Post by RedFlag32 on Dec 1, 2007 20:17:25 GMT
Ex-soldier reveals details of secret ops to Relatives for Justice
www.irelandc lick.com/ index.tvt? _ticket=OFMVOKLA FS48ODQFIR0BJMTE DWZ71GSGX4TFIVOC AOUEAMLIBHSJ5D1R HONDNNTDALNNDJRG UT4IXNNAC07Q9LLC PT0FURTSVZMAAQ48 SYKACK5K1QRFLZHX WMTEDYKACNTFURYJ HONGOMTEDWAVMT6&_scope=atown/ Content/News/ Headlines&id=5710&_page=&psv=20
By Ciarán Barnes
A former British soldier has risked his life by blowing the lid off the methods the British army continues to use to spy on republicans.
The ex-squaddie, who is too frightened to be identified because he has broken the Official Secrets Act, gave a detailed account of his part in illegal military operations to the Relatives For Justice (RFJ) group yesterday (Wednesday).
The Andersonstown News was present during his confession, which RFJ Director Mark Thompson described as a “very brave step”.
Although based in South Armagh, the soldier had in-depth knowledge of covert camera operations in West Belfast.
He claimed the Black Mountain is “riddled” with British army cameras aimed at the homes of republicans.
And he further alleged the 2002 loyalist ‘crucifixion’ of West Belfast car thief Harry McCartan in loyalist Seymour Hill was captured on a British Army spy camera.
“I was part of a unit known as the Covert Observation Platoon [COP].
“We were trained to the same surveillance level as the SAS,” said the former British soldier.
“We were involved in planting hidden cameras in different locations to spy on targets.
“The work was often on behalf of the Special Branch.”
Images captured on these illegal spy cameras were used against republicans by various security services including 14th Intelligence – otherwise known as the Force Research Unit (FRU).
The whistleblower spoke of how a four-soldier unit would plant the cameras and often remain with the equipment for up to 10 days.
He also revealed that they were told to open fire on anyone they considered a threat to themselves or the operation.
Spy targets
“We had a motto, ‘better to be tried by 12 men than to be carried by six’,” he added.
The ex-soldier explained how his unit would often travel South to spy on targets there.
He said they had virtually every part of Dundalk under scrutiny from illegal cameras placed around the town.
Despite living at barracks in Bessbrook, the ex-squaddie had regular contact with other COP units in Belfast.
He recalled how his city-based colleagues showed him footage of car thief Harry McCartan being nailed to a fence by loyalists in Seymour Hill.
“A camera got the whole lot. It was gruesome.
“The boys [COP soldiers] couldn’t have intervened even if they wanted to because it would have blown their operation.
Relationship
“That’s just the way it worked.
“We were given targets and we focused on that target. Anything outside that target wasn’t a matter for us. We were always after the bigger fish.”
The soldier decided to become a whistleblower after commanding officers forced him to end a relationship with a Belfast nationalist woman.
“Because of the area in which she lived she was labelled a ‘Red Flag’.
“I was told not to have anything to do with her, and I left the British Army soon after,” he said.
“The government have really f**ked me over and I want to get back at them.
“I know it sounds childish, but it’s how I feel, they have made my life a misery.”
The ex-soldier readily answered any questions put to him by this reporter and by members of RFJ.
Speaking after the meeting, Mark Thompson said it was clear that covert tactics deployed during the Troubles are still being used.
Special Branch
He said: “At a time of relative peace, victims will be concerned that the eyes and ears of loyalist paramilitaries, by that I mean the British Army and Special Branch, are still involved in intensive covert operations.
“It is important that people like this former soldier come forward. He has articulated quite clearly that he is unhappy about the activity he was involved in, doesn’t see a worth or value in it, and views it as an intrusion and not conducive to peace building.”
The ex-soldier is expected to spend today (Thursday) touring South Armagh showing Sinn Féin members the locations of illegal spy cameras and spy posts.
He says that he will not try and make a new life for himself in Ireland.
www.irelandc lick.com/ index.tvt? _ticket=OFMVOKLA FS48ODQFIR0BJMTE DWZ71GSGX4TFIVOC AOUEAMLIBHSJ5D1R HONDNNTDALNNDJRG UT4IXNNAC07Q9LLC PT0FURTSVZMAAQ48 SYKACK5K1QRFLZHX WMTEDYKACNTFURYJ HONGOMTEDWAVMT6&_scope=atown/ Content/News/ Headlines&id=5710&_page=&psv=20
By Ciarán Barnes
A former British soldier has risked his life by blowing the lid off the methods the British army continues to use to spy on republicans.
The ex-squaddie, who is too frightened to be identified because he has broken the Official Secrets Act, gave a detailed account of his part in illegal military operations to the Relatives For Justice (RFJ) group yesterday (Wednesday).
The Andersonstown News was present during his confession, which RFJ Director Mark Thompson described as a “very brave step”.
Although based in South Armagh, the soldier had in-depth knowledge of covert camera operations in West Belfast.
He claimed the Black Mountain is “riddled” with British army cameras aimed at the homes of republicans.
And he further alleged the 2002 loyalist ‘crucifixion’ of West Belfast car thief Harry McCartan in loyalist Seymour Hill was captured on a British Army spy camera.
“I was part of a unit known as the Covert Observation Platoon [COP].
“We were trained to the same surveillance level as the SAS,” said the former British soldier.
“We were involved in planting hidden cameras in different locations to spy on targets.
“The work was often on behalf of the Special Branch.”
Images captured on these illegal spy cameras were used against republicans by various security services including 14th Intelligence – otherwise known as the Force Research Unit (FRU).
The whistleblower spoke of how a four-soldier unit would plant the cameras and often remain with the equipment for up to 10 days.
He also revealed that they were told to open fire on anyone they considered a threat to themselves or the operation.
Spy targets
“We had a motto, ‘better to be tried by 12 men than to be carried by six’,” he added.
The ex-soldier explained how his unit would often travel South to spy on targets there.
He said they had virtually every part of Dundalk under scrutiny from illegal cameras placed around the town.
Despite living at barracks in Bessbrook, the ex-squaddie had regular contact with other COP units in Belfast.
He recalled how his city-based colleagues showed him footage of car thief Harry McCartan being nailed to a fence by loyalists in Seymour Hill.
“A camera got the whole lot. It was gruesome.
“The boys [COP soldiers] couldn’t have intervened even if they wanted to because it would have blown their operation.
Relationship
“That’s just the way it worked.
“We were given targets and we focused on that target. Anything outside that target wasn’t a matter for us. We were always after the bigger fish.”
The soldier decided to become a whistleblower after commanding officers forced him to end a relationship with a Belfast nationalist woman.
“Because of the area in which she lived she was labelled a ‘Red Flag’.
“I was told not to have anything to do with her, and I left the British Army soon after,” he said.
“The government have really f**ked me over and I want to get back at them.
“I know it sounds childish, but it’s how I feel, they have made my life a misery.”
The ex-soldier readily answered any questions put to him by this reporter and by members of RFJ.
Speaking after the meeting, Mark Thompson said it was clear that covert tactics deployed during the Troubles are still being used.
Special Branch
He said: “At a time of relative peace, victims will be concerned that the eyes and ears of loyalist paramilitaries, by that I mean the British Army and Special Branch, are still involved in intensive covert operations.
“It is important that people like this former soldier come forward. He has articulated quite clearly that he is unhappy about the activity he was involved in, doesn’t see a worth or value in it, and views it as an intrusion and not conducive to peace building.”
The ex-soldier is expected to spend today (Thursday) touring South Armagh showing Sinn Féin members the locations of illegal spy cameras and spy posts.
He says that he will not try and make a new life for himself in Ireland.
