Informers, agents, the IRA and British counter-insurgency strategy during the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1969 to 1998
This thesis investigates the impact of informers and agents upon Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) military strategy, and British counter-insurgency strategy in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1998. The importance of this topic was highlighted by revelations in 2003 and 2005 concerning two senior republicans who had both been working for British intelligence for decades. The uncovering of these two senior spies created intense debate within the media and Irish republican community as to whether the IRA ended its military campaign largely because of significant infiltration. Yet, surprisingly, there has been no dedicated academic study of the impact of informers and agents upon the IRA. A few academics have briefly considered this topic in recent monographs and journal articles. Whilst acknowledging other important factors, they argue that intelligence successes against the IRA played a crucial role in influencing that organization to end its military campaign in 1998. This first in-depth study of the influence of informers and agents on IRA and British strategies during the Troubles cross-references new extensive interview material alongside memoirs from various Troubles participants. Its central argument
Leahy, Thomas Daniel Melchizadek
Informers, agents, the IRA and British counter-insurgency strategy during the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1969 to 1998. This thesis investigates the impact of informers and agents upon Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) military strategy, and British counter-insurgency strategy in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1998. The importance of this topic was highlighted by revelations in 2003 and 2005 concerning two senior republicans who had both been working for British intelligence for decades. The uncovering of these two senior spies created intense debate within the media and Irish republican community as to whether the IRA ended its military campaign largely because of significant infiltration. Yet, surprisingly, there has been no dedicated academic study of the impact of informers and agents upon the IRA. A few academics have briefly considered this topic in recent monographs and journal articles. Whilst acknowledging other important factors, they argue that intelligence successes against the IRA played a crucial role in influencing that organization to end its military campaign in 1998. This first in-depth study of the influence of informers and agents on IRA and British strategies during the Troubles cross-references new extensive interview material alongside memoirs from various Troubles participants. Its central argument
agent british counter insurgency strategy northern ireland troubles investigate_impact agent upon provisional irish republican army military_strategy british counter insurgency strategy northern_ireland importance topic highlight revelation concern senior republican work british_intelligence decade uncover senior spy create intense debate_within medium irish republican community whether end military_campaign largely significant infiltration yet surprisingly dedicate academic_study impact agent upon academic briefly_consider topic recent monograph journal_article whilst acknowledge important_factor argue intelligence success play_crucial_role influence organization end military_campaign first_in_depth study influence agent british strategy troubles cross reference new extensive_interview material alongside memoirs various troubles participant central_argument