The
accusation that an individual is an informer is
a serious one, and it goes without saying that the
majority of accusations, over the last two years
are sometimes way off the mark. Many of these allegations
are made with an agenda in mind. The allegations
do have the affect of destabilising the movement
and can be very damaging to the integrity of the
individual.
The
effects upon the individual and his family, can
and almost certainly will, be massive, whether they
be innocent or not. The stigma associated with informing
can last many generations in a Republican community.
It is different to almost every other community
that I know off.
A recent case comes clearly to mind, that of Jim
Lynagh. Jim Lynagh was recently accused in a Sunday
newspaper of being an informer. He is accused of
leaking the information required to mount the aggressive
operation against a well-known and formidable PIRA
grouping.
The accusation went as far as to suggest that Jim
Lynagh was wearing a throat microphone to provide
those tasked to prosecute this operation with a
running commentary upon the pre-attack activities
and to give a real time insight into the actual
attack.
I am an experienced agent handler, and I can tell
you that whoever fed that story to the press was
taking the mickey out of that reporter. The practice
of using a throat microphone, or indeed any other
electronic device, on the individual was never employed
for very obvious and frankly sensible reasons.
At
this point, let me be very clear. I do not know
for sure that an agent was involved in this operation
and it is possible the story is correct. But what
I do know is that I wrote about aspects of this
operation a number of years ago in the Sunday
Times and that information placed in the public
domain was used against me in court by the state.
That
information was in relation to the use of an electronic
device built into the fabric of an IRA volunteer's
home who was scheduled to be on the Loughall Operation
- although he subsequently did not participate in
the actual attack.
The planning of Loughall was discussed in this volunteer's
home. The IRA volunteer was subsequently killed
whilst attacking another security force target some
time later.
I have seen no compelling evidence to suggest Jim
Lynagh was an agent. Indeed, from a personal understanding
and opinion, I would put the chances of Jim Lynagh
being a tout on a par with Bobby Sands or Francie
Hughes or his old friend Seamus McElwaine being
one also. That said, I may be wrong, but I very
much doubt it.
Since the exposure of Freddie Scappaticci there
has been a steady stream of names - both Republican
and Loyalist - leaked to the public by one form
or another, which has by design or accident created
an environment which makes the public suspicious
of any further exposures.
I
say this because this practice of using a shotgun
approach to the serious subject of informers/state
collusion is wrong and is not in the public's or
the victims' interest.
I suspect and have done so for some time that this
tactic is designed and directed by those who have
an interest in frustrating the exposure of murderers
and criminals.
In
the coming months, the authorities know that a very
high profile individual who is both a murderer and
an Agent of the State is going to be exposed along
with documentation which will reflect badly upon
the state.
It
is possible that this individual will ride the storm
because of the paranoia created; do not be fooled
by this tactic. The truth should win out.
