Stray Bullets
The Stray Bullets podcast, hosted by E.S. Haggan, frequently discusses the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), often drawing on Haggan's experiences as a former RUC/PSNI officer.
The podcast delves into various aspects of the RUC, including:
- The Troubles: Haggan openly addresses policing during the Troubles, including religion, politics, sectarianism, and related ideologies.
- Collusion: Episodes explore allegations of RUC collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and related inquiries like the Stevens Inquiries.
- Catholic officers: The podcast examines the experiences of Catholic police officers within the RUC and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), highlighting challenges like isolation, sectarianism, and racism.
- Specific incidents: Haggan discusses specific events and atrocities related to the Troubles, using his novel "The Bitter End of Dreams" as a framework to explore these topics while avoiding potential libel.
The podcast provides a unique perspective on the RUC and the Troubles, informed by Haggan's personal experiences and detailed discussions of his novel.
'There are no facts, only interpretations.'
Friedrich Nietzsche
Stray Bullets
'A sledgehammer used to miss a fly': Counterinsurgency and State Violence Part II
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
This episode concludes (for the time being anyway!) my look at the RUC and accusations of collusion. However, as I write this more seeds of research into this topic are dropping into my inbox!
Nevertheless, this episode shifts from the early 1920s through to the recent Troubles, and via Ireland and Palestine. I sincerely hope you find something of interest and I remain grateful for any reviews / thoughts / feedback etc.
In the next episode I'll be looking at terrorism from a (possibly) different angle than the usual.
Works cited:
Sir John Shuckburgh at Middle Eat Committee, 5th meeting, 23 December 1921, CO 537 831.
Statement by A. C. M. Sir J. Salmond (Air Staff memo. No. 16, 1924. AIR 5 476
AOC Palestine to AOC Middle East (secret and personal), 5 September 1938. AIR 23 765.
GOC-in-C P/TJ to DMO&I, 20 November 1936. WO 106 2033
M. Begin, The Revolt, London 1951
Report by Sir Charles Wickham, 2 December 1946. CO 537 2269
M. J. Cohen, Palestine and the Great Powers 1945 - 1948, Princeton 1982
Seán William Gannon, The Irish Imperial Service: policing Palestine and administering the Empire, 1922–1966, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
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