The North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has denied that he had any involvement in the IRA’s decision to abduct, torture and murder two of the most senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Police Officers killed during The Troubles.
McGuinness was responding to allegations made last week by Ian Hurst, a former British intelligence officer, during the Smithwick Tribunal in Dublin. Hurst, who is also known as Martin Ingram, told the court he has inside knowledge of the 1989 terrorist border ambush that left the two police officers dead.
Hurst alleged that McGuinness was in the IRA’s northern command and was involved when it sanctioned the killing of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan.
Responding to Hurt’s charges, a spokesman for McGuinness told the Irish Independent, “Martin McGuinness totally rejects these allegations.”
The ongoing inquiry into allegations of collusion between the IRA and the Garda (Irish police) in the Republic was told that the charge against McGuinness came through a high level double agent in the IRA who was working for the British known as Stakeknife.
In his evidence to the inquiry last week, Hurst said he believed up to 60 people would have been involved in the operation. “Basically I mean Cipher 82 (Stakeknife's handler) had information like it was authorized at northern command and McGuinness was involved as operating commander (OC),” the inquiry was told.
McGuinness' spokesman countered that the tribunal has already questioned evidence it has heard from British intelligence.
“This individual who uses a variety of names including Martin Ingram has no credibility. By his own admission he is part of a British security apparatus which played a very negative and malign role in the conflict, including widespread involvement in collusion,” the spokesman said. “His submission to the Tribunal needs to be seen and judged in that context.”
Currently the tribunal is investigating allegations of Garda collusion with regard to the IRA murders of the senior RUC officers on the Irish border in 1989, which occurred minutes after a Garda meeting in Dundalk in the Republic.
Hurst was given permission by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) to give evidence, but only behind closed doors with redacted transcripts then read into the record. Hurst reportedly worked for the British Army's secret Force Research Unit (FRU) in the North for three years during his career as an Army intelligence officer.
23 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | May 03, 2012, 10:22 PM EDT
The ghost who walks has something to say,but who is the coward??
DanOLoingsigh | May 03, 2012, 03:14 AM EDT
Of course, the logic of "Live by the sword" justifies any action by anyone against anyone remotely connected to the conflict...including 'most probably' some current dissidents...so no more bleating, eh!!!!
seanomelb | May 01, 2012, 08:56 PM EDT
Many men on both sides "died by the sword".
DanOLoingsigh | Apr 30, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT
SM Justifies what happened to these men based on an unproven ‘probability’…but constantly bleats about the treatment of ‘his friends’. Some consistency please!
seanomelb | Apr 28, 2012, 09:05 PM EDT
Well loved dissidents just ask 25% of the Irish people.The special branch officers conducted covert operations against nationalists most probably resulting the deaths of NI Catholics."Live by the sword.....
RedBranch | Apr 27, 2012, 04:25 PM EDT
Seamus60. 'Not a Shinner in sight...' excellent and truthful observation among others. The people you name are classed as 'Dissidents' and yet they have remained loyal to their Republician ideology. To me its Adams, McGuinness and their ilk who are the dissidents!
Searlit | Apr 27, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT
@Ireland North, great point!
TayandCake | Apr 27, 2012, 10:35 AM EDT
Have to agree with McGuiness that this guy with many names hasn't a leg to stand on. What else might he be known as, um lets see The Ghost The Skull The Sissy The man with the golden toe Dick O'Toole Mr Ramos McGee Peter Forward Thomas Button Willy Sack Michael Flag The other man from U.N.C.L.E The Goat Tony "the butcher" Sullivan Mick Michaelson Big Small Jim The man with the silver fork Ian "the mouse trap" Poe Paul Keywordson Jan "the ball strangler" Van Bart Greasy Eddie Memory man Steve Dave "the cake trader" Robinson Fast talking Frankie Harry Dribble Tim "the rooftop" Clark Rob Crook On and on, all the day
seamus60 | Apr 27, 2012, 09:04 AM EDT
The british spook with a name who has gagging orders against him by his former employers. With even the journalist who first aquired information from this whistleblower becoming a victim of black ops. Like it or not he exposed Freddie Scap who until only last week was denied by the PRM as an agent of the highest authority within the Army. An agent allowed to retain position in Northern Command internal security in complete contravention of standing army orders that personell be moves at intervals. Ingram has also like it or not, filled in quite a few other pieces of the jigsaw that make good sense where other PRM pieces didn`t. And for anyone asking why we should give any credance at all to this whistle blower, Why not he hasn`t been caught out anywhere near as much as those in the leadership of the PRM, falling over their own blatant lies about issues like the Hungerstrike.
seamus60 | Apr 27, 2012, 08:33 AM EDT
Kevin as some one doesn`t like the depth of my last post 1`ll rephrase it. Do you mean a land of equals like Marian Price and Gerry Mc Geogh but to name 2, now INTERNED for their Republican beliefs.
IrelandNorth | Apr 27, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT
Well whadya know! An anonymous British security spook with manifest multiple personality disorder giving redacted evidence' at a non-criminal tribunal in the Irish capitol inspired by revisionist journalists with a conspicuous fetish for militaria? They've opted for a civil tribunal because its featherweight burden of proof counterbalances their flimsy evidence. Since when are the regretable deaths of protagonists in an undeclared war murder (sic)? It's quite clear to me as an ex-Irish Army operative that elements within the British security apparatus miss the conflict in Ulster/Northern Ireland. Perhaps they fear unemployment due to the inconvenient truth of the peace process.
seamus60 | Apr 26, 2012, 09:37 PM EDT
Kevin if only that equality for all were true. you don`t have to look any further than ex pow`s to see the scam. Agree with Martins new version of how to free Ireland and you`re flying, you`ll even get into the USA ffs. Even object to his new found defination of the Proclamation ( the one he and Adams said for decades was not up for interprtation) whilst opposing military action and you`re still going to find it tough at finding equality. If you don`t believe me just go ask Gerry Mc Geogh. We still have INTERNMENT being administered this time against Irish Republicans by no other than Martin.If you don`t believe me just ask Marian price. Sorry you can`t cause she`s Interned just like Gerry. Attended a protest against this Internment last Sunday in Derry where Father Raymond Murray who was the chaplin of Armagh womans jail for 13 years, at the height of the troubles, said internment then was the same as it is now regardless of the reasons then or now ( which are the same)No wonder the protest was attended by human rights groups and even the SDLP ha stheir place. Funny thing was there wasn`t a shinner to be seen but I don`t think anyone was surprised.
seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 09:37 PM EDT
Just read a news report on an all Ireland basis Sinn Fein may be the biggest party in the 32 counties but not big enough to form government without a coalition partner. Might not the unionists coalesce with Sinn Fein,stranger things have happened.
seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 07:56 PM EDT
Well said Kevin Kehoe!! The London fear and smear haters have forgotten the GFA and fear the resurgence of Sinn Fein in Ireland. FYI petty bythebay McGuinness travels on an Irish passport so suck it.Who cares if he killed two bigoted anti Irish RUC officers in Norn Arelen.
pilib04 | Apr 26, 2012, 07:51 PM EDT
Bythebay is just babbling. Of course Martin McGuinness has everything to do with Ireland. His all-Ireland political party Sinn Fein is rising in the polls and is now the number two party in the Republic (under the capable leadership of Gerry Adams TD).
Bythebay | Apr 26, 2012, 07:29 PM EDT
KevinKehoe, Martin McGuinness has nothing to do with Ireland, he's in Northern Ireland, a separate country (since 1922) and part of the United Kingdom. He never lived in Ireland. He was roundly defeated in the Irish Presidency. He's an IRA terrorist and murderer. Those of you living in the US thinking such thugs are patriotic are severely misinformed, he is despised in Ireland. He and his IRA thugs waged 30 years of terrorism, death and destruction and won nothing.
merefalow | Apr 26, 2012, 07:26 PM EDT
there are a multiplicity of actions perpetrated by both sides of the sectarian divide,if the peace process is to continue for the benefit of the people of NI these accusations need to be over.
Searlit | Apr 26, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT
Great post KevinKehoe!
KevinKehoe | Apr 26, 2012, 06:32 PM EDT
Re. clevelander. According to the British, Roger Casement, Michael Collins, Kevin Barry, Tom Clarke and the list go's on & on and most were Murdered for daring to be brave enough to stand up against the British Empire. Not traitors to Ireland or any freedom loving people, but brave patriotic Irishmen, including the man above who is engaged in the process of building a new Ireland based on equality for all.
clevelander | Apr 26, 2012, 05:21 PM EDT
He's a Provie. He is a liar and a traitor.
RedBranch | Apr 26, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT
Mr. McGuinness likes to masquerade under different names as well. Publications signed P.O'Neil seem to eminate McGuinnessness.
aloistmartin | Apr 26, 2012, 01:12 PM EDT
My Uncle ( Who Runs still runs a Cocktail Bar at 80 years of age ) keeps a 3032Tomcat and Baseball Bat behind the counter ? It`s an Old School crowd, mostly Locals, Continental types, some Armenians, couple of Indian Chaps. They don`t like Obama, or the Police. Gutsy little group. Would like to Believe The Weapons was for my Uncle`s Own Protection ?
mactire | Apr 26, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT
Why are newspapers/media not reporting that Hurst tried to distribute a fake document about Martin McGuinness (claiming that he was a spy for MI6) and that he his "evidence" was demolished by the Bloody Sunday Tribunal? Nor was he ever an "officer". For most of his career he was either a lance corporal or corporal and never got beyond Sergeant and even that was at the very end. Terrible reporting.