A personal reflection by Alan Brecknell | 10 April 2024
One of my first memories of Barney is of him entering a room at Benburb Priory in County Tyrone in 2000, he was there to attend a meeting which had been organised by the Pat Finucane Centre. This older man walked through the door and just lit up the room. Even though he was there to meet others who...
Arrest policy for protestants - loose minute December 1972
MoD memo discussing the criteria that might be applied 'if and when' loyalists would be detained. Refers to loyalist violence including 'comparatively harmless vigilante activity'.
One MoD memo from November 1972 titled 'Security Forces and UDA' instructs that operations 'should be directed against their criminal extremist elements whilst making every endeavour to maintain good relations with law abiding citizens in the organisation.' The RUC apparently had similar instructions. Vigilante type patrols should be tolerated…