John Weir

This article is part of SpinWatch's Northern Ireland Portal.

John Weir is a former RUC Sergeant. He is also a convicted criminal: between 1980 and 1992, he served a prison sentence for his part in the murder of one William Strathearn. During and after his imprisonment he had made a number of allegations involving members of the RUC, UDR and RUC Reserve, as well as known loyalist paramilitaries. His allegations were based on personal knowledge as well as on information from third parties. His claims have been the subject of inquiries by the RUC and An Garda Síochána.

He claims to have been part of a group of policemen, UDR officers and loyalist extremists who carried out a series of attacks in the mid-1970s. He says many of their operations were planned and prepared at a farm owned by RUC reserve officer James Mitchell at Glenanne, Co. Armagh. He claims that both Mitchell and UVF member Stewart Young confessed their own involvement in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings to him, and gave him the names of a number of others who they said were also involved.

Having regard to his own admitted conduct, and his relationships with those with whom he was admittedly involved at Glenanne, John Weir was certainly in a position through conversations and observation to have obtained the information which he now claims to be true. While it is possible that he obtained all these details from other sources since his conviction, this is unlikely. The amount of details on which he has been proven correct suggests that his sources were authentic and contemporary.

Bearing in mind that Weir was an active member of the security services, and that his allegations relating to the period from May to August 1976 have received considerable confirmation, the Inquiry believes that his evidence overall is credible, and is inclined to accept significant parts of it. Some reservation is appropriate in relation to his allegations against police officers having regard to his possible motive in going public, and also in relation to his own part in the offences which he relates.

This view is one based also on a meeting with Weir, in which he came over as someone with considerable knowledge of the events which were taking place in the areas where he was stationed and who was prepared to tell what he knew. The Garda officers who interviewed him were of the same opinion. In the light of all the above, the Inquiry agrees with the view of An Garda Síochána that Weir’s allegations regarding the Dublin and Monaghan bombings must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

External Resources

• Frank Connolly, John Weir: 'I'm lucky to be above the ground', 16 November 2006.
• John Weir's Affadavit Statement by John Weir 03.01.99. [Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 27 January 2003.]