How the PIRA was brought to a standstill

[greasytrucker]

TAYLOR: However covert the techniques, there were few the IRA did not know about. Cameras were found in fields, bugs in houses and tracking devices in cars. But most remained in place transmitting vital intelligence on the IRA. The effect was devastating.

What did the technology enable British Intelligence to do?

Brendan Hughes
Former IRA Commander, Belfast
Effectively I think to bring the IRA to a standstill where it could move very, very little. I think that's what that technology done. That's what the intelligence services were able to do. I think they were able to effectively stop the IRA.. I'm not saying defeat the IRA but certainly effectively to stop it.

TAYLOR: Contain them.

B. HUGHES: To contain it, yes.

Brits



TAYLOR: British Intelligence relied not just on agents but on blanket surveillance, in particular in the border areas of South Armagh. Here in the IRA's most impenetrable stronghold the DET couldn't mingle with the locals with the freedom it did elsewhere. In order to watch their movements, increasingly sophisticated technology took over, not just from the air but also on the ground.

Did you monitor IRA suspects on the other side of the border?

KEN: Yes, we did, one particular one, yes, which we were watching him for some two years.

[5intheface]

If you are trolling for a reaction I would imagine that very few Republicans of whatever strain would disagree with Hughes' claim.

You might be disappointed on this one.

[greasytrucker]

The PIRA got a v generous deal, Thatcher would have gone for total defeat, they were lucky Blair was generous.

[5intheface]

The PIRA got a v generous deal, Thatcher would have gone for total defeat, they were lucky Blair was generous.

I didn't mean change the entire thread GT.

[seabhcan]

This thread should be in the history forum.