Difference between revisions of "State Violence and Collusion Timeline 1987"

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==January==
 
==January==
 
*''Undated January'' - Peter Taylor states that in January 1987, the new head of the [[FRU]], 'Colonel J' ([[Gordon Kerr]]) identified a gap in agent coverage of the loyalists, and decided to re-recruit [[Brian Nelson]]. This decision was opposed by [[MI5]], according to Taylor, who felt that the loyalists were sufficiently covered already.<ref>Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.289.</ref>
 
*''Undated January'' - Peter Taylor states that in January 1987, the new head of the [[FRU]], 'Colonel J' ([[Gordon Kerr]]) identified a gap in agent coverage of the loyalists, and decided to re-recruit [[Brian Nelson]]. This decision was opposed by [[MI5]], according to Taylor, who felt that the loyalists were sufficiently covered already.<ref>Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.289.</ref>
*'''21''' A letter from the [[RUC]] to the [[Northern Ireland Office]] states that agent-handling guidelines: "take no cognizance at all of the special problems relating to Northern Ireland. They were, of course, drawn up to deal with 'ordinary' criminals in a mainland context, rather than for coping with terrorists. Given our special situation the restrictions placed upon us by virtue of the guidelines are unrealistic if we are to continue paramilitary penetration/source protection."<ref name="DeSilvavol1Ch4">Sir Desmond de Silva, [http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter004/ Volume 1 - Chapter 4: Agent-handling], Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.</ref>
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*'''21''' A letter from the [[RUC]] to the [[Northern Ireland Office]] (NIO) states that agent-handling guidelines: "take no cognizance at all of the special problems relating to Northern Ireland. They were, of course, drawn up to deal with 'ordinary' criminals in a mainland context, rather than for coping with terrorists. Given our special situation the restrictions placed upon us by virtue of the guidelines are unrealistic if we are to continue paramilitary penetration/source protection."<ref name="DeSilvavol1Ch4">Sir Desmond de Silva, [http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter004/ Volume 1 - Chapter 4: Agent-handling], Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.</ref>
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==March==
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*'''13''' - High-level meeting to discuss new agent-handling guidelines for Northern Ireland appears to have taken place between NIO officials and senior RUC officers.<ref name="DeSilvavol1Ch4">Sir Desmond de Silva, [http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter004/ Volume 1 - Chapter 4: Agent-handling], Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.</ref>
  
 
==June==
 
==June==

Revision as of 21:37, 13 December 2012

Events related to state violence and collusion in Northern Ireland in 1987.

January

  • Undated January - Peter Taylor states that in January 1987, the new head of the FRU, 'Colonel J' (Gordon Kerr) identified a gap in agent coverage of the loyalists, and decided to re-recruit Brian Nelson. This decision was opposed by MI5, according to Taylor, who felt that the loyalists were sufficiently covered already.[1]
  • 21 A letter from the RUC to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) states that agent-handling guidelines: "take no cognizance at all of the special problems relating to Northern Ireland. They were, of course, drawn up to deal with 'ordinary' criminals in a mainland context, rather than for coping with terrorists. Given our special situation the restrictions placed upon us by virtue of the guidelines are unrealistic if we are to continue paramilitary penetration/source protection."[2]

March

  • 13 - High-level meeting to discuss new agent-handling guidelines for Northern Ireland appears to have taken place between NIO officials and senior RUC officers.[2]

June

July

  • 3 - Edward Campbell, a 40-year-old Catholic taxi-driver was shot dead by the UDA/UFF on 3 July 1987. Although he had been interned in the 1970s, he had no IRA connections at the time of his death. This was one of some 15 murders in which the Stevens Inquiry concluded Brian Nelson played an active role.[4]

August

  • 23 - Michael Power was shot dead on 23 August 1987.[5], a Catholic with no paramilitary involvement, his death was the result of one of the first files passed on to the UDA by [[Brian nelson. FRU files showed that this was purely an opportunity for Nelson to ingratiate himself with the UDA.[6]

September

  • 9 - Patrick Hamill, a 29-year-old Catholic with no paramilitary connections, was shot dead at his West Belfast home. The UDA/UFF used intelligence given to Nelson by the FRU for the killing.[7]
  • 21 - Jim Meighan, a 22-year-old Catholic from the New Lodge in North Belfast, was shot dead by the UDA on 21 September 1987. He was targeted by Brian Nelson because he was going out with a Protestant girl.[8]

October

  • 9 - Francisco Notorantonio was shot dead at his home. The FRU allegedly passed his name to the UDA through Nelson in order to direct them away from an FRU agent in the IRA.[9]

November

  • 8 - Provisional IRA Enniskillen bombing kills 11 people.
  • 9 - Adam Lambert, a 19-year-old Protestant , was shot dead by the UDA. The gang used information supplied by Brian Nelson who was under the impression that Lambert was a Catholic.[10] Sir John Stevens concluded that Lambert's murder could have been prevented and that there was collusion in the case.[11]

December

  • Undated December - Final arrangements made for the South African arms shipment initiated by Brian Nelson.[12]
  • 22 - UDA figure John McMichael killed by an IRA car-bomb at his home in Lisburn.[13]

Notes

  1. Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.289.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sir Desmond de Silva, Volume 1 - Chapter 4: Agent-handling, Pat Finucane Review, 12 December 2012.
  3. Issue 50979 Page 8356, London Gazette, 30 June 1987.
  4. Martin Ingram and Greg Harkin, Stakeknife, O'Brien Press, 2004, p. 183.
  5. David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton, and David McVea, Lost Lives: The stories of the men, women and children who died as a result of the Northern Ireland Troubles, Mainstream Publishing, 2004, p.1087.
  6. Barry McCaffrey, At least 29 killings blamed on actions of double agent;The secrets that died with Brian Nelson THE DEATH OF BRITISH ARMY AGENT 6137, Irish News, 14 April 2003.
  7. Martin Ingram and Greg Harkin, Stakeknife, O'Brien Press, 2004, p. 184.
  8. Martin Ingram and Greg Harkin, Stakeknife, O'Brien Press, 2004, p. 184.
  9. Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.295-296.
  10. Martin Ingram and Greg Harkin, Stakeknife, O'Brien Press, 2004, pp. 184-185.
  11. David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton, and David McVea, Lost Lives: The stories of the men, women and children who died as a result of the Northern Ireland Troubles, Mainstream Publishing, 2004, pp.1098-1099.
  12. Barry McCaffrey, At least 29 killings blamed on actions of double agent;The secrets that died with Brian Nelson THE DEATH OF BRITISH ARMY AGENT 6137, Irish News, 14 April 2003.
  13. David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney, Chris Thornton and David McVea, Lost Lives, Mainstream Publishing, 2004, p.1103.