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Stakeknife's Dirty War

How Scappaticci, British Intelligence and Special Branch Ran the IRA

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Stakeknife's Dirty War

By: Richard O'Rawe
Narrated by: Alan Turkington
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About this listen

Freddie Scappaticci was born in 1946 and raised in a deeply nationalist area of Belfast. When the Troubles broke out in 1969, he joined the Provisional IRA, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming commander of Belfast in 1984.

From the outside, Scappaticci appeared to be a dedicated volunteer, but inwardly, he had become disenchanted with the IRA and, in 1977, he started working for British intelligence. At the same time, he took up a leading role in a newly formed IRA Internal Security Unit (ISU), aka ‘The Nutting Squad'. He personally executed two suspected informers and condemned at least thirty-seven more to death.

Was he the serial killer that history portrays him? Undoubtedly. But it's not that simple, because every time he passed the death penalty on an informer, he told his British intelligence handlers about the intended execution, giving them the opportunity to prevent the killing.

Did the tasking and co-ordinating group, the primary British intelligence organisation in Northern Ireland during the troubles, aid and abet the IRA in the mass-murder of British citizens? That is the question Richard O'Rawe poses in Stakeknife's Dirty War. But O'Rawe goes further: he lays out a very compelling case that points to the TCGs running the IRA's war from the mid-1980s to the 1994 ceasefire. Such was the British intelliegence penetration of the IRA, that Freddie Scappaticci, aka ‘Stakeknife', was in control of all IRA operations in the Belfast Brigade area. This book will shock listeners, and cause them to reevaluate everything they formerly held to be true about Stakeknife's dirty war in Ireland.

©2023 Richard O'Rawe (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd
Espionage Murder Organized Crime Ireland War Scary Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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What listeners say about Stakeknife's Dirty War

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It was really very dirty

Very good and objective account. Some very thorough research went into this, I think. If you like spy stories and cloak and dagger stuff you won’t find much better than this.

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    4 out of 5 stars

'A true account of Subterfuge played out over many years. Gripping in parts too'!

A fascinating account of life as a double agent with an agenda to betray and slay in order to cement his cover as a Humint agent. I remember reading the breakout stories in the Sunday World on it's ecclusive coverage. Some of the peripheral stories in this book boxed off one or two of my own questions. Great Story.

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1 person found this helpful

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A must read/listen

Shocking revelations in this book however they are very convincing. Very suspicious this individual wasn't unmasked before he was.

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Enlightening

A well narrated and informative expose’ of intrigue that would make a compelling drama if it were not for the horror and crippling fear of the reality that all good people of the Island of Ireland sadly endured. Innocent victims including Women and Children wether Republicans, Unionists, and not forgetting the Police and British Soldiers who all paid the ultimate sacrifice in this historic conflict who should never be forgotten. This book depicts the real life drama that they endured and will bring to Life the tragedy of a Troubled time.

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Brilliant story

A fantastic story
Very well written and narrated

A compelling story told in a very entertaining and engaging way

I d highly recommend this book

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Very insightful, Interesting and well researched.

Some of the pronunciations.were awkward,. especially by a voice actor hailing from these shores. But it was well read.

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Well worth a listen.

I bought the book in order to listen to the extracts on M.McG.. That is worth a book on its own. Great listen. Will listen to it again.

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Good narration

Excellent narration with realistic accents from readers. Pace of storytelling just right.. very good insight to an interesting time in
N. Ireland.

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Live by the sword…. Fire with Fire… etc.

Very well researched, written and narrated. A fascinating insight into the murky world of guerrilla warfare and spy craft.

It’s funny how some people judge the government and army tactics as somehow worse than those who undertook indiscriminate bombing of civilian spaces… it was a dirty war on both sides.

Hopefully things never go back to that state of affairs!

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Horrifying But Enlightening

I've read much material concerning "The Troubles" from both the H.M.Govt/Armed Forces and the Republican/IRA points of view. From both standpoints, the actions and outcomes were appalling, but this is taking things to another level. Terrifying, but essential listening if you want to make a start of understanding the madness that was the UK's 20th Century Civil War.

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