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In Search of the Truth: British Injustice and Collusion in Northern Ireland
The British criminal justice system is not dedicated to the truth. It is concerned only with reasonable doubt. During the British Army campaign in Northern Ireland (1969–2007), security forces often dispensed with judge and jury, selected candidates for assassination, extracted false evidence from suspects, forced confessions from innocents and tortured citizens detained without trial.
Recent inquests have disclosed a wealth of explosive, newly declassified information, which allows for a compulsive exposé of abuses of power. Drawing on previously unseen material, Michael O’Connell, an experienced criminal lawyer, lays bare the chilling details of key cases in which the law was disregarded. He reveals how the truth was sacrificed to collusion, prejudice and corruption in notorious cases. Among them are the killing of Máire Drumm (Vice President of Sinn Féin), before which an army unit surrounding the hospital where she was a patient was withdrawn, and of Miriam Daly (a lecturer in Queen’s University) in her home, where outgoing calls had been cut.
Too often, the attitude of politicians is to leave the past behind. But without the truth and justice, there can be no reconciliation or forgiveness. In this careful examination of indisputable evidence, Michael O’Connell seeks to ensure wrongful convictions of the innocent will not be repeated.
Recent inquests have disclosed a wealth of explosive, newly declassified information, which allows for a compulsive exposé of abuses of power. Drawing on previously unseen material, Michael O’Connell, an experienced criminal lawyer, lays bare the chilling details of key cases in which the law was disregarded. He reveals how the truth was sacrificed to collusion, prejudice and corruption in notorious cases. Among them are the killing of Máire Drumm (Vice President of Sinn Féin), before which an army unit surrounding the hospital where she was a patient was withdrawn, and of Miriam Daly (a lecturer in Queen’s University) in her home, where outgoing calls had been cut.
Too often, the attitude of politicians is to leave the past behind. But without the truth and justice, there can be no reconciliation or forgiveness. In this careful examination of indisputable evidence, Michael O’Connell seeks to ensure wrongful convictions of the innocent will not be repeated.
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2017
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July 26, 2017
I remember, as a young man, watching these events unfold on our TV screens, reading the papers and, as we did then, believing much of what the government media said was happening. As we now know these events were happening at the same time as organised paedophilia in Westminster, at the BBC with 'Sir' Jimmy Saville, who's knighthood Thatcher was warned against by one of her aides in Armstrong, in Europe and the churches. The despicable shipping of children, stolen under false pretences from their parents, to Australia where many were abused or used as child labour. We, the average man or woman in the street, knew about none of these things because they were all covered up by successive governments. Many, many files naming politicians have been 'lost'. It was not "in the public interest" to know!
Since then also, we've had the disgusting smears and lengthy battles over the Hillsborough campaign. Over 120 'good' policemen changed their statements under orders from their superior officers. 'Thatchers Army', the same force responsible for Orgreave.
This concern from government for the ability of their sensitive public to know the truth must have weighed heavily with them as they have shielded us from all their cover-ups in our own interests. How good of them!
Whilst everyone is outraged by paedophilia and subsequent whitewashing the same may not be said of government, police and judicial corruption when concerning national security. This book sets out and succeeds very definitely in proving collusion between prime ministers, politicians, barristers, high-ranking army officials and proscribed paramilitary organisations against just one section of the community in Northern Ireland.
Reading this book, I feel there will be a big difference in understanding by Patrick Murphy and Perigrine Harrington-Smythe! There are cases where the Crown knowingly 'fitted up' innocent people for the Guildford and Birmingham pub bombings and then colluded in the executions of people they believed to be IRA operatives. Whereas many a man in the street would turn a blind eye to the latter bug would be slightly upset about the injustice of innocents serving time, the British government didn't distinguish between the two. The main objective was a conviction. As the author points out though, the question is who decides, no matter how revolted one is by the atrocities committed, who lives and who dies. Does a soldier or a policemen become the deciding factor in who receives 'justice?' Should we then dispense with courts, the right to a fair trial and the notion of innocent until proved guilty. That is ONE of the great things for which Britain is admired worldwide. Whether or not it's deserved I become increasingly doubtful.
Sent from my iPad
Since then also, we've had the disgusting smears and lengthy battles over the Hillsborough campaign. Over 120 'good' policemen changed their statements under orders from their superior officers. 'Thatchers Army', the same force responsible for Orgreave.
This concern from government for the ability of their sensitive public to know the truth must have weighed heavily with them as they have shielded us from all their cover-ups in our own interests. How good of them!
Whilst everyone is outraged by paedophilia and subsequent whitewashing the same may not be said of government, police and judicial corruption when concerning national security. This book sets out and succeeds very definitely in proving collusion between prime ministers, politicians, barristers, high-ranking army officials and proscribed paramilitary organisations against just one section of the community in Northern Ireland.
Reading this book, I feel there will be a big difference in understanding by Patrick Murphy and Perigrine Harrington-Smythe! There are cases where the Crown knowingly 'fitted up' innocent people for the Guildford and Birmingham pub bombings and then colluded in the executions of people they believed to be IRA operatives. Whereas many a man in the street would turn a blind eye to the latter bug would be slightly upset about the injustice of innocents serving time, the British government didn't distinguish between the two. The main objective was a conviction. As the author points out though, the question is who decides, no matter how revolted one is by the atrocities committed, who lives and who dies. Does a soldier or a policemen become the deciding factor in who receives 'justice?' Should we then dispense with courts, the right to a fair trial and the notion of innocent until proved guilty. That is ONE of the great things for which Britain is admired worldwide. Whether or not it's deserved I become increasingly doubtful.
Sent from my iPad
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