The Troubles Podcast

Few parades in the world are as controversial as the one at Drumcree Church in Portadown. In this episode, we go back to the very beginning and try to explain how exactly one mile of road became a flashpoint for the entire conflict in Northern Ireland. From the founding of Portadown as a plantation town to the birth of the Orange Order and the Obins Street dispute, we trace the route that led to the first standoff on the Garvaghy Road in 1995. With Drumcree back in the headlines, part 2 will focus on current events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1990s, Lee Lavis was a young British soldier sent to South Armagh. Crossmaglen. Bandit Country. In this episode, I sit down with Lee to hear what it was like to patrol the fields and border roads of South Armagh at the height of the Provisional IRA's campaign there. We then talk about life after, in which Lee experienced drug addiction and homelessness. This is the first episode of Season 7. Lee will also be joining me at CrimeCon London on the first weekend of October for a panel on the prosecution of British soldiers for Troubles-era killings so come along and say hi if you are there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the podcast, Johnny Adair talked about his role during the Troubles. "Mad Dog" Adair progressed from a skinhead youth to lead the UDA's C Company, directing over 40 murders, robberies, and operations. He waged a war against the Nationalist population, but he wanted more and was eventually expelled from Northern Ireland after turning on his fellow loyalists and trying to seize control of the Shankill. This is his story in his own words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair played a significant role in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He commanded the UDA's C Company and through his leadership they enacted a fierce campaign of violence against Republican paramilitaries and the Nationalist population as a whole. For the first time in the Troubles, loyalists were out-killing republicans and much of this was down to the actions of C Company. But Adair wanted more power and ended up taking the fight to fellow loyalists, as he ousted the UVF from the Shankill. But this move would see the full weight of the UDA come down upon him, and would lead to his expulsion from Northern Ireland. This is the story of Johnny Adair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to the history of the Provisional IRA, there are many divisive figures within the paramilitary group. Some were beloved who then fell out of favour, either by leaning too far towards peace, or refusing to give up the violence. Few are as beloved as Brendan Hughes His story is also rather unique, in the years before he died, Hughes was extremely candid about his time in the Provisional IRA. He contributed to the Boston College Tapes between 2001 and 2006, providing an insight into his time in the IRA that was revealed after his death in 2008. What was revealed had significant repercussions for people still alive today, and especially Gerry Adams. Brendan was a unique person, and through these interviews we have been given an extremely rare insight into his life behind the veil of being a paramilitary. This is the story of the troubles, told entirely from the perspective of The Dark, Brendan Hughes, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early days of the Troubles, the Provisional IRA needed two things: guns and money. As hundreds of thousands of Irish Americans watched the troubles unfold, many of them wanted to help. NORAID was born out of this need. But was it just humanitarian aid that they were sending home, or was it weapons? This is the story of NORAID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Ward is at home with his parents. He’ s watching football on the television with his father when they hear a knock on the door. He answers and a man says “Alright Chris, I’m here to talk to you about Celtic”. The man then pushed past Chris into the house. A second man then appeared, dressed in black and a third. Chris worked at Northern Bank in Belfast, which was the largest retail bank in Northern Ireland, which distributed cash to its 95 branches, and hundreds of ATMS in Northern Ireland. It was one of four banks in Northern Ireland which had the capacity to print its own banknotes. The men made it clear to Chris that they were here because of the bank he worked in, and if he and his family cooperated they would be fine. If they didn't they would be killed. What transpired that night ended up being the largest cash robbery in British and Irish history. This is the story of the Northern Bank Robbery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is being released on the 50-year anniversary of the Kingsmill Massacre; an attack which saw members of the provisional IRA march 11 Protestant factory workers off a bus, line them up and execute them. All were killed, except for Alan and this week he tells us what life is like after such a life-altering event. We talked about a lot of things, and honed in on that English accent heard on the night of the killing and how Alan does not believe that was Captain Robert Nairac but instead the clues point toward ex-paratrooper turned IRA paramilitary, Paddy O' Kane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the podcast: The Disappeared. People who were abducted, killed, and secretly buried someone on the island of Ireland. There's a lot in here, including: The toll on family members when they don't know where their loved one is buried The Disappeared Commission who are still organising digs and searches Details about all 17 of the Disappeared and one additional person who has disappeared. Reasons why people were taken Anyone with information on the four outstanding Disappeared cases should contact the ICLVR on +353 1 602 8655 or Secretary@iclvr.ie or ICLVR PO Box 10827 Dublin, Ireland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Delve into the hidden world of the UVF with guest Iain Turner, an expert on Northern Ireland’s loyalist paramilitaries. We unpack the origins of the UVF’s weapons and explosives, their approach to informers, the controversy of Robin Jackson, and why Iain questions the existence of the Glenanne Gang. This compelling conversation uncovers fresh perspectives and lesser-heard stories from one of the most secretive paramilitary groups operating during the Troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can get check out the latest range of merchandise including Jumpers, hoodies, t-shirts, totes and hats, here: https://visualanticsapparel.com/collections/the-troubles-podcast Will be back to business as usual next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sunday, January 4th, 1976. Reavey brothers, Brian, Anthony and John are alone in the house eating biscuits and watching TV. Suddenly, he men saw the barrels of automatic machine guns appear in the window above the front door of the house. At that moment, the door burst open and three armed men came through the door, unleashing a barrage of machine gun fire at the young men inside. This episode tells the story of brothers who were shot and killed in their home. We’ll explore the investigation into their murders, the secret ties between loyalist militants and some police and soldiers, and the campaign of harassment their family faced for decades afterward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Rory Nugent shares his extraordinary experience embedded inside the IRA during one of the most turbulent periods of the Troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Balcombe Street Gang were an active service unit based in London, and one of the Provisional IRA’s most efficient units operating outside of Northern Ireland. Their 14-month campaign saw them planting upwards of 40 bombs around the London area, which killed and injured many and struck terror in the hearts of Londoners. Their reign came to an end after a six-day siege took place between members of the gang and the London metropolitan police and in this episode we will learn about the gang itself, and the siege which was watched live on TV by millions of people around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Stothers was an officer in Northern Ireland and was a part of the new rebranded police force, the PSNI, which had replaced the RUC. But this period of peace time policing was anything but, and Chris ended up shot in the stomach at point blank range by dissident republicans during a protest in 2010. In this episode Chris tells his story, and talks about life after policing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dominic McGlinchey, was one of the most wanted Republican paramilitaries in Ireland during the Troubles. First with a small unit of freelance paramilitaries, he then joined the PIRA before changing sides and joining up with the INLA. He would soon gain full control of the INLA and under his control, the group carried some significant attacks on the security services. But when he tried to leave paramilitary life behind, his violent past would catch up with him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the conclusion of my conversation with former undercover agent Martin McGartland, we dive into the aftermath of his dramatic escape in Belfast and the challenges he faced while living under threat in England, as gunmen would eventually find out where he was living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is an interview with Martin McGartland, who is a former informer who was kidnapped by the IRA after they became suspicious of his activities. There is a lot in this interview, including first hand accounts of how he became an informer, the activities he carried out, and then what things were like when he got caught. This is the first part of a two part episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get Troubles Podcast Merch here: https://visualanticsapparel.com/collections/the-troubles-podcast Also over on Patreon I have just released a bonus episode. It is a bit older than my usual ones and focuses on one of the seminal moments during the Irish War for Independence, which saw British Soldiers shooting dead Irish civilians attending a GAA match. The day, which is known as Bloody Sunday did not occur during the Troubles, but has so many similarities with the one that occurred in 1972. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this final episode of season 5 of the Troubles Podcast, I talked to Eddie Kinner who joins the UVF at a young age and then was involved in a gun and bomb attack on a pub when he was 17. We talk about his past, and how he feels about life in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode focuses on Martin McGuinness as a politician and the rocky path to peace, which would be strained on many occasions. There was peace, then the threat of it all falling apart, problems with decommissioning and even a presidential bid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the podcast comes the first in a two-part series on the life of Martin McGuinness. In this episode we cover Martin's rise to prominence and the role he played in some of the pivotal moments of the troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sergeant Joe Campbell was a Catholic RUC officer who was well respected by the people he looked after in the small seaside village of Cushendall up in the Glens of Antrim. At the time, the RUC was an overwhelmingly Protestant police force and Joe knew that there were some in the organisation who didn't want a Catholic working in their midst. In 1977 Joe was killed by loyalists and in this episode his son, Joe Campbell Junior, talks about his father and the 33-year quest for justice. Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here: https://nordvpn.com/troublespod It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The La Mon House Hotel Bombing was a no-warning incendiary bomb attack on unsuspecting patrons in a hotel, which saw 12 people lose their lives. This attack was a complete disaster for the Provisional IRA and firmly cemented the thought in the minds of Unionists, that they were a sectarian group. Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here: https://nordvpn.com/troublespod It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raymond Gilmour was born and raised in Derry and decided to become an informer as a teenager. He joined the INLA and then the Provisional IRA and all the while he was passing information on to the RUC and British Army. Then when he was exposed as an informer, upwards of 100 people were arrested on his testimony alone. But the toll paid by an informer is indeed a heavy one, and was it worth it? Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here: https://nordvpn.com/troublespod It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don Tidey was kidnapped by the Provisional IRA in the hopes that his employer would pay the significant ransom that they demanded. What ensued instead was the largest manhunt in the history of the Irish State, which would see people lose their lives as a result of paramilitary violence. Journalist Ronan McGreevey comes on to tell this story. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/troublespod Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this second episode we examine James Mitchell and his farm at Glenanne. We then dive deep into two bar attacks, one which was carried out by serving members of the RUC, and the other which took place under the watchful eye of the British military. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This two-part episode focuses on the Glenanne gang, who were a secret informal alliance of Ulster loyalists based in the village of Glenanne. These were a group of loyalist which included members the the paramilitary group, the UVF, but also members of the police force the RUC and the British military regiment the UDR. In this first episode we learn about the infiltration of the UDR and then hear the claims made by former Glenanne gang member, John Weir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a short episode to explain why there has been rioting in the streets of Belfast in the early days of August, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard O'Rawe joined the Provisional IRA when he was a teenager. He was eventually arrested and spent a number of years taking part in the blanket protests which would eventually lead up to the hunger strikes. Richard was there for it all and in this episode we talk about his role during the hunger strikes as well as his thoughts on Freddie Scappaticci who also went by the name of Stakeknife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a dark evening in February, 1983, when three armed, masked men arrived to the home of Jim Fitzgerald.His family were locked in a room. One of the men said to him "We have come for Shergar. We want £2 million for him." He was taken at gunpoint to a nearby stable where Shergar the horse was sleeping. The horse was loaded into a horsebox, and never seen again. What followed was a mystery which captivated the people of Ireland, and many around the world in the hunt to locate Shergar the world’s most famous racehorse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The two socialist Republican paramilitary groups were the INLA, Irish National Liberation Army and the IPLO, the Irish People's Liberation Organization.These were two organisations who sought to fight against the colonial occupation of British Rule and free the working class of capitalistic dominance. However, instead of romantic struggle they would instead set their sights on each other. Former friends would become submerged in a murky world of criminality, revenge, sectarianism and cold-blooded murder. By the end of this feud, many would be dead and both organisations would be shadows of their former strength. So what led to such a bloody and violent feud? Find out in this weeks episode.Written by John Livingstone, you can find him over on Instagram at @thetroublesarchive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'll be putting on a live show in London later this month with Kevin and Jason from Shite Talk: An Irish History Podcast. It'll take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at the London Irish Centre. Ticekts are £12 and the show starts at 19:30. Be great to see some of you there! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode focuses on the life of Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest who had a unique relationship with the Provisional IRA and Libyan Dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Through Father Ryan, the Provisional IRA received millions in cash, but it was his engineering work with Provisional IRA bombs, which would end up saving the lives of many paramilitaries… while allowing them to improve the efficacy of their bombing campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a Sunday evening in November, 1983 and 65 people were attending service at the Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church Service. The church was a small wooden building on the outskirts of the Northern Irish village of Darkley, in the county of Armagh, which was close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The popular hymn, 'Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb' was playing, and pastor Bobby Bain was leading the singing. It was at this time, three masked gunmen arrived at the church. As the congregation started singing the final verse ‘Lay aside the garments that are stained by sin’, the shooting began. What ensued has gone on to be known as the Darkley Killings and in this episode we will learn about what happened and who was responsible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's the link to The Troubles Podcast live show in January 25th, 2024:www.puntcomedy.com/event-details/the-troubles-live-podcastIn this episode, Kevin Owens talks about life in the Irish army during the Troubles, and explained what life was like... From searching in lakes for Libyan arms dumps to dealing with Gardai who may have been helping out the IRA. He then joined the US Army and ended up serving in Iraq and Afghanistan a number of times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Ervine began as a loyalist paramilitary but had a remarkable change of heart while in prison, and upon his release dedicated his efforts to political discourse, and acting as a political voice for the UVF. But it wasn't easy, and there would be many who wanted to take his life. This is the story of the man who championed constructive unionism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter Taylor is a journalist who had an unparalleled level of access across the divided and sectarian communities in Northern Ireland. He has made multiple documentaires and written many books about the Troubles, and was trusted by paramilitaries to tell the world their stories. In this episode we talk about his life, his memories of Bloody Sunday, and meeting the leaders of the Provisional IRA and the dangers with being a journalist during the Troubles. We then discuss his new book, Operation Chiffon, The Secret Story of MI5 and MI6 and the Road to Peace in Ireland. This book tells the linear story of three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, with a focus on the secret peacemakers, the people who created back channels between the Provisional IRA and the British Government, in an attempt to broker peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Thrall deployed as a Royal Marine into Northern Ireland in 1989. He knew very little about the conflict in Northern Ireland before arriving, and it wasn't long before he would see first-hand, what the troubles was like for a member of the British armed forces. Republicans targeted his barracks with mortor bombs, and he was also fired upon while out on patrol one day. This is his experience of the troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we will focus on the attacks associated with Stephen 'Top Gun' McKeag, his fall from grace from the UDA and the circumstance which would lead to his eventual demise. This episode was written by John Livingstone, and you can find more of his writing by searching @TheTroublesArchive on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This two-part episode focuses on Stephen 'Top Gun' McKeag, who was a prominant member of the Ulster Defence Association. He was also responsible for many killings of Catholics in Northern Ireland. This first episode will talk about how the UDA restructured in the early 90's and what led to the rise of C-Company.This episode was written by John Livingstone, and you can find more of his writing by searching @TheTroublesArchive on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's episode features my chat with academic and historian, Gearóid Ó Faoleán. We talked about the Republic of Ireland's response to the growth of the Provisional IRA and how they dealt with the rise of Republicanism. We talk about how the IRA made explosives, whether they helped or hindered the heroin epidemic in Dublin, how Republicanism and class have changed over the decades and a lot more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Remembrance Day Bombing was an IRA bombing which was carried out in the town of Enniskillen in Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA claimed that they were targeting members of the security forces but instead ended up killing mostly elderly civilians. A lot of this episode focuses on where the IRA were getting their bombs from, which took them to the North African country of Libya. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bertie Ahern was the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland during the peace talks in Northern Ireland. I sat down with him in March 2023 to talk about his memories during this period, and the many times it felt like it was all going to fall apart. We then talked about Northern Ireland today and what affect Brexit has had on the Good Friday Agreement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Good Friday Agreement was a mammoth undertaking which was the result of multiple failed agreements and a quest for peace for the people of Northern Ireland, This epiosde focuses on the sheer effort that was involved in finding peace for what many percieved as a neverending war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is about John Crawley, who joined the US Marines with the intention of returning back to Ireland to then join the IRA. He hoped he could bring his expertise to what he believed was one of the best paramilitary groups in the world. But once he joined, things weren't exactly what he expected, and in the end, the Provisional IRA were more interested in his accent than his expertise with weapons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Stagg was a Republican prisoner from Ireland who died on hunger strike in 1976. In this episode we will learn about what happened afterwards, as the Irish Government went to significant lengths to prevent his funeral from becoming a rallying cry to the Republican movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 9am in the morning of July 29th, 1974 and council workers are cutting grass near the M1 Motorway near Belfast, when they discover the body of a woman lying half submerged in stagnant water. It was clear that the woman had been badly beaten before she was killed. The woman was soon identified as mother of four, Ann Ogillby. But who killed her and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a sunny morning in Hyde Park in London. On this morning in Hyde Park, the Household Cavalry were taking part in a changing of the guard ceremony. As they passed by a parked car, a nail bomb that was hidden in the trunk of the car was detonated. The bomb was made up of 11 kilograms of gelignite and 14 kilograms of nails which turned into deadly shrapnel upon detonation causing a scene of utter devastation. Just two hours later, in Regents Park, which was nearby, 30 military bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets were getting ready to perform on a bandstand. Unbeknownst to them, a bomb was hidden underneath their bandstand which was timed to go off as they were performing. When the bomb eventually exploded, it turned the entire bandstand into deadly shrapnel which caused utter devastation to the men performing. In this episode, we will look into the two bombings which occurred on this fateful day in Hyde Park and Regents Park which would be considered one of the most devastating attacks carried out on…

This is the second part of an episode focusing on the Hooded Men. In this episode Jim talks about his life after being interrned and then I will go into more detail about the complex legal case surrounding the courts definition of the word 'torture'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices