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'A sequence worthy of Catch-22 has the same agency employing agents on both sides, knocking off each other, so that one is left wondering who was really running the war, and for whose benefit. But then, Catch-22 was farce -- this is serious business, and murder.' (Senator Maurice Hayes Irish Independent )
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An explosive exposé of how British military intelligence really works, from the inside. The stories of two undercover agents -- Brian Nelson, who worked for the Force Research Unit (FRU), aiding loyalist terrorists and murderers in their bloody work; and the man known as Stakeknife, deputy head of the IRA's infamous ‘Nutting Squad', the internal security force which tortured and killed suspected informers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Recommended. One of the authors Martin Ingram(a pseudonym) was a member of the FRU(Force Research Unit),a british military intelligence outfit which recruited informers within northern irelands paramilitary organisations. This book looks at the cases of many informers but has most details of the 2 most famous. After chapters on the authors FRU training in recruiting and running informers,we get a number of chapters on STAKEKNIFE. This informers name has been in the public domain for nearly a year,and the book confirms his identity. STAKEKNIFE was the supreme irony. He was the deputy of the Irish Republican Army's internal security unit(the so called nutting squad),which was tasked with finding informers within the IRA. It lists 35 alleged Informants who were executed by stakeknife,so as to maintain his cover within the IRA. The book also confirms the identity of other informers,some are named,others are given pseudonyms whilst their activities are described. There are a number of chapters on Brian Nelson,who infiltrated the loyalist/protestant Ulster Defence Association. Great value.I recommend this book.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book written by Greg Harkin a journalist and Martin Ingram a former FRU handler is at the very least an explosive read. At considerable risk to themselves these two brave men delve deep into the murky world of informing and informant handling.
The books title is also the codename of the most reprehensible individual to ever be handled by the British. Stakeknife the deputy head of the IRAs terrifying "Nutting squad" was possibly the most important spy the FRU had and as a result was able to operate with impunity. While he interrogated and murdered alleged informers within the IRA the FRU turned a blind eye. Loyalist thug Brian Nelson also played a big role in the murders of innocent men and women while also being handled by the FRU. However this abhorrent behaviour was not exclusively a British phenomenon the Irish government also gave amnesty to many a murderer,and some ministers hands are not without blood.
This book is set against a background of fear, collusion and death and it brings home how dark those days really were. Today we look forward to a brighter future and I hope the hard lessons of the past are never forgotten.
The books title is also the codename of the most reprehensible individual to ever be handled by the British. Stakeknife the deputy head of the IRAs terrifying "Nutting squad" was possibly the most important spy the FRU had and as a result was able to operate with impunity. While he interrogated and murdered alleged informers within the IRA the FRU turned a blind eye. Loyalist thug Brian Nelson also played a big role in the murders of innocent men and women while also being handled by the FRU. However this abhorrent behaviour was not exclusively a British phenomenon the Irish government also gave amnesty to many a murderer,and some ministers hands are not without blood.
This book is set against a background of fear, collusion and death and it brings home how dark those days really were. Today we look forward to a brighter future and I hope the hard lessons of the past are never forgotten.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Do not want to enter into the was he / wasn't he an agent debate and I will leave judgement on the rights and wrongs of the actions in the book for the individual reader to determine for themselves. My main complaint with this book was the tone and the style of writing. The subject matter - ones opinion and viewpoint to oneside - is fascinating but I found that it was let down by a style that was bitty, text that was poorly written. The result of this was that I found it more of a slog to get through than I had anticipated. A shame really, but I would still say that this book is worthy of a read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent book
I've read a number of books about the 'Dirty War' in Northern Ireland, and this ranks right at the top of the list Most books on this subject concentrate on the links between the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by DEREK
Stakeknife
Absolute rubbish... Anyone with an ounce of knowledge on Irish affairs will laugh at the fantasy the so called whistle blower Ingram writes here. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Funfair
steaknife
excellent book if 1% is true we will have many more problems in N ireland
Published 11 months ago by bigdee
A Brilliant Book
I bought this book for my son for Christmas so he's only been reading it for the past week but says it is one of the best books he has ever read.
Published 17 months ago by Liz
pure fantasy
10 per cent fact 90 per cent fantasy. Dont believe everything you read especially from those with a chip on their small sullen shoulders.
Published on 8 April 2010 by skippy 1962
Fantatsic insight to Irish British Intelligence
Fascinating read about what scum the British intelligence services were when it came to looking after their own.
Published on 4 July 2009 by R. Harris
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