Award Winning Documentary. Some consider it the Best Documentary of the Troubles.
The story of the Northern Ireland Troubles through the unflinching testimony of two men who played key roles on opposite sides of that bloody conflict. Nearly ten years ago the two paramilitary leaders told their stories on condition that they could never be revealed while they were still alive.
The stories told by the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) Brendan Hughes and Ulster Volunteer Force’s (UVF) David Ervine tell us of the motivations of the participants, the planning of campaigns of violence, the misery of a hunger strike, the tracking and killing of informers and the duplicity that ended a conflict that had lasted too long. It is also a narrative of the fate of combatants when their wars are over.
£1.00 – £10.00 would make me quite happy and anything above this would delight me so much I would consider you a dear friend and come and visit you, celebrate your birthday and other important dates in your life ,send you Xmas cards, email you and be there for you when you felt down , remember you in my prayers and tell the whole world what a great person you really are.
For decades, the British and Irish had ‘got used to’ a situation without parallel in Europe: a cold, ferocious, persistent campaign of bombing and terror of extraordinary duration and inventiveness. At the heart of that campaign lies one man: Gerry Adams. From the outbreak of the troubles to the present day, he has been an immensely influential figure. The most compelling question about the IRA is: how did a man who condoned atrocities that resulted in huge numbers of civilian deaths also become the guiding light behind the peace process?
Moloney’s book is now updated to encompass the anxious and uneasy peace that has prevailed to 2007.
The Shankill Butchers was an Ulster loyalist gang—many of whom were members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)—that was active between 1975 and 1982 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was based in the Shankill area and was responsible for the deaths of at least 23 people, most of whom were killed in sectarian attacks. The gang was notorious for kidnapping and murdering random Irish Catholic civilians; each was beaten ferociously and had his throat hacked with a butcher’s knife. Some were also tortured and attacked with a hatchet. The gang also killed six Ulster Protestants over personal disputes, and two other Protestants mistaken for Catholics.
Extract from Belfast Child
The story of my life long search for my missing Catholic mother and our eventual reunion.
I lived just opposite the community centre were the butchers dumped many of the bodies and I use to be terrified on dark winter nights, when I had to walk past the centre and every sound and shadow had me on tender hooks. Once my cousin Sam and I were playing in a building site and we ran into a half completed house to hide from our mates. All the walls and floors were covered with blood and gore and on one of the walls it looked as those someone had tried to write “Help Me” in their own blood. We knew we were in a room that had been used to torture someone and we both yelled and ran all the way home………………………………………………….
Before you go
Guess how much in donations I’ve received in the past five years ?
£15.00 and not a penny more !
I’ve poured a lot of time, effort, and heart into this blog over the years. It’s something I’ve kept going because I genuinely enjoy sharing it — but in all that time, it’s received just £15 in donations.
If my writing has ever helped you, made you think, or simply given you something worthwhile to read, I’d be grateful for your support.
A small donation would really mean a lot to me.. 😏
My opinion of Mark in BB has changes slowly, but gradually over the past few days. When He first went in I was appalled at his behaviours’ and apparent total lack of any social skills what-so-ever. But gradually he has grown on me and I now consider him to be a comic genius and he has me and the wife rolling on the floor, metaphorically speaking .
He has shown he has a softer side and was generous in his concern for Eileen and I can see the nice guy trying to get out. So give him a chance.
Twat
Simon on the other hand is a complete tosser and so far up his own behind he will hopefully disappear. There’s nothing funny about the outrageous way he back stabbed Eileen and insulted Eileen and I am now regretting his reappearance on thee show. Hopeful the British Public will get shot of him at the first opportunity and he can go bore his friends instead of BB viewers. Well, that’s my opinion anyways.
Well it’s been a while since I post to my dairy and I thought I better move my butt and put pen to paper, metaphorically speaking.
The usual things are dominating my mundane life and there’s nothing very exciting to report. I’ve been watching Big Brother and am most disappointed with this new lot of housemates. Simon is doing my head in and has shown himself to be a two faced bitch and my heart goes out to poor Eileen , whom seems to do nothing wrong and yet is abused and dismissed on a casual basis. Also, why didn’t they throw that new Irish twat out for the same crime that brought down the likable, but annoying Aaron. That new girl Harry is a right minger and if I was her parents I would be appalled.
Gonne to soon Kieran
One finally thought on BB, why did the British public get rid of poor Kieran ? , he was the best thing in there and I’m baffled by what he done to deserve such an early exit. Answers on a post card please
Daughter feel in love and then the dirty rat dumped her and now I have a very unhappy teenage daughter on my hands. To be honest the boy wasn’t no where good enough for my baby and I’m glad to see the back of him ,but I think I’ll keep that to myself me thinks. Autumn was such a beautiful happy child and she’s turned into a slightly angry, grumpy teenager, but she’s a good kid and never does anything to outrageous or brings shame on the family.
We’ll leave that to her brother Jude. Him and Colin (BOTH 8 YRS) were upstairs supposable watching Scoobie Doo and Simone went up to check on them and they were watching hardcore porn. I nearly fainted. Simone asked what they were doing and they said they were just having a look, but both were glued to the screen and were watching avidly as a young lady demonstrated how ambidextrously she could use both legs. There will be a Stewart’s enquiry and a suitable child filter things activated on the laptop and any other devices that connect to the web.
Been doing a bit of work on my book and am still positive that I’m moving in the right direction, but I wish things would move faster and I could get a publisher to committee. I have an agency putting together a proposal and hopefully doing the rounds, but as yet nothing solid. Fingers crossed something will be sorted soon, as I really want to share my story.
Final thought goes to Charles Kennedy and the family he left behind, R.I.P Charles , your legacy and memory will live long!
Beannachd leibh
(Goodbye)
Before you go
Guess how much in donations I’ve received in the past five years ?
£15.00 and not a penny more !
I’ve poured a lot of time, effort, and heart into this blog over the years. It’s something I’ve kept going because I genuinely enjoy sharing it — but in all that time, it’s received just £15 in donations.
If my writing has ever helped you, made you think, or simply given you something worthwhile to read, I’d be grateful for your support.
A small donation would really mean a lot to me.. 😏
A great read if you want to know more about the British Army and undercover operations in Northern Ireland.
1969 was a year of rising tension, violence and change for the people of Northern Ireland. Rioting in Derry’s Bogside led to the deployment of British troops and a shortlived, uneasy truce. The British army soon found itself engaged in an undercover war against the Provisional IRA, which was to last for more than twenty years. In this enthralling and controversial book, Martin Dillon, author of the bestselling The Shankill Butchers, examines the roles played by the Provisional IRA, the State forces, the Irish Government and the British Army during this troubled period. He unravels the mystery of war in which informers, agents and double agents operate, revealing disturbing facts about the way in which the terrorists and the Intelligence Agencies target, undermine and penetrate each other’s ranks. The Dirty War is investigative reporting at its very best, containing startling disclosures and throwing new light on previously inexplicable events.
Well now that I’ve covered dad’s death I am now ready to move on to the next stage of my life, which was predictable full of woes and misery. But its not all bad and there were many happy time, especially when I discovered drugs and girls and lost myself completely in both.
But before I got there I had many more miles to travel on the winding road of my “Wonderful ” life.
After dad’s death I wanted to be left alone to grieve and try and find the will to continue and find something positive to look forward to in the future. But as usual fate took a malevolent interest in my destiny and continued to abuse me.
I tried to adapt to the many changes after dad’s death, from moving among dad’s relatives and questioning my faith in God. And I began to think more and more of Mum and even suspecting that she might not be dead after all.
Belfast Child
Keep reading my story….
How in my desperation to find mum I approached the salvation army in secret and asked them to help me find mum, but due to the fact I had no details about her, including her surname they were unable to do anything for me.
Why I had a secret meeting with a Catholic priest and how this meeting changed my view of Catholics.
Found comfort in god and the church and even held my own services , with Bother George in the dry stock room of the Co – Op we both worked in. Bother George was very stupid and I was his master!
Found out I liked the high I got from glue and spent my teenage years experimenting with one drug or another. And it wasn’t blocking out the pain, it was making my life bearable and I enjoyed it. Had some crazy trips on acid though.
Had a horrific accident in school that put me back in hospital for six months.
Joined the UDA and was prepared to fight for my Queen and Country, but I was not prepared to kill innocent Catholic’s or anyone for that matter.
My time in the UDA and the military and loyalist history lessons and workshops
Watched as many of my friends were punished (kneecapped) by the paramilitaries, Joined the paramilitaries and some even became Loyalist killers and others ended up dead.
And how many years later when I was older and wiser a letter from the past set in motion a chain of events that would finally lead to me finding mum and our reunion after almost 25 years apart.
And much more………
So if your interested in my story please keep reading and spread the word. I want my story to be seen by as many as possible and if you can retweet this or send a link to your friends and family I would be most grateful.
Take care and be happy.
John Chambers
Before you go
Guess how much in donations I’ve received in the past five years ?
£15.00 and not a penny more !
I’ve poured a lot of time, effort, and heart into this blog over the years. It’s something I’ve kept going because I genuinely enjoy sharing it — but in all that time, it’s received just £15 in donations.
If my writing has ever helped you, made you think, or simply given you something worthwhile to read, I’d be grateful for your support.
A small donation would really mean a lot to me.. 😏
