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Padraig (Podraig) Wilson IRA terrorist and Martin McGartland the undercover agent inside the IRA
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IRA ARMS CHIEF SENTENCED ME TO DIE
A KEY figure in the Northern Ireland peace process is today named by former Special Branch agent Martin McGartland as the IRA punishment chief who ordered his execution.
Padraig Wilson, who is set to lead the IRA team negotiating disarmament, headed the terrorist organisation's intelligence and discipline operations in Belfast in the mid-1980s.
McGartland, who infiltrated the IRA on the Special Branch's behalf, reveals in the Sunday Mirror today how he went to meet Wilson at Sinn Fein headquarters in 1991 - but was faced, instead, with a punishment squad
who took him away for interrogation and execution. He escaped by jumping from a third-floor window.
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Wilson, 42, still a prisoner at the Maze but is expected to be released within weeks, was elected to handle the decommissioning talks at an IRA Army Council meeting two weeks ago in the Irish Republic.
Wilson is said to have met Canadian General John de Chastelain, head of the International Decommissioning Commission, in Dundalk yesterday, to start talks on handing over weapons.
Sinn Fein officials refused to confirm Wilson's role. One said such a role would be "an enormous, and perhaps, unfair burden on a prisoner". But security sources said they were expecting the IRA to put up a "smokescreen".
Two priests from Clonard monastery in West Belfast, who set up a secret communications channel between the IRA and the Irish government in the early 1990s, could become involved in the talks.
The IRA is considering asking Fr Alec Reid and Fr Gerry Reynolds to act as independent decommissioning verifiers.
Republicans describe Wilson as one of the most respected IRA leaders and a moderate voice among hardliners.
He was jailed for 24 years in 1991 after being caught with a car bomb in Belfast City centre.
In the mid-1980s, Wilson joined the IRA Belfast brigade staff. His closest ally was David Adams, the cousin of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
As head of its so-called Civil Administration Team, or punishment squad, Wilson had the power over life and death, sanctioning vicious attacks on petty criminals and taking charge of the hunt for Special Branch informers. One he uncovered was Martin McGartland.
In 1991, suspicion fell on McGartland after operations he was involved in were either foiled by the security forces or had to be abandoned because of defective weapons.
McGartland, then aged 21, had spent the previous two years working with Davy Adams, and also in the pay of Special Branch.
One August morning he was called to a meeting with Wilson.
After clearance from his handlers, McGartland went to Connolly House on Andersonstown Road, Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland HQ.
But Wilson was not present and McGartland was taken to a flat in the Twinbrook estate where he later jumped 40ft from a third floor window to cheat death at the hands of an IRA execution team.
Within months, Wilson was caught with an undercar booby trap bomb and sent to the Maze.
He gave the first insight into IRA thinking on disarmament a year ago in a letter to a Belfast newspaper. It said he believed that "voluntary decommissioning" could happen once political institutions were in place.
Now the world holds its breath to see if decommissioning will go through before the May 2000 deadline.
Link; http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19991205/ai_n14497588/
Wednesday, January 5, 2000
Tuesday, January 4, 2000
Northumbria Police ACC Tony Crimmens is a 'Liar' says British Agent Martin McGartland
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Martin McGartland and the Northumbria POlice Cover-Up
The letter (in following report) from Mr Crimmens claims McGartland has put his own life and those of his armed escorts at risk by slipping away from the safe house on at least one occasion. 'ACC Tony Crimmens, like his Pals in HQ, are liars and have never told the truth since the day of my shooting by the IRA. I wanted to go to do a tv interview, however, Mi5, Northumbria Police did not want it to happen. They did not want me to tell the public the truth, Northumbria Police were trying to keep me away from media, however, I was NOT going to allow that to happen. So I will say it again ACC TONY CRIMMENS former yes man, ACC at Northumbria Police is a LIAR and he was directly involved in the Northumbria Police cover-up and smearing of me on the day of my shooting and thereafter.', said Martin McGartland.
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I shall not be moved vows McGartland.
The Birmingham Post
February 21, 2000
Former IRA informer Martin McGartland, who survived an assassination attempt eight months ago, yesterday said he would fight police attempts to move him out of a safe house where he has been under 24-hour armed protection.
Northumbria Police want him take up a new identity in another part of the country or accept 28 days' notice to find "alternative accommodation".
Reports have put the cost of providing 24-hour protection for Mr McGartland at more than a pounds 1 million.
The force declined to comment on reports that assistant chief constable Tony Crimmens had written to the ex-RUC agent last week with the ultimatum.
Mr McGartland is credited with saving 50 lives, including those of British servicemen, when he infiltrated the IRA in Belfast between 1988 and 1991.
He believes it was the IRA who last June tried to have him killed outside his home on Tyneside, where he moved after his cover was blown in 1991.
He was shot six times, but Northumbria Police have refused to say whether the shooting was linked to the IRA.
Mr McGartland said the alternatives being offered by police did not guarantee his safety, and he would be seeking a judicial review of the decision.
He said: "The law clearly states that if there has been any threat against any individual, the police have a duty to look after that person to such times as that threat goes.
"I know it was the IRA that tried to shoot me last year, even though Northumbria Police refuse to say that, and my life is still in danger.
"What is being offered to me does not guarantee my safety. The IRA could easily uncover any new identity the Crown authorities give me, and the move to new accommodation does not provide me with even CCTV security."
He said: "People forget that I fought on behalf of the Government and the RUC by getting inside the IRA, even if is was for only two years.
"At the end of the day, I put my life on the line, and now they are saying, `okay that was a long time ago you have nothing to fear'. But I have been shot since."
The letter from Mr Crimmens claims McGartland has put his own life and those of his armed escorts at risk by slipping away from the safe house on at least one occasion.
McGartland said the police were using the incident to force him out.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said the force was not commenting on Mr McGartland's security arrangements.
But a force spokesman said: "We consider it unreasonable to provide the current level of accommodation and security on a long-term basis."
Mr Andrew Mackay, Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, said: "Clearly, McGartland is at risk, particularly after the attempt on his life last year.
"In those circumstances it is essential that he is properly protected by the authorities, and if this were not to be the case those responsible for such a decision would be in dereliction of their duties."
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60516593.html
Martin McGartland and the Northumbria POlice Cover-Up
The letter (in following report) from Mr Crimmens claims McGartland has put his own life and those of his armed escorts at risk by slipping away from the safe house on at least one occasion. 'ACC Tony Crimmens, like his Pals in HQ, are liars and have never told the truth since the day of my shooting by the IRA. I wanted to go to do a tv interview, however, Mi5, Northumbria Police did not want it to happen. They did not want me to tell the public the truth, Northumbria Police were trying to keep me away from media, however, I was NOT going to allow that to happen. So I will say it again ACC TONY CRIMMENS former yes man, ACC at Northumbria Police is a LIAR and he was directly involved in the Northumbria Police cover-up and smearing of me on the day of my shooting and thereafter.', said Martin McGartland.
===========================================================================================================================
I shall not be moved vows McGartland.
The Birmingham Post
February 21, 2000
Former IRA informer Martin McGartland, who survived an assassination attempt eight months ago, yesterday said he would fight police attempts to move him out of a safe house where he has been under 24-hour armed protection.
Northumbria Police want him take up a new identity in another part of the country or accept 28 days' notice to find "alternative accommodation".
Reports have put the cost of providing 24-hour protection for Mr McGartland at more than a pounds 1 million.
The force declined to comment on reports that assistant chief constable Tony Crimmens had written to the ex-RUC agent last week with the ultimatum.
Mr McGartland is credited with saving 50 lives, including those of British servicemen, when he infiltrated the IRA in Belfast between 1988 and 1991.
He believes it was the IRA who last June tried to have him killed outside his home on Tyneside, where he moved after his cover was blown in 1991.
He was shot six times, but Northumbria Police have refused to say whether the shooting was linked to the IRA.
Mr McGartland said the alternatives being offered by police did not guarantee his safety, and he would be seeking a judicial review of the decision.
He said: "The law clearly states that if there has been any threat against any individual, the police have a duty to look after that person to such times as that threat goes.
"I know it was the IRA that tried to shoot me last year, even though Northumbria Police refuse to say that, and my life is still in danger.
"What is being offered to me does not guarantee my safety. The IRA could easily uncover any new identity the Crown authorities give me, and the move to new accommodation does not provide me with even CCTV security."
He said: "People forget that I fought on behalf of the Government and the RUC by getting inside the IRA, even if is was for only two years.
"At the end of the day, I put my life on the line, and now they are saying, `okay that was a long time ago you have nothing to fear'. But I have been shot since."
The letter from Mr Crimmens claims McGartland has put his own life and those of his armed escorts at risk by slipping away from the safe house on at least one occasion.
McGartland said the police were using the incident to force him out.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said the force was not commenting on Mr McGartland's security arrangements.
But a force spokesman said: "We consider it unreasonable to provide the current level of accommodation and security on a long-term basis."
Mr Andrew Mackay, Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, said: "Clearly, McGartland is at risk, particularly after the attempt on his life last year.
"In those circumstances it is essential that he is properly protected by the authorities, and if this were not to be the case those responsible for such a decision would be in dereliction of their duties."
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60516593.html
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