Aaron Edwards - Agents of Influence: Britain’s Secret Intelligence War Against the IRA

AGENTS OF
INFLUENCE

AGENTS OF
INFLUENCE

BRITAINS SECRET
INTELLIGENCE WAR
AGAINST THE IRA

Aaron Edwards

First published in 2021 by

Merrion Press

10 Georges Street

Newbridge

Co. Kildare

Ireland

www.merrionpress.ie

Aaron Edwards, 2021

978-1-78537-341-1 (Paper)

978-1-78537-342-8 (Kindle)

978-1-78537-343-5 (Epub)

A CIP catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Typeset in Minion Pro 11/14 pt

Front cover image: Alfredo Freddie Scappaticci (extreme left, in colour) pictured at the 1988 funeral of IRA man Brendan Davison. Gerry Adams is pictured carrying the coffin. Scappaticci was otherwise known as Stakeknife the Armys top informer inside the IRA. Photo courtesy of Pacemaker Press.

Back cover image: Graffiti in Derry referring to RUC Special Branch agent Raymond Gilmour. Photo courtesy of Alamy.

Merrion Press is a member of Publishing Ireland.

CONTENTS

AUTHORS NOTE

A s with my previous book on the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), it has been necessary for security reasons to protect the identities of many of the people who helped me with my research. Although the vast majority of the information contained in this book was obtained from publicly available sources, including an array of now-declassified files obtained under the UKs Freedom of Information Act (2000), some of it comes from eyewitness accounts. To avoid disclosing sensitive information, the manuscript has had to be read by legal professionals. It has long been the policy of Her Majestys Government to Neither Confirm, Nor Deny (NCND) issues relating to national security, including the identity of agents. Therefore, it must be emphasised that the views and opinions expressed are those of the author alone and should not be taken to represent those of Her Majestys Government, the Ministry of Defence, Her Majestys Armed Forces or any government agency. I am solely responsible for the interpretation of historical events scrutinised herein. While every effort has been made to ensure Agents of Influence is accurate, I am happy to correct any errors in future editions.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

British Security and Intelligence Officials

Michael Bettaney aka Ben, MI5 officer/agent runner who handled Agent 3007

John Deverell, MI5 officer and Director and Coordinator of Intelligence at Stormont

Harold Hal Doyne-Ditmas, MI5 officer and Director and Coordinator of Intelligence at Stormont

Michael Oatley, MI6 officer who held secret talks with the IRA

Sir Maurice Oldfield, former Chief of SIS and Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator at Stormont

David Ranson, MI5 officer and Director and Coordinator of Intelligence at Stormont

Alan Rees-Morgan, MI5 officer who recruited Agent 3007

Sir Brooks Richards, former SOE Operations Officer and Intelligence and Security Coordinator at Stormont

Dame Stella Rimington, Director General of MI5

Sir Patrick Walker, Director General of MI5

Northern Ireland Office (NIO)

Humphrey Atkins, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 197981

Jim Prior, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 198184

Douglas Hurd, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 198485

Tom King, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 198589

Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 198992

Sir Patrick Mayhew, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 199297

Sir John Blelloch, Permanent Under Secretary, 198890

Sir John Chilcot, Permanent Under Secretary, 199097

British Army

Lieutenant Colonel David Benest, Commanding Officer, 2 PARA, 199497

Major General Sir Jimmy Glover, Commander Land Forces, Northern Ireland, 197981

Major General Sir James Jimmy Glover, Commander Land Forces, Northern Ireland, 197981

Lieutenant General Sir Timothy Creasey, GOC, Northern Ireland, 197880

Lieutenant General Sir Richard Lawson, GOC, Northern Ireland, 198082

Brigadier David Ramsbotham, Commander of 39 (Infantry) Brigade, 197981

Lieutenant General Sir Robert Richardson, GOC Northern Ireland, 198285

Lieutenant General Sir Roger Wheeler, GOC Northern Ireland, 199396

Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)

Sir John Hermon, Chief Constable, 198089

Jack, E4 HMSU officer

Jimmy B., E4 HMSU commander

Frank FT Murray, Regional Head of Special Branch

Peter, Regional Head of Special Branch

Ronnie, E4 HMSU officer

Toby, Special Branch officer

Irish Republican Movement

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fin President

Ivor Bell, PIRA Chief of Staff

Gerry Whitey Bradley, PIRA leader in the Ardoyne area of Belfast

Brendan Ruby Davison, PIRA leader in the Markets area of Belfast

John Joe The Hawk Haughey, PIRA GHQ

Jim Lynagh, East Tyrone PIRA

Seamus McElwain, Monaghan PIRA commander

Bernard McGinn, South Armagh PIRA

Martin McGuinness, PIRA Chief of Staff and later OC Northern Command

Kevin McKenna, PIRA Chief of Staff

John Joe Magee, PIRA Internal Security

Danny Morrison, Director of Publicity for Sinn Fin

Sen Savage, PIRA Explosives Officer

Freddie Scappaticci, PIRA Internal Security

Agents of Influence

Willie Carlin, Derry Sinn Fin and MI5/FRU agent of influence

Somn, IRA member and MI5/FRU agent of influence

Tony, MI5 agent of influence

Intermediaries

Brendan Duddy, Derry businessman and link between the IRA and British Intelligence

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ACC Assistant Chief Constable

ARF Airborne Reaction Force

ASU Active Service Unit

CAT Civil Administration Team

CGS Chief of the General Staff (British Army)

CID Criminal Investigation Department

CLF Commander Land Forces

CO Commanding Officer

COP Close Observation Platoon

CTR Close Target Reconnaissance

CWIED Command Wire Improvised Explosive Device

DC Detective Constable

DCI Director and Coordinator of Intelligence

FRU Force Research Unit

GAA Gaelic Athletic Association

GHQ General Headquarters (the IRAs authority for operations)

GCHQ Government Communications Headquarters

GOC (NI) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland)