There is an increasingly fast paced effort to push the republican narrative of collusion. With operation Kenova investigating agents operating within the highest echelons of the IRA, Sinn Fein’s arms-length campaigners are devoting vast amounts of energy to pursuing fictitious collusion allegations.
The purpose behind this is two-fold, firstly to divert from awkward questions stemming from Kenova’s investigations and the secret file in their possession naming three IRA informants in relation to the Sandy Lynch case in 1990. One informant was the agent known as Stakeknife, the other was Sandy Lynch and the third is understood to be an individual that continues to hold a prominent role within Sinn Fein.
The second aim of the collusion narrative is to present implied justification for the IRA’s ‘campaign’. They believe that if they can present the UDR, British Army and RUC as protagonists, that this will then provide the IRA with good reason to justify their unjustifiable terror campaign.
Recent allegations in relation to the Glenanne gang stem from interviews given by discredited former RUC officer and convicted killer John Weir, who now lives in South Africa. None of Mr Weir’s allegations have been proven, and indeed many have been shown to be embellished.
It is interesting that for many years republicans campaigned- rightly- against the use of supergrass trials and highlighted how unreliable paid informants were. Only last week republicans dismissed Sean O’Callaghan as a “walter mitty”- yet the same republicans produce convicted killer and informer John Weir as a credible witness. It is clear that informers are credible in the eyes of republicans, so long as their evidence fits their agenda.
The whole collusion narrative, especially around the Glenanne gang, is based on the premise that individuals such as Robin Jackson- who was never convicted of murder of membership of a proscribed organisation- were informers. If this was the case, then how many people did Robin Jackson end up putting in prison by virtue of his information? If the answer is none, then how can he be accurately described as an informant?
This isn’t about justice or truth, if it was then the same victims groups would be seeking justice for those murdered by the IRA. They aren’t. They only seek truth and justice when it fits into the republican narrative. It is a strand of republican strategy. Truth and justice comes secondary to promoting a narrative to justify the IRA’s campaign of terrorism.
Relatives for Justice and others have been regularly asked whether they will campaign on behalf of British soldiers and security forces personnel murdered by the IRA, they appear unable to answer this question.
Where is the enquires into the murder of Protestants? or into the IRA’s campaign that was directed by individuals that until recently held senior positions within the Northern Ireland Executive? None of that fits the narrative, therefore it is conveniently brushed under the carpet.
It is absurd that we have a situation whereby Sin n Fein are demanding more investigations and enquires. This from the same Sinn Fein whose leader cannot even admit he was a member of the IRA. The same IRA that went to Smithwick and lied through their teeth.
This is the same Sinn Fein that was led in Northern Ireland by Martin McGuinness, a man who couldn’t tell the truth to the Saville enquiry because it would break the IRA code. The code that former Sinn Fein Northern Ireland chairman Bobby Storey publicly urged IRA members not to break.
These are just some examples of Sinn Fein’s version of truth and justice. If the so-called Glenanne gang even existed, then why- if they had the security force assistance that John Weir and republican campaigners claim- was the IRA not completely wiped out in the area in which it is claimed they operated?
It is also a point of note than many of those alleged to be members of the Glenanne gang are now dead and thus unable to defend themselves.
If there is to be truth and justice, then let us have truth and justice across the board. Not a manipulated ‘truth’ designed to help IRA terrorists re-write the past and justify their murderous deeds.