren't defeated when they bombed their way to the negotiating table with the Canary Wharf bomb, after the British government failed to progress negotiations following the ceasefire. What the Doctor fails to believe or even understand, is that the IRA was one projection of the Republican movement, which exists to achieve a United Ireland. The IRA's specific role was initially to to protect the Nationalist community from the unionist/loyalist pogrom which was supported by the security forces, and then to respond to the presence of the British Army in the North. When a peaceful avenue to a United Ireland emerged through the peace talks and the British Army then withdrew, the continuing need for IRA active service ceased. The reality was that a stalemate had been reached between the IRA and the British Army, where both realised that neither could defeat the other militarily. However while there existed no dialogue or concession from the British Government to acknowledge Northern Island's right to self determination, the IRA's armed resistance was maintained and only stood down once its purpose was served. It is clear therefore Peter Brooke was accurate in his assessment in 1989, that the IRA could never be defeated. This was a view also held by senior members of the British army. It is the Doctor who is evidently in the minority and out of step with his colleagues, in believing the IRA could be defeated and was defeated. Nothing changed between Peter Brooke's admission in 1989 and the final ceasefire in 1997, despite Dr Matchett's assertion and title of his book. What should be acknowledged is that members of the intelligence services were involved as conduits of communication between both the IRA, Sinn Fein and the British Government. This was an important role in early stages of the peace talks while trust was yet to be established and all parties needed to maintain secrecy within their own organisations. For this the intelligence services deserve to be acknowledged. However for the good Doctor to maintain that the IRA were defeated by anyone let alone the intelligence services and elevate their role in the peace process beyond messengers, frankly reeks of old, barely disguised bitterness - at failure to defeat the IRA and anger at the British Government for failing to elevate the intelligence services role in the peace talks, that they in fact didn't merit.
Excellent assessment. However credit to Special Branch should have been acknowledged for saving thousands of innocent lives, although a minority of rogue elements did indeed tolerate loyalist death squads killing innocent Catholics. To be fair and equal, they were impartial as they tolerated the actions and murders by the nutting squad of the IRA. So they played both sides.
Intelligence was by no means the only factor in bringing PIRA /Sinn Fein to the negotiaing table. Mid-Ulster UVF and C Company UFF refined their targets and went after republicans and their families. 1988 saw the tide turn when loyalist groups started out-killing the IRA and from then on the pressure intensified on Adams/McGuinness to find a political way forward. It's a well known fact that around early 1994 Martin McGuinness asked Michael Oatley of MI6 for his advice on bringing about an IRA ceasefire.
Well to be fair. The UVF didn't out kill the provo's till the early 90's. 92 or 93 I think. Oatley was sent for a meeting with Mcguiness following peace talks in Clonard monastery between Hume and Adams. Plus the brits were always talking to the provos to believe otherwise would be naieve. Had the conflict continued how long before the provo's would have went after loyalist family members. Plenty of them wanted to do so, only the army council put a stop to much of it after Enniskillen. But had the UVF kept killing then the loyalist "return of the serve" would have been volleyed right back at them. Some wanted to do just that. Trust me it was coming. And I know you'll say it would have been returned and so on...and off we would have went down the rabbit hole for another 20 years.
lena fan, so the loyalists are murdering scum but yet the Republicans aren't? The fact is they were both murdering scum who's only interest was leaving families grieving in their wake.
@@RUDI-UK In the end the whole thing was a massive waste of life and effort. Especially for where all sides are now. We might have got where we are with calmer heads earlier on. But it is easy to say that the day after the fair so to speak.
How can the claim be made that the intelligence war "beat the IRA" when the IRA was never actually beaten? Even the British Government has never made that claim as far as I am aware. Indeed, both sides came to negotiate when they realized that they could not win any sort of decisive victory.
We British/English are always telling themselves shit like this. We believe they won the ww2 and the world owes them a debt. In school we learned that we saved the world instead of butchering the people of the world. We don't understand how when we leave the E.U the E.U gets annoyed when we want to still be reap all the rewards of being part of the E.U. Then we think everyone loves us. I could go on all day.
Indeed The 90s In London Was Like WW2 John Major's Iraqi War Meeting Came Under Mortar Attack At 10 Downing Street Heathrow Airport Was Shut down For Days Canary Warf All IRA Operations Not The Work of a Defeated Army Ridiculous Claim And the Good Friday Agreement 🤝 Twenty Five years on is Not Fully Implemented and The DUP Have Abandoned Stormont Executive Dangerous Talk Even
11:35 Isn't the cause Northern Irish unification with the rest of Ireland? So if you support that you support terrorism? It's funny how in one breath he says it's not so simple and then makes a "if your not with us you're against us" type of assertion.
Matchette is a walter mitty type character. The IRA wiped out nearly 800 british soldiers 1000s more maimed These unionists tell themselves that they won the war against the ira. They even go as far to say oh yes we did win the war but of course we did it secretly. It always amazes me what the brits tell themselves they won the war with the Germans we will be better off after brexit. Now the whole world sees Britain for what it is and they will never be trusted to keep their word ever again.
In November 1989 Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, admitted the IRA could not defeated militarily. There was an effective stalemate, recognised on all sides. The peace process was underway.
Quite a bit of time between what was said in 1989 and the eventual capitulation of the IRA in 1998, by which time the British intelligence services has castrated the Provos from within.
@@stukafaust The biggest challenge for the Provisionals was not infiltration, it was to decide when the moment was right to transition from a military to a political solution, without debilitating the movement. The year before Brooke stated the obvious, talks between Hume and Adams were already initiated, seeking to bridge the ideological gap between republicanism and the constitutional nationalism of the SDLP. These talks eventually led to the Hume-Adams proposals of 1993. The Downing Street Declaration of 13 December 1993 was inspired by the Hume-Adams proposals. To achieve reunification, it was necessary to construct an Irish nationalist consensus with international support. For that to happen, republicans would have to abandon the armed struggle at some stage. Some suggested the IRA ceasefire of 1994 illustrated its military weakening. Nothing could be further than the truth. When the armed struggle resumed in 1996, the Provos staged a spectacular bombing of Canary Wharf, causing damages of over £80m. The British government heeded the warning and, in 1998, after more than 22 months of negotiating, the GFA was signed. When the undefeated IRA eventually disarmed, the head weapons inspector described its weapons cache as “enormous.” Once the British surrender process is complete with final disengagement from the north of Ireland, and Irish unity is reestablished, the calamity of the failed runt statelet will enter the history books as a signal lesson in misguided imperialism.
m b The IRA failed miserably in achieving their objective of removing British rule in NIreland by force . After 30yrs of death and destruction they signed up to the GFA and subsequently the principle of consent , that the constitutional position of NIreland cannot change without the consent of the majority , all of which was agreed to in the Sunningdale agreement in 1974 . The IRA achieved nothing that peaceful methods had already secured at Sunningdale , you mention that the IRA forced the Brits back to the negotiating table after the Canary Wharf bomb , to negotiate what ? , it certainly wasn't British withdrawal , or even a timetable of withdrawal ,which was always their central demand . At the end of the day they accepted that John Hume 's approach was always the correct and only to achieve a peace process , which was always on the table for Republicans if they gave up violence .Its a great pity it took them 30yrs to work that out .
DML1888: I totally agree with all your sentiments and there was definitely a need for a struggle ,but not an armed one . John Hume was right on the button when he said that whatever the wrongs of the system it doesn’t justify the taking of one life . The term Armed Struggle has a somewhat romantic tone ,but the reality on the ground is brutal , heartbreaking and so totally unnecessary. I lived in Northern Ireland in the early 70’s during the peak of the bombings and killings , trust me when you see the effects of a car bomb in the city centre and the human trauma of innocent women and children ,it’s not an armed struggle ,it’s bloody murder . I know Catholic/ Nationalists who have been terrorised by IRA thugs who took over their homes to use as snipers nest , terrorising the children and endangering innocent civilians by opening fire through gaps in houses ,encouraging return fire from the army . I could go on forever , but the bottom line is that for all the death ,destruction and misery they caused , they ended up with exactly what John Hume and the moderates had told them for decades . That peaceful methods would prevail without all the violence . SinnFein/ IRA accepted a power sharing deal with that other bunch of bigoted thugs in the DUP who said they would never sit at the table with Republicans . SinnFein in accepting the principle of consent , accepted what has been prevalent since the formation of the state that the position of Northern Ireland can only be changed with the peaceful consent of the majority . The armed struggle achieved nothing more than peaceful methods have achieved , bottom line .
DML1888 I certainly respect your opinion and definitely could not give you lessons in the conflict history . I would interested to know how veteran republicans , those that joined the movement in the early 70's after internment and Bloody Sunday , would feel if they knew then what they know now . Would they have joined the movement , having committed to ending British rule in Ireland as the only way to get true freedom and lasting peace , but ending up recognising that after all the trauma of the next 30 yrs they end up relying on a Nationalist majority in the North in a peaceful referendum to get freedom , Would they still have joined the IRA ? , was it worth it
@@Emerald007007 If the I.R.A. were defeated, why the British government sign up to the Belfast agreement, which allowed paramilitary prisoners to be released.
I bought the book and didn't finish it..... As will all books from the troubles I keep and open mind and try and see the perspective of where the author is coming from.... A lot of the "new facts" was material that was already in the public domain and some of the conversation threads were not true.... I didn't finish the book
same here. i didnt finish it but at least he got me to buy it so i fell for his nonsense. I honestly scratch my head sometimes at what these unionists tell themselves. I never know if they know they are talking through their hat or do they genuinely belive the garbage they try to sell to others.
Let's not forget it takes both sides to make a peace. No way would Good Friday have ever happened without Martin McGuinness or Gerry Adams being men enough to make peace.
Lol, I lasted 1:30 seconds when he completed his Kissinger line. Who do you think directed the media naritive on the RUC? The actions of the RUC through the troubles have been massively tamed for the wider world.
Britain should have never entered WW1 and Ireland Had to stay neutral in WW2 as they were in the process of exiting the commonwealth and forming a republic. Plenty was done to support the allies and they were only neutral in name. Reading history generally the British cannot claim any high horse on morality.
Irishmen both Catholic and Protestant fought and died in both World Wars. No one side has a claim that they gave more... www.irishcentral.com/news/records-of-irish-soldiers-in-world-war-i-now-available-online
"It remains uncertain exactly how many Irish from what is now the Republic fought in both world wars but what is not disputed is that the figure is in the hundreds of thousands." www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/number-of-irish-in-both-wars-unknown-1.1825013
@@higgo007 The Catholic Irish men were not IRA supporters though, The IRA were trying to help the fascists during WW2. The people who fought in WW2 where decent brave people not coward drug selling civilian murderers.
The PiRA accepted they could never win militarily and the UK understood an idea could not be killed with a bullet - so a deal was made which only supporters of organised crime oppose
Some people over the years commentate on that period of history, notably a few years ago, a member of Parliament raising the topic of "14 independent company".. It goes to show just how much people know nothing of which they are talking about.
This guy has a PhD? This is a work of propaganda utilizing modern terms that don't, and never did apply to Ireland. SIGINT had its successes no doubt, but in balance, it was not effective as he would suggest; it was used by the target to draw out informers and outline the extent of intelligence fidelity. Unfortunately the author makes a number of claims that are more a work of amateur psychology than serious research. Worth remember that the author would call those of 1776 and the Founding Fathers "terrorist leaders". Given the author was part of a paramilitary force involved in the conflict it should come as no surprise that he takes the side he worked for. As the author concedes Intelligence also involves disinformation; an accurate description of his own work. If Goebbels wrote a book about Nazi repression and occupation, would anyone expect him to write an objective book about those he worked for?
i havent read this book i wouldn't wipe me arse with it. i don't know who won or lost either, but my own experiances say he won't ever win the argument about the sectarian ruc or the brutality of the BA
@DML1888 youre right its all about influencing these legacy investigations and saving these soldiers and ex cops from being convicted for their crimes.
Ever seen someone tied to a chair - and had their face removed with a shotgun, I did and it was done to intimidate everyone into staying quiet about the " Boyos" - the epitome of terrorism.. When we started playing by the same rules, the first to complain were those who endorsed the "nutting squad". And if you don't understand what "nutting squad" means, then you know very little about the PIRA.
@@lindasanson3094 That's a great point and 100% correct by me but going by the comments here, you might be better talking to the wall because it seems if the story differs in any way from the version that was rammed up them by the priests it's either bullshit or one sided which brings me to the point of how they prospered. It wasn't bravery it was repeating the same brainwashed mantra over and over and over simply because they know nothing else and doing it enough until there was no choice but to listen. If any of them would deviate from the narrative they'd be tortured in their own communities.
As an Ulsterman who served in the Security Forces this book is actually very informative and cuts to the chase. Well researched and put together with some matters I didn't expect to be broached, were. Well worth the time. Having suffered through media bias against the Security Forces since day one, thos book blows a lot of that propaganda out of the water.
All grist to the mill, but when all is said and done, how ‘intelligent’ was it that the native minority’s were discriminated against in their own land. A gerrymandered statelet might have worked if ‘intelligent’ people treated the ordinary peace abiding native population with a semblance and venere of respect. But no the RUC took up from where the RIC had come a cropper and continued with their incendiary methods of so called policing thereby ending up like their forbears being hoisted on their own petard. Of course the overwhelming majority of both forces didn’t deserve to have their life’s work tarnished by the selected few who took it upon themselves to be judge, jury & executioner, but when good men keep their mouths shut then that’s what one gets as ones just deserts. Lots of folks writing books crawling out from under the rotten timber work these days claiming this that and the other were responsible for bring about the peace, when the real question that should be examined is who breached it in the first place? To loose one police force while administering a statelet is one thing but to loose two police force says a lot about the so called governance of its citizens...and when one keeps in mind that it was not through the intervention of the UN that both institutions of state were wound up and disbanded then that says a lot. Bye the way if anyone is interested perhaps a genuine unbiased investigation and scrutiny into how the southern government in Éire dealt with the PIRA and terrorist splinter groups in the south, without all of the phalanx of resources or the deployment of the bottomless pit of of ‘dirty tricks’ used by the so called ‘intelligence’ services North of the Border or deployed by MI 5 or MI 6 or British Army so called ‘intelligence’...then just take a look at the statistics of arrests, convictions and imprisonment of PIRA members from all across the Island of Ireland and all corners of the globe who waged war against what went on in the statelet administered from Whitehall....when the gerrymandering so called government in NI proved to be anything but democratic or fair and evenhanded. So ask yourselves who breached the peace in the first place and who should be credited...really credited with its restoration....I don’t think any of those who are popping up like muppets in a Punch & Judy Show deserve a round of applause that they crave. Shame on all your houses.
Loughgall 8 wasn’t it great, Gerry set his own up & you know it Dr, you’re a great speaker & anyone who is educated will know that, I thank you for your service & I respect my fellow Ulstermen who served my family & I, slab Murphy put Captain Nairac through his mincer 😔 Killyman 🇬🇧
Nairac pretty much dived head first into a wood chipper. I think you should read the Official British Army Assessment of Operation Banner. By Chief of the General Staff Mike Jackson. I doubt youd like it.
@@patmctigue447 Nairac sounds like a miniature version of Jack Idema. He was so mad that he went mad and died. Hew spoofed the US and the Afghans into thinking he ran the war. He was just a pyscho who told any agency that asked that it was top delta seal team secret, and the all fell for it. He died insane. It was tragic really. All his delusion fell apart until he died from aids from not knowing even what to screw.
You mean captain nervewreck as he is known in an phobhlocht IRA newspaper funny cartoon in it it's about scumbag nairac it was called captain nervewreck 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Yes, the Republican movement were well and truly beaten, particularly in the way that they have now been in government for twenty odd years, and are poised on the verge of delivering a united Ireland
After setting out clear principles that they would not give up their “armed struggle” unless all British army etc left Northern Ireland, they are now serving members of the British government, their own supposed sworn enemy. I would say that is indeed a victory.
@@S__123 not in anyway deemed a victory for the British establishment as those members in parliament are currently on their way to delivering a reunited Ireland
Dom C I bought the book like a blind-buy, read it last year, this guy Matchett is pro-unionist and many times in the book he dismisses claims of criminality within the security forces. He also wrongly compares the IRA to ISIS, which is such a crass claim if anyone looks closely at the 2 in a comparison. Hes very biased in the age-old typical orange fashion. He thinks hes doing the right thing, but he's nothing more than a strong-arm for an unwanted political claim on land that isn't his, or Britains.
i thought when i was listening to him that some of the things he said were true but i have to agree some of this is just inaccurate. clearly biased.... but then he probally watched his mates die throughout the years and its hard to forget something like that
@@Itsjustmyselfsoitis very true. it amazes me how these unionist loyalist thinking is so off the mark I don't know if they enjoy being toxic or they are trying to convince themselves that they are right thinkers. perhaps it is a bit of both.
@@Emerald007007 Something a unionist fella I worked with told me stuck. He said they don't get taught about Irish history, so from that you know a big part of how they think in terms of our situation has to be down to ignorance. Convincing themselves, like you said. You see some English still going on about how great the empire was. Fs some guy the other day claiming there was great respect for India, then went silent when I quoted Churchill calling them "beastly" just after the British helped generate a famine which killed several million. Ignorance, know what I mean? Cunt only knew the British version of history so he thought the empire was a good thing for us all...fuckin idiots. Also I reckon Loyalists have a bad aul cause of siege mentality. And aye, some loyalists did jump on the alt-right train and trolled a load of vids about the Troubles over the last couple years. So some are just toxic wee cunts too. Honestly I reckon if people here were made to study the history of Ulster in depth throughout their school years, we could make significant progress because all the facts would be on the table, whereas at the minute you still have loyalists claiming the innocent people shot dead by the Paras on Bloody Sunday and in Ballymurphy prior to that... were guilty / gunmen / IRA, even though there is forensic evidence and even soldiers themselves saying innocent people were killed. If they bothered to learn what happened they might realise they look like dozy gobshites. Fuck here lol theres one fella I like to torture a bit on here called 'Truthmedia Rebel' because he makes all these vids saying he served in N Ireland, in the "7 counties" lol talkin about the Civil War in 1923, saying the Provos fought in it.. even though the Provos started around 1969. Cunts in his 60s atleast and still so clueless. Pisses me off, because he's making people dumber with his misinfo.
@@Itsjustmyselfsoitis You hit the nail on the head. I do think that if those in the loyalist communities studied even a little Irish History they would be much better off.
The IRA were the best allies the loyalists could have dreamed of . Despite all the wrongs of partition, Gerrymandering, discrimination of Catholics in employment, housing, education etc, they gave the likes of rabble rousers like Paisley every excuse to dig their heals in and play at being the victims. Without the armed struggle, there would have been a united Ireland by the early 80s. It's 2021 and the illegal police state of Northern Ireland still exists. The IRA defeated the nationalist community with every bomb detonated and every bullet fired.
now your just talking nonsense jon tho your right about one thing as in 85 the brits were ready to walk away tho it was thatcher that put a stop to it, the pos
There is a good book telling you about how they trained for and carried out the security operations including the very successful op in Loughgall its by James Rennie and is called The Operators "on the strreets with 14 company" very interesting read
@@acecolnaco6587 You`re right. Captain Nairac never served in the SAS. But the special forces unit he joined from The Grenadier Guards was No4 Field Survey Troop Royal Engineers. It became part of 14 Coy some time later.
I am a part of nothing and never was but grew up in a place where you seen a lot to stand there and try and justify what you know yourself is lies and cover-up the security forces have more blood on their hands in northern Ireland than any group but they have to live with that the man above will show who was right
This book is after leaving me totally flabbergasted. This man William Matchett is trying to tell the world that the security forces beat the I.R.A.? and at the same time A British prime minister passed up the opportunity of saying that they won the war against the terrorism? The only positive thing I can say about this book is that by the time this gentlemen joined the force in 1982 the sectarian monsters in the R.U.C and the brutality that the British Army unleased on Irish Catholics was already done and so I'm sure he played no part in collusion with loyalists. I have never believed in violence of any kind but some of the logic in these books on behalf of the British that come out of The North is just astounding.
Chris I've read this book aswell, Matchett is very much a staunch unionist, he was protective of the security forces quite a bit, whilst multiple times wrongly comparing the IRA to ISIS. The RUC, Special Branch and British intelligence, from the army to MI5/6 were very much still up to their tricks until the 90s. 1982 was the year following the hunger strikes, it was a tense period and the police and army were still very much doing the same things they always did. It was a decent book, but it was biased in many respects to say the least, it's written, obviously, from the standpoint of a unionist leaning cop. 6 minutes into this he basically credited Margaret Thatcher for helping beat the IRA, the woman who refused 5 very basic demands to the hunger strikers and introduced the SAS in a much more prominent role around the time of the 'Shoot to kill' policy where many people who could have been arrested were instead executed. This made things flare up and gave nationalists more reason to join the IRA, not less reason. In the book he also talks about "Criminalisation" as a tactic to undermine the IRA, to make them look more like scumbags and killers rather than people fighting a political war using guerrilla warfare against an oppressive anti-Irish "Northern Ireland" state which was blatantly sectarian since the 1920s when it was founded. The warped view of the whole Irish situation is that Irish rebels are all "terrorists" because they try to overthrow foreign and illegitimate power within the island of Ireland, whilst portraying the police and British army in the north as "peace-keepers" which is blatantly not true. They are the strong arm of British policy in Ireland, a policy the majority of Irish people reject but are unable to have a fair and democratic vote on the issue due to the gerrymandering and the rigged-game of politics the British have given us, whereby only the people within the British statelet of "Northern Ireland" can vote in a referendum which would affect 3 times more people who do not live in this statelet, namely the rest of the island. What our referendum essentially gives us is a vote within a boundary (drawn by Britain) which has the most pro-British votes in the land, after creating this majority with the partition of Ireland, the game is obviously unfair, unjust and rigged to the ballix. This guy Matchett upheld this state with pride, as did all British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. They prefer undemocratic measures and they didn't shy away from using the UDA and UVF as a proxy force. The British hands are just as steeped in blood and dirty as any member of the IRA.
Spoke to an ex volunteer who was pretty connected to the higher echelons of the PIRA. Asked the same question, were yee beat through the levels of infilltration? The person said that they were absolutely not beat and capable of carrying out much more operations such as the bombs in Manchester, Canary Warf and the numerous large scale interruptions. So while their were large levels of infiltration, they were certainly not beat. Everyone was tired of it. The Brits too were well tired of their financial centers being blown to bits. So a bit of perspective from this guy might be helpful.
The IRA saw victory as overturning the government of N. I. and forcing Britain out by violence. N. I. is still part of the UK and the IRA gave up. All the murders were in vain. It achieved nothing. The IRA was defeated.
Just to let you know know that he is speaking one sided and the ira beat the british army and the loyalist as they got rights for there people. And the british wanted the peace agreement the irish gained. The british lost control which means the ira won the war
The IRA's stated objective was simple: the end of British sovereignty in Northern Ireland, and reunification of Ireland. Neither of these things happened.
Richard Lewis the PIRA were very clear from the very start, their campaign of armed resistance would end when their 4 demands were met, these were: 1.) Abolition of Orange Stormont 2.) Withdrawal of British Army from Ireland, with public declaration of support for the self-determination of the people of the six counties. 3.) Amnesty for all Prisoners of War 4.) Full support and respect of civil rights, with removal of oppressive legislation such as the Special Powers Act. Now let’s go through that: 1.) ✅ 2.) ✅ 3.) ✅ 4.) ✅ If the PIRA got everything they were fighting for, it’s sounds to me like they won.
@@sudocreme5080 That's a complete revisionist take on very clearly stated aims best summarised by the slogan "Brits Out". As for the army, numerous barracks still exist and are filled to the brim with squaddies. How do I know? A good friend was recently there.
Richard Lewis the only revisionism I’m hearing here is coming out or Dr Billy’s mouth. The Provisional IRA made their aims very clear from the start, here is a poster in An Phoblacht in ‘72: niallodoc.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/an-phoblacht-demands.jpg Do you live in the 6 counties? If so when was the last time you saw a Brit in Crossmaglen, Galliagh, New Lodge or Dunloy? To recap on the 4 demands: 1.) Orange Stormont was smashed in 1972 2.) Thanks to the GFA, Operation Banner is over and the Brits have gone home. 3.) All Political Prisoners were released by 2000 4.) The Special Powers Act was repealed and the British Government has vowed to respect civil rights, including the right to self determination. How do I know? Because I live here and seen it first hand, presumably, unlike you.
@@sudocreme5080 A nation once again, four green fields, a united Ireland... Never happened. If you think the current constitutional situation was what the IRA took up violence for, or what people starved themselves to death for, then the face-saving propaganda initiatives to placate the likes of you really did their job effectively. I'm glad you have come to terms with living in the UK. If Brits are in the areas you listed you wouldn't know about it but rest assured you would anytime your lot considered taking up arms again.
The North is a very small area , and the IRA were able to bomb the shit out of it for over 25 years and caused billions of pounds of damage in the proper UK , especially London even in 1997 ( Canary Wharf ) .
In accepting the terms of the GFA Sinn Fein / IRA accepted the principle of consent , that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland remaining part of the U.K. cannot be changed without the consent of the majority in the 6 counties . By accepting the principle of consent they also then recognised the Undemocraticly created , gerrymandered 6 county state with the Queen as head of state , subsequently accepting the partition of Ireland . What the hell was the 30 yr " armed struggle "" all about , after all the bombings and killings they accept a position they had sworn never to accept . We had a Power Sharing executive and assembly in 1974 , which the Sinn Fein / IRA rejected with violence . Obviously their objective of removing British rule in Northern Ireland was a miserable failure , how can anyone say that there was a stalemate . A stalemate is defined as a draw , or both parties fail to enforce their objectives on the other . The IRA failed miserably in removing the Brits , the British Governments objective was to maintain the status quo , and get the political parties to agree on a form of devolved government . The Brits achieved their objective Sinn Fein / IRA did not . That is not a stalemate . The IRA and the rest of the paramilitary thugs on both sides of the community brought misery to the people of Northern Ireland and their respective communities . The demographics will decide if a United Ireland takes place not the violence of terrorism . Republicans just can't handle the truth , had John Hume and the SDLP of that time had been allowed to progress the peaceful way forward , we would be in no worse position than we are today , just 3500 lives better off .
It must have taken you a long time to work out that reply , particularly with your A level education . However you have not given answered the question of what did the 30 yrs of IRA terrorism achieve .? Republicans just can't handle the truth , the IRA campaign was a miserable failure , they accepted the principle of consent , and accepted a power sharing deal which we had already achieved in 1974 . Even you with your A level education should be able to work that out . If you reply to this , argue some facts and figures , put up or shut up
Loughgall they were sold out from above for the peace. Thatcher strengthened PIRA and Sinn Fein the man is talking nonsense.
The "Intelligence War" certainly made it very tough for the IRA, identified the major players, and depleted them, leading to imprisonments and ambushes on their fighters, and led to numerous set-backs for the IRA, but it did not cripple them completely, it just made them think smarter, and they shifted their focus. It's more fair to say the intel war assisted to reach the current circumstances, saved lives along the way, and did not outright defeat the IRA.
I think the reality is, that the IRA bombings against the major financial districts, and city centres, and warnings in advance to help prevent civilian casualties, caused such huge economic damage and uncertainty, that the British eventually decided to enter into negotiations with Sinn Féin. I don't think the British would like to admit that, or have it seen that way historically, as the IRA cannot be seen to have "won" the war in this manner. The IRA proved they could not really be stopped on those kinds of missions, it was simply impractical to stop a carefully planned bombing operation, and the price of a bomb, versus the damage was not a ratio that was sustainable.
Obviously the initial British stance was, that they would not negotiate with terrorists under any circumstances, and eventually that's pretty much what actually transpired after the Troubles, to bring peace to Ireland.
I must say your overall summary of the conflict is bang on the money to my mind. By the time of the GFA I think it suited all sides to stop, what a shame it took so long though as the GFA is largely Sunningdale + extras which was agreed in 1974 if I recall correctly?
@@Sean-zg4iy It was all before my time really. I was kind of wrong in one sense, the UK intel services had really really great intel, using the latest technology available at the time, and nearly stopped, and did stop some of the bombing attacks, as they did in Gibraltar, but they just couldn't be everywhere, all of the time, that was a massive resources time-sink and you can imagine the financial cost to follow just a few individuals around 24x7.
The IRA would also hate to admit that they had informants, who just wanted an end to all the killing and saw there was an opportunity to negotiate. I read a number of books on the topic, my own ancestry is Scot-Irish-English but live in another country entirely, and was never exposed to the hatred and conflict.
It is to Sinn Féin's credit that they decided to negotiate in circumstances that didn't really suit them entirely, as there was never going to be a perfect time to reach a peaceful outcome, sensible heads finally prevailed on both sides, people swallowed their egos, and ended the suffering. That was a pretty big thing given that atrocities had been committed on both sides and were still fresh in the minds of many. You are definitely right on the GFA. The Sunningdale agreement was signed 9th December 1973 and soon collapsed in May 1974.
"Bandit Country" is certainly one of the best books on the topic. I haven't read "Killing Rage" yet but it looks like a compulsory read.
@@VenturiLife The Secret History Of The IRA by Ed Moloney is the book stand-out book for me on the subject to date although Peter Taylor's Brit's, Loyalist's & Provo's is well worth a read amongst others.
@BxxDxx Hoodoo LMFAO.... I just had me self the best laugh ever....
@BxxDxx Hoodoo Don't mind if I do LOLOLOLOL LOLOLOLOL... there's a theory for ya let The Provo's blast an entire city into a waste land & spend gazillions in funds to fix up the place what a brilliant plan.... now that's what I call a plan on redecorating....
Is this coming from Londonstan?
A book written by a bitter Unionist, former RUC Special Branch officer, who's nose is spectacularly out of joint because the intelligence services he was involved with, haven't been credited with any positive, meaningful, constructive contribution to bringing about the peace process. There's a reason for that. A few actually, not least the Special Branch's own descent into criminality and terrorism during the Troubles.
He glosses over the fact that the Special Branch he was involved with were in collusion with loyalist paramilitaries leading to the deaths of Irish men and woman, which has been acknowledged by the former head of RUC Special Branch who admitted there was "a cadre" of security force personnel involved in collusion with loyalist paramilitary organisations and the murders they carried out.
As soon as the Special Branch as officers of the state, indulged in that kind of criminality they ceased to be upholders of the law but willful illegal participants in the conflict and became the terrorists they claim to be opposed to. So the good Doctors credibility and morality are shot to pieces right away.
As to his claim that the IRA were defeated, they clearly weren't defeated when they bombed their way to the negotiating table with the Canary Wharf bomb, after the British government failed to progress negotiations following the ceasefire.
What the Doctor fails to believe or even understand, is that the IRA was one projection of the Republican movement, which exists to achieve a United Ireland. The IRA's specific role was initially to to protect the Nationalist community from the unionist/loyalist pogrom which was supported by the security forces, and then to respond to the presence of the British Army in the North. When a peaceful avenue to a United Ireland emerged through the peace talks and the British Army then withdrew, the continuing need for IRA active service ceased.
The reality was that a stalemate had been reached between the IRA and the British Army, where both realised that neither could defeat the other militarily. However while there existed no dialogue or concession from the British Government to acknowledge Northern Island's right to self determination, the IRA's armed resistance was maintained and only stood down once its purpose was served.
It is clear therefore Peter Brooke was accurate in his assessment in 1989, that the IRA could never be defeated. This was a view also held by senior members of the British army. It is the Doctor who is evidently in the minority and out of step with his colleagues, in believing the IRA could be defeated and was defeated. Nothing changed between Peter Brooke's admission in 1989 and the final ceasefire in 1997, despite Dr Matchett's assertion and title of his book.
What should be acknowledged is that members of the intelligence services were involved as conduits of communication between both the IRA, Sinn Fein and the British Government. This was an important role in early stages of the peace talks while trust was yet to be established and all parties needed to maintain secrecy within their own organisations. For this the intelligence services deserve to be acknowledged. However for the good Doctor to maintain that the IRA were defeated by anyone let alone the intelligence services and elevate their role in the peace process beyond messengers, frankly reeks of old, barely disguised bitterness - at failure to defeat the IRA and anger at the British Government for failing to elevate the intelligence services role in the peace talks, that they in fact didn't merit.
just brilliant 1643.
Excellent assessment. However credit to Special Branch should have been acknowledged for saving thousands of innocent lives, although a minority of rogue elements did indeed tolerate loyalist death squads killing innocent Catholics. To be fair and equal, they were impartial as they tolerated the actions and murders by the nutting squad of the IRA. So they played both sides.
spot on absolutely spot on mate
Intelligence was by no means the only factor in bringing PIRA /Sinn Fein to the negotiaing table. Mid-Ulster UVF and C Company UFF refined their targets and went after republicans and their families. 1988 saw the tide turn when loyalist groups started out-killing the IRA and from then on the pressure intensified on Adams/McGuinness to find a political way forward. It's a well known fact that around early 1994 Martin McGuinness asked Michael Oatley of MI6 for his advice on bringing about an IRA ceasefire.
"And their families" sums up the murdering Loyalist scum better than anything else I can think of
Well to be fair. The UVF didn't out kill the provo's till the early 90's. 92 or 93 I think. Oatley was sent for a meeting with Mcguiness following peace talks in Clonard monastery between Hume and Adams. Plus the brits were always talking to the provos to believe otherwise would be naieve. Had the conflict continued how long before the provo's would have went after loyalist family members. Plenty of them wanted to do so, only the army council put a stop to much of it after Enniskillen. But had the UVF kept killing then the loyalist "return of the serve" would have been volleyed right back at them. Some wanted to do just that. Trust me it was coming. And I know you'll say it would have been returned and so on...and off we would have went down the rabbit hole for another 20 years.
lena fan, so the loyalists are murdering scum but yet the Republicans aren't? The fact is they were both murdering scum who's only interest was leaving families grieving in their wake.
@@RebelofIreland I don't know but i see your point. Scap and FRU done a lot of damage too.
@@RUDI-UK In the end the whole thing was a massive waste of life and effort. Especially for where all sides are now. We might have got where we are with calmer heads earlier on. But it is easy to say that the day after the fair so to speak.
How can the claim be made that the intelligence war "beat the IRA" when the IRA was never actually beaten? Even the British Government has never made that claim as far as I am aware. Indeed, both sides came to negotiate when they realized that they could not win any sort of decisive victory.
We British/English are always telling themselves shit like this. We believe they won the ww2 and the world owes them a debt. In school we learned that we saved the world instead of butchering the people of the world. We don't understand how when we leave the E.U the E.U gets annoyed when we want to still be reap all the rewards of being part of the E.U. Then we think everyone loves us. I could go on all day.
Indeed The 90s In London Was Like WW2 John Major's Iraqi War Meeting Came Under Mortar Attack At 10 Downing Street Heathrow Airport Was Shut down For Days Canary Warf All IRA Operations Not The Work of a Defeated Army Ridiculous Claim And the Good Friday Agreement 🤝 Twenty Five years on is Not Fully Implemented and The DUP Have Abandoned Stormont Executive Dangerous Talk Even
11:35 Isn't the cause Northern Irish unification with the rest of Ireland? So if you support that you support terrorism? It's funny how in one breath he says it's not so simple and then makes a "if your not with us you're against us" type of assertion.
Matchette is a walter mitty type character. The IRA wiped out nearly 800 british soldiers 1000s more maimed These unionists tell themselves that they won the war against the ira. They even go as far to say oh yes we did win the war but of course we did it secretly. It always amazes me what the brits tell themselves they won the war with the Germans we will be better off after brexit. Now the whole world sees Britain for what it is and they will never be trusted to keep their word ever again.
This man is talking out of his arse.
Truth Hurts - you can't handle it
@@lindasanson3094 I lived in NI until age 36.
…..and you’d know, to be sure!!!😂😂🤮🤮🤮
That's a pretty harsh perspective..
He must have got a flat wheel and missed his seat on the Chinook..
In November 1989 Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, admitted the IRA could not defeated militarily. There was an effective stalemate, recognised on all sides. The peace process was underway.
Quite a bit of time between what was said in 1989 and the eventual capitulation of the IRA in 1998, by which time the British intelligence services has castrated the Provos from within.
@@stukafaust The biggest challenge for the Provisionals was not infiltration, it was to decide when the moment was right to transition from a military to a political solution, without debilitating the movement. The year before Brooke stated the obvious, talks between Hume and Adams were already initiated, seeking to bridge the ideological gap between republicanism and the constitutional nationalism of the SDLP. These talks eventually led to the Hume-Adams proposals of 1993. The Downing Street Declaration of 13 December 1993 was inspired by the Hume-Adams proposals. To achieve reunification, it was necessary to construct an Irish nationalist consensus with international support. For that to happen, republicans would have to abandon the armed struggle at some stage. Some suggested the IRA ceasefire of 1994 illustrated its military weakening. Nothing could be further than the truth. When the armed struggle resumed in 1996, the Provos staged a spectacular bombing of Canary Wharf, causing damages of over £80m. The British government heeded the warning and, in 1998, after more than 22 months of negotiating, the GFA was signed. When the undefeated IRA eventually disarmed, the head weapons inspector described its weapons cache as “enormous.” Once the British surrender process is complete with final disengagement from the north of Ireland, and Irish unity is reestablished, the calamity of the failed runt statelet will enter the history books as a signal lesson in misguided imperialism.
m b The IRA failed miserably in achieving their objective of removing British rule in NIreland by force . After 30yrs of death and destruction they signed up to the GFA and subsequently the principle of consent , that the constitutional position of NIreland cannot change without the consent of the majority , all of which was agreed to in the Sunningdale agreement in 1974 .
The IRA achieved nothing that peaceful methods had already secured at Sunningdale , you mention that the IRA forced the Brits back to the negotiating table after the Canary Wharf bomb , to negotiate what ? , it certainly wasn't British withdrawal , or even a timetable of withdrawal ,which was always their central demand .
At the end of the day they accepted that John Hume 's approach was always the correct and only to achieve a peace process , which was always on the table for Republicans if they gave up violence .Its a great pity it took them 30yrs to work that out .
DML1888: I totally agree with all your sentiments and there was definitely a need for a struggle ,but not an armed one . John Hume was right on the button when he said that whatever the wrongs of the system it doesn’t justify the taking of one life . The term Armed Struggle has a somewhat romantic tone ,but the reality on the ground is brutal , heartbreaking and so totally unnecessary.
I lived in Northern Ireland in the early 70’s during the peak of the bombings and killings , trust me when you see the effects of a car bomb in the city centre and the human trauma of innocent women and children ,it’s not an armed struggle ,it’s bloody murder .
I know Catholic/ Nationalists who have been terrorised by IRA thugs who took over their homes to use as snipers nest , terrorising the children and endangering innocent civilians by opening fire through gaps in houses ,encouraging return fire from the army .
I could go on forever , but the bottom line is that for all the death ,destruction and misery they caused , they ended up with exactly what John Hume and the moderates had told them for decades . That peaceful methods would prevail without all the violence .
SinnFein/ IRA accepted a power sharing deal with that other bunch of bigoted thugs in the DUP who said they would never sit at the table with Republicans .
SinnFein in accepting the principle of consent , accepted what has been prevalent since the formation of the state that the position of Northern Ireland can only be changed with the peaceful consent of the majority . The armed struggle achieved nothing more than peaceful methods have achieved , bottom line .
DML1888 I certainly respect your opinion and definitely could not give you lessons in the conflict history . I would interested to know how veteran republicans , those that joined the movement in the early 70's after internment and Bloody Sunday , would feel if they knew then what they know now . Would they have joined the movement , having committed to ending British rule in Ireland as the only way to get true freedom and lasting peace , but ending up recognising that after all the trauma of the next 30 yrs they end up relying on a Nationalist majority in the North in a peaceful referendum to get freedom , Would they still have joined the IRA ? , was it worth it
This guy speaks the truth.
Respect to all of Ulster’s constabulary men.
this guy talk nonsense. he is whats known in the business as a walt.
@@Emerald007007 If the I.R.A. were defeated, why the British government sign up to the Belfast agreement, which allowed paramilitary prisoners to be released.
@@paulkinsella6536 you lost me your asking and answering your own question
Does that include those who were members of or colluded with loyalist sectarian murder gangs?
Speak for yourself
I bought the book and didn't finish it..... As will all books from the troubles I keep and open mind and try and see the perspective of where the author is coming from.... A lot of the "new facts" was material that was already in the public domain and some of the conversation threads were not true.... I didn't finish the book
same here. i didnt finish it but at least he got me to buy it so i fell for his nonsense. I honestly scratch my head sometimes at what these unionists tell themselves. I never know if they know they are talking through their hat or do they genuinely belive the garbage they try to sell to others.
Same as myself.. I thought it was a white wash & lobbed it in the fire.
@@Emerald007007 Northern Ireland is rotten to its core. A colonial enclave that won't be missed.
It’s an awful book....don’t bother, really dull.
Let's not forget it takes both sides to make a peace. No way would Good Friday have ever happened without Martin McGuinness or Gerry Adams being men enough to make peace.
I trust the book is better than the talk.
Lol, I lasted 1:30 seconds when he completed his Kissinger line. Who do you think directed the media naritive on the RUC? The actions of the RUC through the troubles have been massively tamed for the wider world.
Brits fought two world wars while you helped the Kaiser then helped and harboured Nazis
Britain should have never entered WW1 and Ireland Had to stay neutral in WW2 as they were in the process of exiting the commonwealth and forming a republic. Plenty was done to support the allies and they were only neutral in name. Reading history generally the British cannot claim any high horse on morality.
Irishmen both Catholic and Protestant fought and died in both World Wars. No one side has a claim that they gave more...
www.irishcentral.com/news/records-of-irish-soldiers-in-world-war-i-now-available-online
"It remains uncertain exactly how many Irish from what is now the Republic fought in both world wars but what is not disputed is that the figure is in the hundreds of thousands."
www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/number-of-irish-in-both-wars-unknown-1.1825013
Thousands of Irish men fought in ww2 and Ireland help a lot in ways it had to be neutral many things were done to help tttthe Brits secretly
@@higgo007 The Catholic Irish men were not IRA supporters though, The IRA were trying to help the fascists during WW2. The people who fought in WW2 where decent brave people not coward drug selling civilian murderers.
Over 800 years not from the 1800,s get your facts right. Jumping on the money train with your biased book. Undefeated✌️🇮🇪
The South was defeated though, it's now run from Brussels.
Sure we're you not defeated in the 50s border campaign?
But the IRA werent beaten and isnt that what the good Friday agreement was all about? making peace? as the stalemate was getting nobody anywhere.
The PiRA accepted they could never win militarily and the UK understood an idea could not be killed with a bullet - so a deal was made
which only supporters of organised crime oppose
How can freedom fighters trying to rid there land of scum be classed as terrorists
100% correct
I understand why the book was not designed for the 'academic community"". Nothing to do with the lesser academic reader.
Some people over the years commentate on that period of history, notably a few years ago, a member of Parliament raising the topic of "14 independent company".. It goes to show just how much people know nothing of which they are talking about.
One day in maybe 50 years you Will get to the Truth !
Bloody Sunday, Hillsborough, Ballymurphy massacre. 50 years is about right.
@@bennywalsh2038 They NEED TO FIND ALL THE BODIES !! They will NEVER find those that dispatched them !!!
Was gonna have a read until it said it took 30 years lol
This guy has a PhD? This is a work of propaganda utilizing modern terms that don't, and never did apply to Ireland. SIGINT had its successes no doubt, but in balance, it was not effective as he would suggest; it was used by the target to draw out informers and outline the extent of intelligence fidelity. Unfortunately the author makes a number of claims that are more a work of amateur psychology than serious research. Worth remember that the author would call those of 1776 and the Founding Fathers "terrorist leaders". Given the author was part of a paramilitary force involved in the conflict it should come as no surprise that he takes the side he worked for. As the author concedes Intelligence also involves disinformation; an accurate description of his own work. If Goebbels wrote a book about Nazi repression and occupation, would anyone expect him to write an objective book about those he worked for?
spot on.
There was Brave Men and Women on all Sides. But I’ll guess everyone was happy with the Ceasefire
i havent read this book i wouldn't wipe me arse with it. i don't know who won or lost either, but my own experiances say he won't ever win the argument about the sectarian ruc or the brutality of the BA
@DML1888 youre right its all about influencing these legacy investigations and saving these soldiers and ex cops from being convicted for their crimes.
Ever seen someone tied to a chair - and had their face removed with a shotgun, I did and it was done to intimidate everyone into staying quiet about the " Boyos" - the epitome of terrorism.. When we started playing by the same rules, the first to complain were those who endorsed the "nutting squad". And if you don't understand what "nutting squad" means, then you know very little about the PIRA.
@@lindasanson3094 That's a great point and 100% correct by me but going by the comments here, you might be better talking to the wall because it seems if the story differs in any way from the version that was rammed up them by the priests it's either bullshit or one sided which brings me to the point of how they prospered.
It wasn't bravery it was repeating the same brainwashed mantra over and over and over simply because they know nothing else and doing it enough until there was no choice but to listen.
If any of them would deviate from the narrative they'd be tortured in their own communities.
Probably time the problem police force went home and let the locals look after themselves.
A must read for anyone with insomnia
Cut to the chase don't invade a country and treat the people as shit and an insurgency wont evolve
Great talk, I’ll be getting the book.
Trust me its bullshit
As an Ulsterman who served in the Security Forces this book is actually very informative and cuts to the chase. Well researched and put together with some matters I didn't expect to be broached, were. Well worth the time. Having suffered through media bias against the Security Forces since day one, thos book blows a lot of that propaganda out of the water.
This book is the biggest load of tripe ive ever come across.
All grist to the mill, but when all is said and done, how ‘intelligent’ was it that the native minority’s were discriminated against in their own land. A gerrymandered statelet might have worked if ‘intelligent’ people treated the ordinary peace abiding native population with a semblance and venere of respect. But no the RUC took up from where the RIC had come a cropper and continued with their incendiary methods of so called policing thereby ending up like their forbears being hoisted on their own petard. Of course the overwhelming majority of both forces didn’t deserve to have their life’s work tarnished by the selected few who took it upon themselves to be judge, jury & executioner, but when good men keep their mouths shut then that’s what one gets as ones just deserts.
Lots of folks writing books crawling out from under the rotten timber work these days claiming this that and the other were responsible for bring about the peace, when the real question that should be examined is who breached it in the first place? To loose one police force while administering a statelet is one thing but to loose two police force says a lot about the so called governance of its citizens...and when one keeps in mind that it was not through the intervention of the UN that both institutions of state were wound up and disbanded then that says a lot.
Bye the way if anyone is interested perhaps a genuine unbiased investigation and scrutiny into how the southern government in Éire dealt with the PIRA and terrorist splinter groups in the south, without all of the phalanx of resources or the deployment of the bottomless pit of of ‘dirty tricks’ used by the so called ‘intelligence’ services North of the Border or deployed by MI 5 or MI 6 or British Army so called ‘intelligence’...then just take a look at the statistics of arrests, convictions and imprisonment of PIRA members from all across the Island of Ireland and all corners of the globe who waged war against what went on in the statelet administered from Whitehall....when the gerrymandering so called government in NI proved to be anything but democratic or fair and evenhanded. So ask yourselves who breached the peace in the first place and who should be credited...really credited with its restoration....I don’t think any of those who are popping up like muppets in a Punch & Judy Show deserve a round of applause that they crave. Shame on all your houses.
Loughgall 8 wasn’t it great, Gerry set his own up & you know it Dr, you’re a great speaker & anyone who is educated will know that, I thank you for your service & I respect my fellow Ulstermen who served my family & I, slab Murphy put Captain Nairac through his mincer 😔 Killyman 🇬🇧
Nairac pretty much dived head first into a wood chipper.
I think you should read the Official British Army Assessment of Operation Banner.
By Chief of the General Staff Mike Jackson.
I doubt youd like it.
🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂wally
@@olliephelan nairac was a tosser just lik Campbell all shirt and no balls
@@patmctigue447
Nairac sounds like a miniature version of Jack Idema.
He was so mad that he went mad and died.
Hew spoofed the US and the Afghans into thinking he ran the war.
He was just a pyscho who told any agency that asked that it was top delta seal team secret, and the all fell for it.
He died insane.
It was tragic really.
All his delusion fell apart until he died from aids from not knowing even what to screw.
You mean captain nervewreck as he is known in an phobhlocht IRA newspaper funny cartoon in it it's about scumbag nairac it was called captain nervewreck 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's time for a border poll in Ireland.
then Brexit out of Ireland, for good.
Well informed talk
A must read for anyone aiming to take someone's land and get away with it.
This is complete and utter bullcrap. What a load of bollocks.
All you have to do is go to Trasna na Tire for a talk BY a British Intelligence Analysist.
Who says the exact opposite.
Yes, the Republican movement were well and truly beaten, particularly in the way that they have now been in government for twenty odd years, and are poised on the verge of delivering a united Ireland
After setting out clear principles that they would not give up their “armed struggle” unless all British army etc left Northern Ireland, they are now serving members of the British government, their own supposed sworn enemy. I would say that is indeed a victory.
@@S__123 🇬🇧✌️
😂😂😂…..Yeah, right!!!🤮🤮🤮
@@S__123 not in anyway deemed a victory for the British establishment as those members in parliament are currently on their way to delivering a reunited Ireland
This guy tries to hide it but you can hear the old sectarian Ulsterman oozing out of him. Nothing objective, thoughtful or academic about him.
Dom C I bought the book like a blind-buy, read it last year, this guy Matchett is pro-unionist and many times in the book he dismisses claims of criminality within the security forces. He also wrongly compares the IRA to ISIS, which is such a crass claim if anyone looks closely at the 2 in a comparison. Hes very biased in the age-old typical orange fashion. He thinks hes doing the right thing, but he's nothing more than a strong-arm for an unwanted political claim on land that isn't his, or Britains.
i thought when i was listening to him that some of the things he said were true but i have to agree some of this is just inaccurate. clearly biased.... but then he probally watched his mates die throughout the years and its hard to forget something like that
@@Itsjustmyselfsoitis very true. it amazes me how these unionist loyalist thinking is so off the mark I don't know if they enjoy being toxic or they are trying to convince themselves that they are right thinkers. perhaps it is a bit of both.
@@Emerald007007 Something a unionist fella I worked with told me stuck. He said they don't get taught about Irish history, so from that you know a big part of how they think in terms of our situation has to be down to ignorance. Convincing themselves, like you said. You see some English still going on about how great the empire was. Fs some guy the other day claiming there was great respect for India, then went silent when I quoted Churchill calling them "beastly" just after the British helped generate a famine which killed several million. Ignorance, know what I mean? Cunt only knew the British version of history so he thought the empire was a good thing for us all...fuckin idiots. Also I reckon Loyalists have a bad aul cause of siege mentality. And aye, some loyalists did jump on the alt-right train and trolled a load of vids about the Troubles over the last couple years. So some are just toxic wee cunts too. Honestly I reckon if people here were made to study the history of Ulster in depth throughout their school years, we could make significant progress because all the facts would be on the table, whereas at the minute you still have loyalists claiming the innocent people shot dead by the Paras on Bloody Sunday and in Ballymurphy prior to that... were guilty / gunmen / IRA, even though there is forensic evidence and even soldiers themselves saying innocent people were killed. If they bothered to learn what happened they might realise they look like dozy gobshites.
Fuck here lol theres one fella I like to torture a bit on here called 'Truthmedia Rebel' because he makes all these vids saying he served in N Ireland, in the "7 counties" lol talkin about the Civil War in 1923, saying the Provos fought in it.. even though the Provos started around 1969. Cunts in his 60s atleast and still so clueless. Pisses me off, because he's making people dumber with his misinfo.
@@Itsjustmyselfsoitis You hit the nail on the head. I do think that if those in the loyalist communities studied even a little Irish History they would be much better off.
Why gift these 'secrets' to any future conflict...?...It always gives the 'terrorists' in any given situation a head-start...?
Let's talk about your secret drink problem DR.
are you a child grow up
@@funwithflags7506 did i spoil your little hero worship
@@joemcdonnell2436 dipstick
Was steaknives murders victims our just tout taigs
That very last line, he lists other nations who have invaders and calls the natives there terrorists too!
The IRA were the best allies the loyalists could have dreamed of . Despite all the wrongs of partition, Gerrymandering, discrimination of Catholics in employment, housing, education etc, they gave the likes of rabble rousers like Paisley every excuse to dig their heals in and play at being the victims.
Without the armed struggle, there would have been a united Ireland by the early 80s. It's 2021 and the illegal police state of Northern Ireland still exists.
The IRA defeated the nationalist community with every bomb detonated and every bullet fired.
now your just talking nonsense jon tho your right about one thing as in 85 the brits were ready to walk away tho it was thatcher that put a stop to it, the pos
Shoot to kill ended the war . A wicked but effective program for getting the boys to their knees and not for praying .
The did not beat the ira either side could not be defeated
Tiochfaidh ar la if you no wat that means please tell me
Bloody Sunday not forgotten we got 18 and Mountbatten
Very interesting, very revealing. Thank you.
Out should say . Point still stands. Rule of law.....
I gladly donate my hard earned taxes to new stakeknivez.
Stakeknives are handy as hell.
There is a good book telling you about how they trained for and carried out the security operations including the very successful op in Loughgall its by James Rennie and is called The Operators "on the strreets with 14 company" very interesting read
Reading it now
Thanks. Just ordered it.
You might enjoy Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare - The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler's Defeat, by Giles Milton.
Such a prejudiced perspective that belies the corruption of power
"Beat " ? I love a good joke .
RUC much wronged?
In short; decent enough book, fairly biased in many respects.
Stake knife, completed it.
Martin Mcguiness "an arsonist fire fighter" I couldn't have put it better
Where are you from? Are you from Ireland or Britain?
Mi6 informer since 1973 !!!
Unjustly
I remember watching the BOM in Bishopsgate in 1991 I thought to myself the IRA are so professional and dangerous
The only effective unit at that point was the South Armagh Brigade. They kept the war going.
@@shawnfinnegan64 And they will be remembered in history....As they should be
Murdering a school girl , how professional!!!!!!
Robert nairac a sas captain was abducted by the IRA and shot dead
@@acecolnaco6587 You`re right. Captain Nairac never served in the SAS. But the special forces unit he joined from The Grenadier Guards was No4 Field Survey Troop Royal Engineers. It became part of 14 Coy some time later.
And justifiably so, after his part in Miami Showband
Either way the cunt who wasn't real British was shot by real Irish end of
@@we5450 And you know this how?
@@stephensmith4480 by watching reports from the HET
I grew up through the conflict and was involved on the republican side since the mid 80's, this guy has not a clue what he is taking about.
Where's your book?
You’re just another bullshitter…..and there plenty of them in NI. Publish your own book and let’s see…..👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
Write it "for your sort of sister".!
Ridiculous.
Pure Shite.
Full of crap
I am a part of nothing and never was but grew up in a place where you seen a lot to stand there and try and justify what you know yourself is lies and cover-up the security forces have more blood on their hands in northern Ireland than any group but they have to live with that the man above will show who was right
Read some stats on who spilt the blood and even from their own mouths it was PIRA.
This book is after leaving me totally flabbergasted. This man William Matchett is trying to tell the world that the security forces beat the I.R.A.? and at the same time A British prime minister passed up the opportunity of saying that they won the war against the terrorism? The only positive thing I can say about this book is that by the time this gentlemen joined the force in 1982 the sectarian monsters in the R.U.C and the brutality that the British Army unleased on Irish Catholics was already done and so I'm sure he played no part in collusion with loyalists. I have never believed in violence of any kind but some of the logic in these books on behalf of the British that come out of The North is just astounding.
With due respect Chris, you don't appear to know what you are talking about!
why would you say that?
Chris I've read this book aswell, Matchett is very much a staunch unionist, he was protective of the security forces quite a bit, whilst multiple times wrongly comparing the IRA to ISIS. The RUC, Special Branch and British intelligence, from the army to MI5/6 were very much still up to their tricks until the 90s. 1982 was the year following the hunger strikes, it was a tense period and the police and army were still very much doing the same things they always did.
It was a decent book, but it was biased in many respects to say the least, it's written, obviously, from the standpoint of a unionist leaning cop. 6 minutes into this he basically credited Margaret Thatcher for helping beat the IRA, the woman who refused 5 very basic demands to the hunger strikers and introduced the SAS in a much more prominent role around the time of the 'Shoot to kill' policy where many people who could have been arrested were instead executed. This made things flare up and gave nationalists more reason to join the IRA, not less reason.
In the book he also talks about "Criminalisation" as a tactic to undermine the IRA, to make them look more like scumbags and killers rather than people fighting a political war using guerrilla warfare against an oppressive anti-Irish "Northern Ireland" state which was blatantly sectarian since the 1920s when it was founded.
The warped view of the whole Irish situation is that Irish rebels are all "terrorists" because they try to overthrow foreign and illegitimate power within the island of Ireland, whilst portraying the police and British army in the north as "peace-keepers" which is blatantly not true.
They are the strong arm of British policy in Ireland, a policy the majority of Irish people reject but are unable to have a fair and democratic vote on the issue due to the gerrymandering and the rigged-game of politics the British have given us, whereby only the people within the British statelet of "Northern Ireland" can vote in a referendum which would affect 3 times more people who do not live in this statelet, namely the rest of the island.
What our referendum essentially gives us is a vote within a boundary (drawn by Britain) which has the most pro-British votes in the land, after creating this majority with the partition of Ireland, the game is obviously unfair, unjust and rigged to the ballix.
This guy Matchett upheld this state with pride, as did all British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. They prefer undemocratic measures and they didn't shy away from using the UDA and UVF as a proxy force. The British hands are just as steeped in blood and dirty as any member of the IRA.
Spoke to an ex volunteer who was pretty connected to the higher echelons of the PIRA. Asked the same question, were yee beat through the levels of infilltration? The person said that they were absolutely not beat and capable of carrying out much more operations such as the bombs in Manchester, Canary Warf and the numerous large scale interruptions. So while their were large levels of infiltration, they were certainly not beat. Everyone was tired of it. The Brits too were well tired of their financial centers being blown to bits. So a bit of perspective from this guy might be helpful.
The IRA saw victory as overturning the government of N. I. and forcing Britain out by violence. N. I. is still part of the UK and the IRA gave up. All the murders were in vain. It achieved nothing. The IRA was defeated.
For every volunteer lost three british soldiers were sent home in body bags 🇮🇪👍☘️
If the truth was known the British doesn’t want Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland don’t want you too
Old woman chatting no info at all
Just to let you know know that he is speaking one sided and the ira beat the british army and the loyalist as they got rights for there people. And the british wanted the peace agreement the irish gained. The british lost control which means the ira won the war
The IRA wanted Northern Ireland. They gave up and Northern Ireland is still in the UK the IRA lost.
fanciful at best
I think you are paranoid! I love you hard work! 1916! Easter rising! Happy Easter!
Nonsense to say the IRA were beaten, just as easy to say the brits were beaten.
The IRA's stated objective was simple: the end of British sovereignty in Northern Ireland, and reunification of Ireland. Neither of these things happened.
Richard Lewis the PIRA were very clear from the very start, their campaign of armed resistance would end when their 4 demands were met, these were:
1.) Abolition of Orange Stormont
2.) Withdrawal of British Army from Ireland, with public declaration of support for the self-determination of the people of the six counties.
3.) Amnesty for all Prisoners of War
4.) Full support and respect of civil rights, with removal of oppressive legislation such as the Special Powers Act.
Now let’s go through that:
1.) ✅
2.) ✅
3.) ✅
4.) ✅
If the PIRA got everything they were fighting for, it’s sounds to me like they won.
@@sudocreme5080 That's a complete revisionist take on very clearly stated aims best summarised by the slogan "Brits Out". As for the army, numerous barracks still exist and are filled to the brim with squaddies. How do I know? A good friend was recently there.
Richard Lewis the only revisionism I’m hearing here is coming out or Dr Billy’s mouth. The Provisional IRA made their aims very clear from the start, here is a poster in An Phoblacht in ‘72:
niallodoc.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/an-phoblacht-demands.jpg
Do you live in the 6 counties? If so when was the last time you saw a Brit in Crossmaglen, Galliagh, New Lodge or Dunloy?
To recap on the 4 demands:
1.) Orange Stormont was smashed in 1972
2.) Thanks to the GFA, Operation Banner is over and the Brits have gone home.
3.) All Political Prisoners were released by 2000
4.) The Special Powers Act was repealed and the British Government has vowed to respect civil rights, including the right to self determination.
How do I know? Because I live here and seen it first hand, presumably, unlike you.
@@sudocreme5080 A nation once again, four green fields, a united Ireland... Never happened. If you think the current constitutional situation was what the IRA took up violence for, or what people starved themselves to death for, then the face-saving propaganda initiatives to placate the likes of you really did their job effectively. I'm glad you have come to terms with living in the UK. If Brits are in the areas you listed you wouldn't know about it but rest assured you would anytime your lot considered taking up arms again.
I think he believes in the tooth fairy maybe Maggie was his aunt 😎
"UNDEFEATED" and never will be.
So why did the Provos implode and stop trying to "win"?
@@lindasanson3094 UNDEFEATED T.A.L
The North is a very small area , and the IRA were able to bomb the shit out of it for over 25 years and caused billions of pounds of damage in the proper UK , especially London even in 1997 ( Canary Wharf ) .
Wouldn't use his book for toilet paper. Is this guy still butt-hurt over Nairac?
PIRA had no sense of decency or honour - just a confused ideology and willingness to kill for killing's sake. - they run drugs gang's now.
In accepting the terms of the GFA Sinn Fein / IRA accepted the principle of consent , that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland remaining part of the U.K. cannot be changed without the consent of the majority in the 6 counties . By accepting the principle of consent they also then recognised the Undemocraticly created , gerrymandered 6 county state with the Queen as head of state , subsequently accepting the partition of Ireland .
What the hell was the 30 yr " armed struggle "" all about , after all the bombings and killings they accept a position they had sworn never to accept . We had a Power Sharing executive and assembly in 1974 , which the Sinn Fein / IRA rejected with violence . Obviously their objective of removing British rule in Northern Ireland was a miserable failure , how can anyone say that there was a stalemate . A stalemate is defined as a draw , or both parties fail to enforce their objectives on the other .
The IRA failed miserably in removing the Brits , the British Governments objective was to maintain the status quo , and get the political parties to agree on a form of devolved government . The Brits achieved their objective Sinn Fein / IRA did not . That is not a stalemate .
The IRA and the rest of the paramilitary thugs on both sides of the community brought misery to the people of Northern Ireland and their respective communities . The demographics will decide if a United Ireland takes place not the violence of terrorism . Republicans just can't handle the truth , had John Hume and the SDLP of that time had been allowed to progress the peaceful way forward , we would be in no worse position than we are today , just 3500 lives better off .
It must have taken you a long time to work out that reply , particularly with your A level education . However you have not given answered the question of what did the 30 yrs of IRA terrorism achieve .? Republicans just can't handle the truth , the IRA campaign was a miserable failure , they accepted the principle of consent , and accepted a power sharing deal which we had already achieved in 1974 . Even you with your A level education should be able to work that out . If you reply to this , argue some facts and figures , put up or shut up
".... That beat the IRA.... " xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Keep dreaming ;DDDD