Product Description

Since the 1970s people have been murdering their neighbours in Northern Ireland. This book is the true account of the small-town violence and terror which lies behind the headlines.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28519 in Books
• Published on: 1998-06-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 371 pages

Customer Reviews

insight into daily life in the ira by an ex member
Collins was born in 1954 and joined the IRA in late 70s. Not a dry history but a very exciting book from the inside. It contains a number of nicknames of leading IRA men scap,hardbap,mooch,hawk etc in the area who have since been named in other books and publications. Collins became part of an intelligence unit as well as an internal security unit in his native newry area. He was arrested in 1985 and became an informer however he quickly changed his mind but stayed on remand in prison for 2 years. The IRA exiled him as he didn't testify against them. He lived in Southern Ireland for 3 years,returning to Belfast for 2 years to work quietley in a college,then to Edinburgh,Scotland as a community worker.Finally in 1994 he returned to his home area thinking he was safe. He made a tv programme in 95 talking about his life which was critical of the IRA then in 97 this book was published,a devastating critique of the provos. After regularly receiving death threats he was brutally beaten to death.
One of the ironies of the case is a number of the IRA men who were his former colleagues and were critical of him,were themselves later revealed to be informers including stakeknife/scap. It has to be said ALL autobiographies are prone to be one sided and to minimize wrong doing but this is a great book revealing operations ,methodology and IRA /Sinn Fein tensions at that time.

An amazing insight into the IRA.
As an ex member of the armed forces I was very dismissive of this book until I actually read it. The story of Eamon Collins is fascinating and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in learning about how terrorist organisations operate.

A real eye-opener on what really goes on.
After reading many books about the troubles in Northern Ireland I thought that this would be the same as the rest but Eammon has done what no other person has done and given me a great insight into what goes on in an active volunteers life. I could not put this book down and I never wanted to stop reading it, if anyone wants to learn some more about the troubles in Northern Ireland then I suggest this book.