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Send us a text **NOT A CLIP FROM MARTIN'S LAST INTERVIEW** Ex-republcian prisoner Martin McAllister joins us again to share the story of one of the IRA's most brazen and risky one-man prison escapes, an escape that was masterminded & executed in the space of 2 hours. It resulting in an IRA man walking straight out of the British internment camp, all while being assisted, unwittingly, by one of the top prison guards.   Martin, not content with having once taken part in a mass-jailbreak from Portlaoise max-security prison, employed his skills of observation and opportunism to free a fellow republican prisoner who started the morning completely unaware that he would walk straight out of Long Kesh that day.

Send us a text For the episode I’m joined by ex Royal Ulster Constabulary and PSNI officer Sam Thompson. Sam spent his teen years growing up in a 1970s Belfast and remembers seeing his city descend into chaos and violence as the conflict erupted. Despite this Sam elected to join the police force which brought him face to face with danger in some of Northern Ireland’s most deadly areas including East Tyrone, Armagh and Springfield Road in Belfast. Sam shares stories about narrowly avoiding death at the hands of the IRA 3 times within a week and how some of his fellow officers weren’t so quite lucky. We spoke about the importance of conversations about the conflict and of preserving the stories/memories of those who were there as well as how Sam ended up making friends with ex republican paramilitaries.  00:00 Making friends with ex-IRA men  06:25 Growing up  19:30 Joining the RUC  38:40 INLA in Armagh  43:45 British soldiers telling Loyalists that they’re “Not British” 47:07 BELFAST (Springfield Road station) 57:00 UDR  59:55 Collusion ? 1:29:15 Most memorable moments from Sam’s career 1:32:15 Thoughts “Say Nothing” tv series  1:35:45 Sam’s writing  1:43:00 Common misconceptions   BUY SAM’s NOVEL: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nights-Armour-Samuel-Thompson/dp/178117699X PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us a text For this episode I'm joined by ex- South Armagh man Martin McAllister who you may have seen in the recent BBC documentary on Captain Robert Nairac. Martin shares his experiences including guerrilla warfare in the fields of South Armagh, being part of one of the IRA's biggest prison escapes and being shot while attempting to ambush British soldiers. He tells us about the british army medic who intervened and potentially stopped his fellow troops from k*lling Martin and how this had a profound effect on him. Martin speaks in depth about the importance of empathy, even during a violent conflict, and how he came to hold such views. Martin has spent decades searching for the remains of "the disappeared", a group of people who the IRA m*rdered but have never disclosed their place of burial, including one of the most enigmatic figures from the troubles, Captain Robert Nairac.   00:00 Early days of the troubles in Crossmaglen  06:05 Joining the IRA  12:05 Training  17:20 British Army “No-Road” Policy & Helicopters In South Armagh  20:30 “Bandit Country” Nickname  23:30 ROBERT NAIRIC 28:05 Breaking Out Of Max-Security Prison  41:40 Returning to Active Service  43:50 SHOT & CAPTURED BY BRITISH ARMY  49:50 EMPATHY 57:28 KINGSMILL  1:14:02 Quest to find Robert Nairac & “the disappeared”  1:16:10 Martin’s thoughts on recent BBC documentary that he featured in PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us a text My guest for this week is long-time Belfast -based journalist, Hugh Jordan. Hugh explains what being a journalist was like during some of Belfast's most turbulent years as elements of the Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries tried to derail the peace-process and plunge the North back into violence. Hugh tells us about how he acquired and kept his sources during this time, often members of the IRA, UVF, UDA and more. He speaks about the dangers that come with his role, threats that have made against his life, being assaulted on the job and meeting some of the conflicts most famous "touts"/informers. He also shares stories about the Shankill Butchers, ex- SF publicly director Danny Morrison and how Hugh repaired his relationship with Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair. Hope you enjoy!! 00:00 Intro 4:10 Paisley’s role in early violence in N.I  16:00 Sources within the IRA 26:10 Dealing w/ sources  34:10 Sources lying ? 36:40 Meeting with INLA 40:30 Willie Carlin & Ray Gilmour  52:25 Paramiltaries post- troubles  57:00 Cameron Hastie  1:00:30 Basher Bates  1:06:45 Danny Morrison story  1:10:50 Naming Thomas “Slab” Murphy  1:15:00 Patching up relationship with Johnny Adair  1:24:50 RUC man Ronnie Flanigan  1:32:30 Hugh gets PUNCHED on the job  PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us a text This week I'm joined by the author of "An Accidental Villain: A Soldier's Tale of War, Deceit and Exile", Linden MacIntyre. This book explores the life of Henry Hugh Tudor, a close friend of Winston Churchill who, during the height of Irish War Of Independence, was appointed as the de-facto chief of police (RIC) in Ireland which put him charge of arguably the single most hated group in Irish history - "the Black and Tans". BUY THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Villain-Soldiers-Deceit-Exile/dp/0735282021 PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected] TIMSTAMPS  00:00 Intro  06:30 2nd Boer War 10:05 How did his time in Ireland effect Tudor ? 18:45 To what degree did Churchill shield Tudor from Cabinet scrutiny ? 24:50 Burning of Cork & Sack of Balbriggin  43:00 Life after army

Send us a text My guest for this episode is Eamon McAuley, a former professional boxer from Ardoyne and author of “Fighting to Find Peace”. Eamon was born in Belfast just before “the troubles” erupted and has experienced a childhood unique to his place and time. From arms dumps on his street to his great uncle being brutally m*rdered by the infamous Shankill Butchers, Eamon’s life is one that has been shaped, in many ways, by the conflict that surrounded him.  Eamon also shares many stories about his father “Coco” McAuley, a notorious Ardoyne hard-man who, at one stage, was shot by the IRA, Loyalists and fought the British army Paras in the street, to the point where they had to send a boxing champion over from Germany try to defeat him.  00:00 Coco McAuley (Eamon’s father) 08:40 Eamon’s childhood (Shankill Butchers and Johnny Adair)  21:15 Lewis Crocker (Belfast’s newest champ)  34:30 Thoughts on MMA 41:35 Did being a vegetarian end Eamonn’s career?  45:25 Coco II 59:15 Coco III 1:01:25 Coco SHOT BY LOYALISTS  1:06:15 Reality of growing up during the troubles  1:15:00 GFA & thoughts on Irish Reunification  https://www.youtube.com/@UCH3Cfhwnw5TxRUlL20A_wuQ  https://www.orpenpress.com/books/fighting-to-find-peace-a-belfast-boxers-journey/

Send us a text For this episode I am joined by author and historian, John Crotty. John has researched extensively the subject of Irelands neutrality during WW2 and the actions the Irish govt took that broke neutrality in favor of the allied side. We discuss the efforts that the IRA of the time made to collaborate with the Germans, how the Irish govt took extreme measures against the republicans (including internment and execution) and DeVelera’s decision to offer condolences after the death of Hitler. John also went over the reasons why Winston Churchill wished to damage Ireland’s image, what declassified British & American intelligence documents tell us Irelands war effort and whether or not Ireland was an anti-Semitic place. PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected] JOHN CROTTY'S WEBSITE : https://johncrottyauthor.com 00:00 Intro  10:40 Did the Irish public support the IRA’s actions ? 15:10 IRA and German collaboration  19:50 Did the IRA leaders have ideological sympathies w/ the Nazis  26:00 Irish Govt’s pro-Ally actions during WW2  36:50 Did the German’s know that Ireland wasn’t really neutral ? 41:25 Decision to not take in refugees  44:10 Dev’s decision to offer condolences after Hitler’s death 51:40 Were Irish people pro-AXIS during WW2 ? 55:00 Northern Ireland’s role in WW2 1:02:45 How Ireland helped the D-DAY Landings  1:06:27 Accusations leveled at Ireland re: helping the N*zis  1:10:45 Churchill’s plot to discredit Ireland during WW2  1:19:48 Level of anti-semitism in Ireland at the time  1:28:45 1904 Limerick Pogorm  1:34:30 John’s background in history  1:37:13 US Intel on Ireland during WW2

Send us a text Martin Galvin is the former publicity director of The Irish Northern Aid Committee, better known as "NORAID", and to many, the face of the group. A proud Irish-American, Martin joined NORAID in 1976 and, along-side his day job as a district attorney, worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the American public and political leadership about Irish republicanism and the injustices suffered by the people of Northern Ireland. He was barred from entering Northern Ireland and defied the order by sneaking in to give a speech which was violently shut-down by the RUC. Martin shares his thoughts on the IRA's campaign of violence, why he himself didn't choose to help the armed side of the conflict, how he felt when he would hear about British soldiers being k*lled , the allegations of gun-running that plagued NORAID through it's entire existence (not unjustly)  and much more. PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Martin reaction to recent RTE Noraid documentary  3:30 Martin’s Irish roots  09:00 NORAID  15:40 NORAID members involved in g*n-running  21:34 Martin’s support for The PIRA  38:00 Martin’s reaction to hearing about British soldiers being k*lled in the North  42:10 Meeting IRA k*llers  44:40 Peaks in Noraid funding  47:10 Feds 48:15 Gun-running trial (from Noraid documentary)  54:00 Regret not helping with armed campaign  58:15 Becoming Publicity Director of Noraid  1:09:35 MARTIN ESCAPES THE RUC 1:12:50 Martin asks Bill Clinton about Gerry Adams’ visa  1:17:45 Gerry Adams meets Donald Trump  1:18:35 Were NORAID “sidelined” by Sinn Fein  1:24:30 Denis Donaldson  1:29:00 Were the hunger strikers allowed to die by republican leadership ? 1:30:30 Anything Martin wishes he had done differently

Send us a text My guest for this episode is Ali Watkins, author of “This Next One’s For You”, a book which explores the world of Irish-American gun-running in the early days of the troubles in Philadelphia and New York and how this impacted the conflict. We discuss Clan na Gael, an Irish-American group that pre-date the IRA and how they have been aiding the Irish Republican movement for decades and their efforts to arm the Provos however they could. Ali tells us about the methods they used to get the rifles from the US to the North of Ireland, the mistake that began the US Department of Justice’s investigation into them and how the FBI & ATF eventually ended their run, resulting in the famous “Philadelphia Five” trial.  PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Who are CLAN NA GAEL ? 4:53 Philly’s connection to Ireland  7:35 Vince Conlon 10:20 Clan Na Gael & NORAID overlap  14:05 Were NORAID involved in g*n-running ? 16:15 Logistics of the g*n-running scheme  21:40 FBI & ATF take on Clan Na Gael  32:35 John Casey (“the tout”) 36:40 “The Philadelphia 5” Trial  48:38 Vince Conlon II 51:25 Researching the book BUY THE BOOK: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-next-one-is-for-you-a-true-story-of-guns-country-and-the-ira-s-secret-american-army-ali-watkins/21633877?ean=9780316538275&next=t&affiliate=2344

Send us a text For this special episode I’m joined by Ciaran Shiels, human rights lawyer for the Madden & Finucane law firm. For almost 30 years, Ciaran he has  represented the majority of the Families and Wounded throughout the Saville Inquiry, the subsequent civil actions, and in all of the Judicial Review challenges related to the criminal investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for the shootings of 27 unarmed  young men and a woman on Bloody Sunday, as well as approximately 500 of the civilian witnesses who gave evidence at Saville.  He has been immersed in the case against Soldier F, with all of its twists and turns, and is recognised as one of  leading legal authorities on the events of Bloody Sunday. This episode will be an extremely in-depth analysis of Bloody Sunday’s events with a particular focus on the notorious “Soldier F” due to his upcoming trial in September, and that of his fellow British Paratroopers, none of whom are facing trial. Ciaran takes us through each of Soldier F’s victims, as well as all those m*rdered in a day that would have long-lasting effects on Irish history. Ciaran talks about how Soldier F’s account of his actions that day have changed over the years, how Soldier F lied about the innocent people he arrested on the day and the various attempts by the British establishment to avoid a putting Soldier F in court to face justice.  This episode is 3 hours long and is obviously a very deep-dive into the entire case, myself and Ciaran wanted to create one video, available to everyone online, that goes through the existing evidence and testimony regarding Bloody Sunday with a degree of thoroughness previously unseen in a podcast/YouTube video. This episode is for those who wish to get into the weeds of the case and get a clear idea of what Solider F and his men did that day and why they, mostly, got away with it. This episode contains graphic description of violence and may be upsetting to some.  00:00 Why we can discuss the case and Soldier F’s Anonymity Order  05:53 Ciaran Shiel’s background  16:00 Soldier F & his unit  50:15 SOLDIER F ON BLOODY SUNDAY (SH*OTING STARTS) 1:24:10 How many did Soldier F sh*ot and how his account of the day has changed?  2:07:47 Belfast incident involving anti-tank platoon  2:17:00 Was Soldier F ordered to sh*ot innocent people ? 2:50:40 Predictions for trial  2:58:00 Tape of bugged calls from Victoria Barracks (Derry) on the day  PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us a text For this episode I'm joined by a man well known ex-loyalist paramilitary and one-time leader of the Lower Shankill Road's infamous UDA (Ulster Defence Association), Johnny Adair. Johnny speaks about his growing up in Belfast during some of it's most turbulent and violent times, his lifelong friend with UDA k*ller Sam McCrory and he came to join, and later lead the Lower Shankill Road's UDA C- Company.  We discussed his days as an active paramilitary, his many near brushes with death and how he viewed his opposition, the Provisional IRA and the INLA/IPLO. I asked Johnny his thoughts on C-Company's victims and whether he has any regrets looking back. We spoke about the RUC's many attempts to both jail him, which they eventually would, and to recruit him as an informant.  Johnny shares his surprising thoughts on the republican hunger strikers who died in 1981, whether he himself would have been willing to do the same if called upon and what life is like for him now, living away from the city that he once saw himself a defender of. PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro  1:5 Thoughts on Kneecap member’s charges?  9:45 United Ireland ? 15:30 If Johnny went back to the Shankill  20:21 Growing Up  29:40 Sam “SKELLY” McCrory  37:45 Training (Brian Nelson, Ken Barrett  55:20 Did C- Company do “spur-of-the-moment-k*lls” ? 1:06:40 DID C-COMP EVER EVEN INJURE OR K*LL ANY IRA MEN? 1:25:00 INLA 1:26:40 “House-takeovers” by UDA C-comp  1:30:45 John McMichael k*lling by the IRA  1:33:15 IRA ALMOST K*LL JOHNNY ADAIR  1:49:00 SHANKILL ROAD FISH SHOP B*MB 1:53:00 Dr*g-dealing & Extortion ? 1:55:10 GETTING CAUGHT & JAILED  1:59:40 Special Branch’s attempts to recruit Johnny as an informant  2:12:00 PRISON  2:16:10 Johnny’s respect for the IRA Hunger Strikers 2:26:15 Loyalist Feud  2:31:05 Relationship w/ Skelly and Regrets/Remorse?

Send us a text For this week's episode I'm joined by ex-investigative journalist and MP, Chris Mullin, who though his efforts, was able to help free the falsely convicted Irishmen known as "the Birmingham 6". We speak about the sequence of events on the November 21st 1974 which left a mark on the city and people of Birmingham, k*lling 21 people and injuring over 200 and how the 6 innocent men ended up in prison for this heinous IRA b*mnbing. Chris also talks about his own involvement in the case and how he put his reputation on the line to pursue the truth and prove the innocence of these men, the impact this had on the British justice system and how they eventually got free. BUY THE BOOK: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/chris-mullin/error-of-judgement/9781800961234/ PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]  00:00 Intro 2:00 THE NIGHT OF THE B*MBING  8:00 Arrests  16:45 Trial  24:40 Chris’ involvement

Send us a text This week I’m joined by Austin Stack, son of murdered Portlaoise Maximum Secruity Prison Officer, Brian Stack, who was shot and later died after a planned IRA attack in 1983. Austin tells us about the night his father was shot, what his life was like in the 18 months between Brian being sh*t in the head and his eventual passing and how he would later come to a place of forgiveness. I asked Austin about his quest for truth surrounding his father’s death, those who were involved and where they are now, his meetings and relationship with Gerry Adams and what “justice” for his father would mean. 00:00 Intro  10:30 Who in the prison was colluding with the IRA 14:50 THE NIGHT AUSTIN’S FATHER WAS SHOT (1983) 26:35 Brian Stack’s life after being shot 37:15 Austin personal journey to find the truth  54:45 Meeting Gerry Adams & Secret Meeting  1:39:40 Forgiveness  1:45:30 DOES BRIAN KNOW WHO (& WHERE) THE K*LLERS ARE? 1:49:30 Relationship w/ Gerry Adams  PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]  BUY THE BOOK ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ https://www.kennys.ie/shop/justice-for-my-father-austin-stack-9781804189771

Send us a text This week I’m joined once again by Fr. Sean McManus, Fermanagh priest who shared with us the story of meeting IRA intel officer, Joe Lynsky prior to his eventual execution and the hands of his fellow Provos.  Fr McManus didn’t know it at the time but it would transpire, decades later, that he had likely given Lynsky his last confession before he became one of the IRA’s 17 “disappeared”, 13 of which have had their bodies recovered but not Lynsky.  00:00 Joe Lynsky’s background & m*rder  2:12 Request from IRA Chief of Staff, Sean Mac Stiofain  27:45 Any other pre-m*rder confessions that Fr Sean knows of ?? PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us a text For this episode I’m joined once again by author and ex-solider, Jon Trigg to speak about his new book “Death In Derry” which tells the story of the Derry IRA and it’s perpetual leader, Martin McGuinness. Jon joined us last year when he released “Death In The Fields”, his excellent book on the East Tyrone IRA, for what was one of my personal favorite interviews. Jon tells us about Derry’s significance in Irish history as well as “the troubles” period itself. We discuss Martin McGuinness’ roots and his rise power including Chief of Staff. Jon discusses the battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday as well as the army’s early days in the city and how it’s relationship with the locals changed over time. We discuss the types of attacks and operation carried out by the Provos in the city, the various “own-goals” that the IRA inflicted on itself, the role of the SAS in the city/county, the various notorious informers or “touts” that severely damaged the group’s capabilities, how the conflict wound down and eventually ended and much more. PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOU https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast  CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]  BUY THE BOOK ⬇️⬇️  https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/death-in-derry/ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Reaction to previous book & interview (East Tyrone)  1:30 Derry’s significance in Irish history  8:30 Martin McGuinness & pre-troubles Derry  15:20 BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE  22:05 British army come to Derry   41:50 “Wild West” early days and Commercial b*mbing campaign   56:20 BLOODY SUNDAY 1:06:30 Operation Motorman & Claudy b*mbs  1:15:50 Poster boys  1:35:20 THE SAS  1:44:25 DET shooting 1981  1:51:48 Why the “cell structure” didn’t suit Derry as much as Belfast  1:56:23 Events damaging the Derry IRA’s image  2:13:50 Successful SAS ambushes  2:23:40 Raymond Gilmour, Willie Carlin & Frank Hegarty 2:34:40 WAS MARTIN MCGUINNESS AN INFORMER  2:42:25 Loyalist activity in Derry  2:48:20 The End 2:58:10 Thoughts on Say Nothing tv series  3:04:17 Future Belfast Brigade books