Murky World of British Intelligence Here to Stay

To date Colin Duffy has been mentioned 178 times at the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry. Duffy, was a client of the Lurgan based solicitor murdered in 1999 by the LVF. On 8 January, a former RUC Special Branch officer, from behind a screen made a claim that Nelson and Duffy were engaged in an extramarital affair.

Whatever relevance this had to the Inquiry is questionable but it is clear that elements of British intelligence were constructing a smokescreen. Three months prior to that claim being made, Duffy played a prominent role in a demonstration against the Royal Irish Regiment parade through Belfast.

Duffy has been a long standing Republican, against which previous trials and a period of incarceration constructed by British intelligence have collapsed. Not withstanding this, it is claimed he was lured to Lurgan RUC barracks to ‘sign on’ while on bail, after which a close family friend was murdered while leaving the barracks. It has subsequently been revealed that Special Branch was monitoring Duffy minutes before this attack took place.

Duffy is held presently in Antrim’s Serious Crime Suite – charged in relation to the killing of the two British soldiers in Antrim. Two days before his arrest, he was visited by the PSNI, photographed and told that his life was under threat from dissident Republicans. During his subsequently detention in Antrim, he successfully challenged his detention on human rights grounds and was to be released – only to be arrested while leaving the police station.

Colin Duffy was later held for three years in Long Kesh on the word of an LVF Special Branch informant and a mentally unstable woman. On appeal, this conviction was quashed after it was revealed that the word of those against him was worthless. The woman’s own family had said she was an unsuitable witness and the other witness had been exposed as an LVF member and informant.

In 1971 there were no trials; in 2009 we have show trials - Duffy is being punished for being the “respectable” voice of anti-Agreement Republicanism - he is articulate, highly politicised and doesn’t fit the characterture constructed by the media. Likewise, he has consistently organised politically for an alternative, whilst disagreeing with the Agreement.

The Secretary of State has said that Diplock Courts will stay. These courts, without jury, rest upon the decision of three judges – who are almost invariably anti-separatist. It was this conveyer belt system which sent hundreds to prison on the word of an informant or on the conclusion of a judge. This court system is a flagrant denial of the basic human right of a fair and public trail.

In Duffy’s case trial is by media. Hugh Orde, the head of the PSNI recently made reference to the “murderous gang” in Lurgan. Colin Duffy is the only person from Lurgan detained. The person held over the killing of the PSNI officer is from Portadown. Who exactly the “murderous gang” in Lurgan are isn’t clear but the presumption of guilt is. This was coupled with Dufy’s court appearance in Larne – a stronghold for dissident UDA factions. He was harangued by a mob outside the Court House, secure in the knowledge he was “guilty”. There is a Court House in Antrim itself, were Duffy could have appeared.

The recent revelation that 40 million pounds is being spent on monitoring anti-Agreement Republicans and the recent construction of MI5’s biggest installation outside London in Co. Down show that murky world of British intelligence is here to stay and that those who oppose imperialism in Ireland will be on the receiving end of all the draconian legislation still in place.

[SMG]