The Troubles Podcast

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 [email protected] 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