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.
Stray Bullets
'All the elements of a police state': John Montague's Ulster
A look at John Montague's short story, The Cry. Set in 1959 it offers an opportunity to examine Northern Irish policing practices during the 1950s and 60s. The impetus for Montague's story was his actual witnessing the assault of a young catholic man by members of the Ulster Special Constabulary (B Specials). As such, The Cry offers a window into catholic fatalism and apathy at a time when there was a furthering fracture of policing between political and conventional roles. The former encouraged and maintained by the, at the time, Unionist hegemony.
As ever, included are a few anecdotes and incidents recalled from my service in the RUC.
For anyone interested the BBC adaptation of The Cry is available to watch here.
Bibliography
Montague, John, Death of a Chieftain, Poolbeg Press, Dublin, 1978
Farrell, Michael, Northern Ireland: The Orange State, Pluto, London, 1976
Mr Nelson, Commons, Debates, August 21, 1951, col. 2071
Mr McSparran, Commons, Debates, August 21, 1951, cols. 2088-2089
Mr Diamond, Commons, Debates, May 6, 1952, col. 673
Mr O'Connor, Commons, Debates, March 12, 1969, col. 309
Mr McAteer, Commons, Debates, March 18, 1952, col. 366
Hunt Committee, P. 19; P. 32
Minister of Home Affairs Bates, Commons, Debates, April 10, 1930, col. 762; March 16, 1932, col. 371
Minister of Home Affairs Craig, Commons, Debates, December 12, 1963, cols. 1667- 1668; December 18, 1963, col. 1823
Mr Fitt, Commons, Debates, March 27, 1968, col. 246
Mr Hanna, Commons, Debates, May 20, 1936, col. 1704
O'Connor, Fionnuala, In Search of a State: Catholics in Northern Ireland, Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1993
Purdie, Bob, Politics in the Streets: The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland, Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1990
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