Informers in 20th Century Ireland

Informers have been active during many periods of unrest in Ireland but, until Tudor times, they had never been an organized phenomenon until the twentieth century. The decision (or refusal) to inform is dangerous—thus the motives of the informers are compelling, as is their ability to deceive themselves. Drawing on firsthand and newspaper accounts of the Easter Rising and other events, this book provides a history of the gradual development of informing in Ireland. Each informer’s story details their life and secrets and the outcome of their actions. All of them have shared two experiences: the accusation of informing, whether true or false, and betrayal, whether committed or endured.

Angela Duffy holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool (UK).

Angela Duffy
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 244
Bibliographic Info: appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7329-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3202-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
• “Kate Maloney” 3 •
Introduction 5
• “Dripsey Ambush” 21 •
1. The Evolutionary Years 22
• “Let Erin Remember” 56 •
2. The Emergency and After (1939–1974) 58
• “The Crime of Castlereagh” 86 •
3. Persuasion in Castlereagh 87
• “The Informer” 119 •
4. British Intelligence and the Army 120
• “Daddy, who was Judas?” 158 •
5. The Supergrasses 159
Conclusion 191
Appendix: Principal Methods of Torture Used in Holywood and Girdwood Barracks 197
Chapter Notes 199
Bibliography 220
Index 227