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
Subtle Alchemies II: Victims, Aren't We All?
In this episode I move on to discuss the terms 'victim' and 'perpetrator' and that in post-conflict societies these terms are seldom mutually exclusive of one another.
Are we much too early, in terms of reconciliation, to even begin to think about determining ideal constructs of both 'victim' and 'perpetrator' in Northern Ireland?
Never mind 'Hierarchies of Victims', were there 'Hierarchies of Righteous Violence'?
Lots to discuss...
Works cited:
Borer, T. A., A Taxonomy of Victims and Perpetrators: Human Rights and Reconciliation in South Africa. Human Rights Quarterly 25, 2003
Brewer, J., Peace Processes: A Sociological Approach, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2010
Huyse, L., Victims. In Reconciliation After Violent Conflict: A Handbook, Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Stockholm, 2003
Moon C., Narrating Political Reconciliation: South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Lexington Books, Plymouth, 2008
The Four of Us: Mary (The Four of Us were part of the soundtrack to my Border career.)
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