The Good Listener Podcast

Send us Fan MailFor this episode I'm joined by Dr. Aaron Edwards to speak about his recently release book "Enemies Within: The Explosive True Story of Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair, Northern Ireland’s Most Infamous Paramilitary Godfather". Aaron has written about loyalist paramilitaries in the past and his latest work takes us through the history of the Ulster Defence Association and it's sub-group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, from which it would carry out it's m*rders, mainly on innocent catholics. As well as telling Adair's story and how he was shaped by growing up in Belfast during some of it's most chaotic and violent years, Aaron also uses his knowledge of the UVF to compare and contrast the two loyalist organizations. We speak about the numerous attempts by the IRA, INLA, IPLO and indeed fellow loyalists to end Adair's life and how the security forces likely saved his life on multiple occasions.Aaron explains the internal feuds that plagued the UDA and left a vacuum that Adair filled with vigor, turning the Shankill C- Company into an active group of k*llers. (Aaron's video was quite choppy at times so I've photos on screen to cover this up. Audio is completely fine)PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW BY DONATING USING THE "BUY ME A COFFEE" LINK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT00:00 Thoughts on Johnny Adair (Lenny Murphy & Billy Wright contrasts/comparisons)09:30 Does Johnny Adair enjoy the attention/notoriety ?11:40 The Ulster Defence Association (UDA)17:55 UVF activity at the time of the UDA’s formation 21:00 Factors Influencing joining of UVF or UDA 23:30 Access to arms and funding 27:45 Internal UDA feuds 32:55 Was Adair unique ?37:48 Brian Nelson42:55 Would the UFF have been finished after McMichael’s death if not for Adair ?47:05 C-Company’s attempts to take out top IRA, INLA, IPLO men55:50 Did C-Company even k*ll any IRA men ??57:50 Attempts on Johnny Adair’s life 1:06:00 IRA’s attempts to take out Adair 1:14:06 How Adair was arrested and convicted 1:19:15 Were C-Company ever on par with IRA units like South Armagh IRA 1:25:00 Was Adair fully honest with Aaron ?BUY THE BOOK : https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/enemies-within-the-explosive-true-story-of-johnny-mad-dog-adair-northern-irelands-most-infamous-paramilitary-godfather/

Send us Fan MailFrom the early years of the conflict up until the end, the British security forces had agents in both the Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups. This is the story of their two most famous agents, Freddie Scappiticci of the IRA and the UDA’s Brian Nelson.Legendary journalist and documentary maker, John Ware joins me to talk about his recent book “Neither Confirm Nor Deny”.He explores the murky world of the British army’s agent running and intel gathering organization, The Force Research Unit, better known as the FRU, its agent handlers and how much control they really had over their operatives like Scap and Nelson.

Send us Fan MailDr. Tony Novosel (Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences) is a historian and educator at the University of Pittsburgh and has dedicated decades to the study of the Northern Ireland conflict and particularly loyalism and political loyalism.Tony discusses the IRA split of 1969, how the conflict should be characterized, the UVF, Gusty's Spence's influence as well as that of Ian Paisely.I asked Tony about whether the violence that broke out was inevitable, the common misconceptions surrounding the subject, teaching in the age of ChapGPT and much more.PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]:00 Who “won” the conflict ?07:00 United Ireland Vote ?9:00 Tony’s Path 14:50 Comparisons to other conflicts 19:20 Characterizing the conflict 23:45 Ian Paisley’s Influence 32:20 Was The Violence Inevitable ?38:30 UVF & Gusty Spence 52:40 IRA 57:40 The original P.I.R.A Army Council 58:30 Ending Abstentionism1:21:40 Common misconceptions about the conflict 1:27:00 Films/TV shows about the troubles 1:39:30 AI in universities

Send us Fan MailIn this clip from our upcoming episode, historian and author, Dr. Gareth Mulvenna talks about some of the myths and half-truths that surround the Shankill Butchers, a group of UVF members who terrorized Belfast's catholic community during the height of the troubles.FULL EPISODE COMING SOONBUY GARETH'S BOOK : https://www.amazon.com/Tartan-Gangs-Paramilitaries-Loyalist-Backlash/dp/1781383251

Send us Fan MailRetired Garda (Irish police) John O' Brien joins us once again, this time to discuss his career as a police officer during the most dangerous times in recent Irish history.He tells us about his posting in "the south" along the border with the conflicts' most notorious area, South Armagh, better known to some as "Bandit Country". Despite the IRA's rule against engaging Irish state forces John was fired at as he and his colleague gave chase and the two Gardai were lucky to escape unharmed.John also tells us about the Special Branch unit of the Irish police and it's role in conflict as well as his thoughts on Garda collusion with republican paramilitaries and the role that IRA had in the m*rder of infamous Irish criminal, Martin "The General" Cahill.00:00 Intro1:45 John’s understanding of Northern Ireland’s civil inequalities in 1968 07:10 Starting Garda training 16:35 First Postings  28:35 SOUTH ARMAGH BORDER POSTING48:00 Garda Special Branch 1:24:25 GARDA COLLUSION W/ IRA ??1:33:08 Martin “The General” Cahill (m*rdered by the IRA) PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailChristopher “Pinta” McKnight grew up in Derry’s Bogside as this city erupted in violence and as a 15 year old boy he lied about his age and joined the Provisional IRA. Chris talks to us about his life in the IRA which included moving weapons and explosives as a young member , training camps in the Donegal Mountains and working closely with one of the troubles most notorious figures, Martin McGuinness. He tells us about his time on the “blanket protest” and being in Long Kesh during the pivotal 1981 Hunger Strike led by Bobby Sands as well as being the victim of one of Derry’s famous “touts”.My guest recalls being there for the Battle of Bogside and how losing a childhood mate on Bloody Sunday turned him from a Catholic teen who was friends with a British solider to a young man intent on joining the IRA and waging war on the security forces.Chris has since ran for public office for Sinn Fein and earned a degree in Law & Politics from Ulster University.00:00 Growing Up In pre-conflict Derry06:35 BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE 18:25 Bloody Sunday 41:15 Joining The IRA46:50 Training Camps53:00 Martin McGuinness, Claudy B*mb & South Derry 58:50 Prison1:16:10 In Long Kesh When Bobby Sands Died 1:22:45 Martin McGuinness as Chief of Staff1:25:58 Thoughts on Commercial B*mbing Campaign 1:26:30 INLA in Derry?1:28:00 Ray Gilmour 1:31:45 Did Steaknife come to Derry ?1:34:40 Cell Structure in Derry1:43:45 Frank Hegarty 1:47:50 Derry IRA vs Belfast IRA 1:50:00 Attempt to recruit Chris as an informant 1:51:20 Was Martin McGuinness an informant or agent ?2:01:55 Did Chris see Martin McGuiness change over time? 2:06:30 Thoughts on “Proxy B*mbs” and Joan Mathers M*rder (1981)2:10:20 “Pinta” Nickname 2:11:55 Move towards Politics 

Send us Fan MailStuart Griffiths is an ex-british paratrooper who was stationed in Belfast and East Tyrone during the late 80s/early 90s. His book “Pigs Disco” explores the sub-culture of hard dr*g use in his regiment including LSD and other substances which would get a soldier kicked out of the army.He speaks about the reality of life on patrol in some of Belfast’s most hostile areas, facing both the IRA and also a population who had particular contempt for the parachute regiment, for obvious reasons. Stu tells us about the toxic environment in the paras and how this plus the conflict itself took it’s toll on his mental health.He also talks about his time in East Tyrone and how his friend getting his legs blown off by a landmine had an effect on Stu as well as adjusting to adjust to life after the army while dealing with the mental scars of PTSD.TIMESTAMPS00:00 “Pigs Disco” 17:45 On Patrol23:00 BORN THE DAY AFTER BLOODY SUNDAY 37:10 Memorable Night in Belfast 52:05 Colluding With Loyalists??57:40 Working with RUC (Police) 1:02:10 East Tyrone 1:14:30 Running into Ex-IRA member in Belfast 1:18:15 PTSDBUY THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/ParaTripper-Para-Pap-STORY-Book-ebook/dp/B0GSVXF7M9?ref_=ast_author_mpbPLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailIn June 1987, Thomas Emanuel Wilson, a member of the Official IRA, was abducted and subsequently m*rdered by the Provisional IRA’s “nutting squad”. Like so many of the killings involving Freddie Scappaticci, better known as “Agent Stakeknife”, the victim was lifted and m*rdered on the pretense of being an informer or a “tout”, but he wasn’t. Paul Wilson was a very young child when his father was m*rdered and since taken it upon himself to dig as deep as he can to find the truth and possibly get the authorities to do more.Paul discusses his father’s life, the circumstances of his death, his dealings with the Operation Kenova team and the additional names & information that he has unearthed in the course of his own hunt for the truth. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Recent Meeting with Kenova Team1:35 Paul’s Father’s 1987 Life & M*rder (Thomas Emmanuel Wilson)18:15 When Did Paul Become Aware of Scap (Stakeknife)23:15 Mi5 Tampering in Kenova Investigation 29:25 Paul’s Journey Of Discovery 35:05 The PIRA’s “Internal Security Unit” 47:35 Further Investigations ?56:50 Freddie Scappaticci 1:11:15 Kenova Team PLEASE HELP OUT THE SHOW IF YOU CAN SPARE IT.. THANK YOUhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/goodlistenerpodcast CONTACT THE SHOW: [email protected]

Send us Fan MailJohn O’Brien is a retired Detective Chief Superintendent of An Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland. Over the course of a distinguished policing career that spanned more than 38 years, he held a succession of senior operational and strategic leadership roles.  John also served as National Head of Interpol and Europol, playing a pivotal role in fostering cooperation between Irish law enforcement and international policing organisations. His assessment regarding the Mass Murder of 34 innocents on the 17 May 1974  is that the UVF — acting alone — did not possess the technical, operational, or organisational capacity to execute the Dublin car bombings. John lays out the case based on a layered accumulation of forensic findings, expert military testimony, comparisons with the UVF’s historical bombing record and analysis of the sophisticated planning required for the Dublin operation.00:00 Could the UVF have acted alone ?03:20 THE DAY OF THE B*MBINGS ??????13:25 “The Killing Years” 29:20 The B*mb Signature 47:23 EXPERT MILITARY OPINION58:20 British Strategy & Kenova 1:09:35 Did the UVF get help planning the attack1:31:00 Final Thoughts BUY JOHN'S BOOKS : https://www.jaobrien.ie/home

Send us Fan Mail**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.