Internal Security Unit

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The Internal Security Unit (ISU) was the name given to a counter intelligence and interrogation unit that operated within the former paramilitary organisation the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). This unit was often referred to as the Nutting Squad.

While the PIRA was a secretive, paramilitary organisation, the unit is thought to have had jurisdiction over both Northern and Southern Command of the PIRA, (encompassing the entire island of Ireland), and to have been directly attached to PIRA General Headquarters (GHQ).

Contents 1 Duties of the ISU 1.1 Examples of ISU activity 1.2 Further information/sources 1.3 External links

[edit] Duties of the ISU

The group was believed to have had a number of briefs:

1. Security and character vetting of new recruits to the PIRA,
2. Collecting and collating material on failed and compromised PIRA operations,
3. Collecting and collating material on suspect or compromised individuals (informers),
4. Interrogation and debriefing of suspects and compromised individuals,
5. Carrying out executions of those judged "guilty" by PIRA courts martial.

The ISU was believed to have unlimited access to the members, apparatus, and resources of the PIRA in carrying out its duties. Its remit cannot be countermanded except by order of the Army Council.

Depositions obtained as part of its operation would ideally be noted on paper, and if possible recorded for the purposes of propaganda.

[edit] Examples of ISU activity

• Debriefing of PIRA volunteers following their detention by security forces operating in Northern Ireland. These interviews would take place to discover if a volunteer had flipped and decided to betray information or secrets of the organisation. They would also take place in the event of an operation, weapons cache, or unit being exposed to danger or uncovered.
• Involvement in the Court Martial process as detailed in the PIRA manual, The Green Book.
• The membership of the PIRA and wider republican community are expected to comply with requests for information made by the ISU. This information then being used to build or demolish accusations made against a PIRA volunteer.

[edit] Further information/sources

• Ingram, Martin with Harkin, Greg "Stakeknife". Britain's secret agents in Ireland." O'Brien Press, 2004.

[edit] External links

• "It's time ordinary republicans stopped being led like sheep" - Ingram interview with the Sunday Tribune, 19 February 2006.
• Lengthy Interview given by Martin Ingram on Radio Free Eireann describing his FRU activities. NOTE, the interview begins twenty-five minutes in.