Martin McGartland

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Martin McGartland is a former Provisional Irish Republican Army informer[1] who joined the organisation in order to pass information to British security forces. When he was discovered to be an informer, he escaped the IRA and was resettled in England. His identity became known after a minor court case and he was shot, but recovered. He has written two books about his life.

Contents

[edit] Life

[edit] Ireland

Martin McGartland described his childhood: "I began to join the older boys in stone-throwing — the "sport", as we saw it, of tantalising and needling the British Army. More important though, were the battles we young Catholic lads fought with Protestant boys, mostly teenagers, throwing stones at each other. I don't know if I ever hit anyone, and I don't think anyone ever hit me, but those battles made the adrenalin flow and I could not wait to grow up so that I could become part of the Republican movement."

He became involved in petty crime, which brought him to RUC notice. He agreed to provide information to them about the IRA, which he infiltrated, and was given the codename "Agent Carol". [2] He led a double life, kept secret even from the mother of his two children. From 1987 to 1991 he provided information to the Special Branch, rising to the centre of IRA and Sinn Féin operations. In 1991, he provided information about an attack planned on a Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland pub where soldiers frequently drank: the RUC intercepted the courier delivering the gun to be used, and McGartland was exposed.[3] He was abducted but escaped IRA execution by jumping from a third floor window, and was rescued by passers-by before being hospitalised unconscious.

[edit] England

He moved to England and received nearly £100,000 to buy a house and establish a new life in Whitley Bay, Newcastle, although he failed in his attempt to receive compensation for criminal injuries.[4]

In 1997, his identity was revealed publicly by the Northumbria police in court, when he was caught breaking the speed limit and subsequently prosecuted for holding driving licences in different names — which he explained as a means of avoiding IRA detection.[2] He was cleared of perverting the course of justice.[5] In June 1997, the BBC broadcast a television documentary on his story.[6]

[edit] Shooting

In 1999, he was shot six times at his home by two men, but recovered from serious injuries, after being in intensive care. The IRA was blamed.[7][8] He was relocated immediately, protected by 12 armed officers and given a specially armoured car. Total costs, including the investigation, amounted to £1,500,000.[9] In 2000, Lord Vivian asked in the House of Lords whether the government intended to remove police protection from McGartland, and was told by Lord Bassam of Brighton that "Individual protection arrangements are a matter for the chief constable of the police force concerned and are not discussed for security reasons."[10]

The day after he was shot, the incident, along with the murders of Eamon Collins, Brendan Fegan and Paul Downey, was cited by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble in an interview with reporters in Belfast, to question whether the IRA ceasefire was being maintained. He reminded Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, that this was a condition of the early release of paramilitaries under the Good Friday Agreement.[11] A week later it was mentioned in the Northern Ireland Grand Committee as evidence that IRA arms decommissioning had not taken place,[12] and in January 2000 by Robert McCartney in the Northern Ireland Assembly.[13]

In 1999 McGartland published a book about his time as an informer, Fifty Dead Men Walking. The title indicates the number of lives he considers he saved through his activities.[2]

In 2000, McGartland won a case against Associated Newspapers, publishers of The Daily Mail, The Evening Standard and This is London web site, which had published an article alleging the shooting might be related to connections with local criminal gangs.[14]

In 2003, IRA member Scott Monaghan sued Northumbria Police for £150,000 for alleged ill-treatment when he was arrested (but not charged) over McGartland's shooting. McGartland had frequently criticised the police for inadequate protection, but offered to testify on their behalf, saying:

There are people who have been the victims of terrorist attacks, who've lost loved ones, and some of them haven't been compensated. It's a scandal. I am the victim of an attack and I got around £50,000 in compensation, which is not a big amount considering my injuries. I'm not complaining ... at the end of the day I was grateful to be alive. The reason I will help Northumbria Police is that this is an injustice.[5]

As of January 2006, nobody had been charged with the shooting.[15]

[edit] Recent

After the 1994 ceasefire and the 1997 cessation, McGartland appealed often to be allowed to return home to West Belfast. When he asked Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, when he would be able to, he was informed that it was a matter between him and the IRA.[2] McGartland has said that his relatives have received harassment from republicans.[2] In August 2006 Ian Paisley told Peter Hain, Secretary of State, "We have also heard how the sister of IRA informer Martin McGartland was told by police that her safety was under threat. This news broke immediately after the Secretary of State's comments that he believed the IRA had ended all of its illegal activity."[16]

[edit] Books

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Former soldier wanted over base attack
  2. ^ a b c d e "McGartland: 'A dead man walking'" BBC, 17 June 1999. Accessed 26 January 2007
  3. ^ Jack Holland and Patrick Markey. "Payback? Ex-Informer Shot in England", Irish Echo, June 23-29, 1999. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. 
  4. ^ "Martin McGartland" House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Mar 1997 (pt 15). Accessed 26 January 2007
  5. ^ a b "I will help cops beat bombers writ" icNewcastle - Sunday Sun, 6 July 2003. Accessed 26 January 2007
  6. ^ "Homeground (BBC2, 1997-): An exile's return" British Film Institute. Accessed 26 January 2007
  7. ^ Informer's sister told of threat
  8. ^ Informer fights for his life after shooting by Joe Oliver. The Examiner, 18 June 1999
  9. ^ Cassidy, John"£1.5m to keep RUC agent Martin alive" Sunday Mirror, 9 January 2000. Accessed from findarticles.com, 26 January 2007
  10. ^ "Martin McGartland: Police protection" Lords Hansard Written Answers text for 16 Feb 2000. Accessed 26 January 2007
  11. ^ "Trimble calls for review of IRA ceasefire" RTÉ News, 18 June 1999. Accessed 26 January 2007
  12. ^ "Northern Ireland Grand Committee, 24 June 1999" Accessed 26 January 2007
  13. ^ "Police: Patten Commission Report" Northern Ireland Assembly, 24 January 2000. Accessed 26 January 2007
  14. ^ "Martin McGartland v Associated Newspapers Ltd" Media Law Newsletter, October 2000. Accessed 26 January 2007
  15. ^ "Convicted terrorist wins damages" BBC, 26 January 2006. Accessed 26 January 2007
  16. ^ "Paisley blast at IRA claims" Belfast Today, 2 August 2006. Accessed 26 January 2007

[edit] External links