Difference between revisions of "Force Research Unit"

From Wikispooks
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Text replacement - "==Notes== <references/>" to "==References== <references/>")
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The '''Force Research Unit''' was a top secret unit of the British Army which was engaged in running informers and has been alleged to be involved in a number of assassinations and murders in Ireland. It has reportedly now been renamed the [[Joint Support Group]] and seems to be associated with the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]] created in 2005.  Both are reportedly headed by ex FRU head [[Gordon Kerr]].<ref>Simon Basketter  
+
{{group
 +
|type=intelligence agency
 +
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Research_Unit
 +
|powerbase=http://powerbase.info/index.php/Force_Research_Unit
 +
|image=Force Research Unit.jpg
 +
|image_caption=Members of the Force Research Unit in the [[1980s]]. [[Ian Hurst]] is pictured second from left. [[Philip Campbell Smith]] is second from the right. Smith was convicted of blagging information as a private detective in 2012, and accused by the [[BBC]]'s Panorama of bugging Hurst's computer.
 +
|image_width=600px
 +
|members=Ronnie Anderson, Ian Hurst, Peter Jones, Gordon Kerr, David Moyles, Philip Campbell Smith, Margaret Walshaw
 +
|start=1979
 +
}}
 +
The '''Force Research Unit''' was a top secret unit of the British Army which was engaged in running informers and has been alleged to be involved in a number of [[assassination]]s in Ireland. It has reportedly now been renamed the [[Joint Support Group]] and seems to be associated with the [[Special Reconnaissance Regiment]] created in 2005.  Both are reportedly headed by ex FRU head [[Gordon Kerr]].<ref>Simon Basketter  
 
Features [http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=11105 Exposing Gordon Kerr and Tony Blair’s secret army] Socialist Worker online, archive > dated 7 April 2007 | issue 2045</ref>
 
Features [http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=11105 Exposing Gordon Kerr and Tony Blair’s secret army] Socialist Worker online, archive > dated 7 April 2007 | issue 2045</ref>
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
−
According to journalist Peter Taylor, the FRU was established in 1979.<ref>Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.287.</ref>
+
According to journalist [[Peter Taylor]], the FRU was established in [[1979]].<ref>Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.287.</ref> Another source says it was set up in 1982.
  
 
==People==
 
==People==
−
*[[Gordon Kerr]]
+
*[[Gordon Kerr]] - Commander
 
*[[Margaret Walshaw]]<ref>David Lister and Ian Cobain, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1131660.ece Stakeknife is 'under guard at old Home Counties airbase'], The Times, 13 May 2003.</ref>
 
*[[Margaret Walshaw]]<ref>David Lister and Ian Cobain, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1131660.ece Stakeknife is 'under guard at old Home Counties airbase'], The Times, 13 May 2003.</ref>
 
*[[Philip Campbell Smith]]<ref>Greg Harkin, EX-ARMY AGENT ON WITNESS 'NOBBLE' CHARGE; FINUCANE MURDER SQUAD COPS RAID AUTHOR'S HOME IN ENGLAND, 19 November 2000.</ref>  
 
*[[Philip Campbell Smith]]<ref>Greg Harkin, EX-ARMY AGENT ON WITNESS 'NOBBLE' CHARGE; FINUCANE MURDER SQUAD COPS RAID AUTHOR'S HOME IN ENGLAND, 19 November 2000.</ref>  
Line 12: Line 22:
  
 
===Agents===
 
===Agents===
−
According to "[[Martin Ingram]]", FRU agents were each given a number of which the first two digits signified their location, with the second two providing a unique identifier. The prefix '30' signified the FRU's western detachment (West Det.), while Brian Nelson prefix '61' signified East Det.<ref>Martin Ingram, Greg Harkin, Stakeknife: Britain's Secret Agents in Ireland, O'Brien Press, 2004, p.55.</ref>
+
[['Martin Ingram']] reports that FRU agents were each given a number of which the first two digits signified their location, with the second two providing a unique identifier. The prefix '30' signified the FRU's western detachment (West Det.), while [[Brian Nelson]]'s prefix '61' signified East Det.<ref>Martin Ingram, Greg Harkin, Stakeknife: Britain's Secret Agents in Ireland, O'Brien Press, 2004, p.55.</ref>
 
   
 
   
 
[[Provisional IRA]]
 
[[Provisional IRA]]
Line 38: Line 48:
 
*[http://www.sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/ingram_on_mi5_fbi_and_mi6/ |Lengthy Interview given by Martin Ingram on Radio Free Eireann describing his FRU activities] NOTE: Interview with Ingram starts around 25 minutes into the mp3.
 
*[http://www.sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/ingram_on_mi5_fbi_and_mi6/ |Lengthy Interview given by Martin Ingram on Radio Free Eireann describing his FRU activities] NOTE: Interview with Ingram starts around 25 minutes into the mp3.
 
*[http://www.relativesforjustice.com/pressrelease/insight.htm |Transcript of Insight TV documentary : Licensed to Kill - Inside the Force Research Unit]
 
*[http://www.relativesforjustice.com/pressrelease/insight.htm |Transcript of Insight TV documentary : Licensed to Kill - Inside the Force Research Unit]
 +
{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Spooks]][[category:Northern Ireland]][[Category:British Military Intelligence]]
 
[[Category:Spooks]][[category:Northern Ireland]][[Category:British Military Intelligence]]

Latest revision as of 07:28, 10 October 2016

Group.png Force Research Unit   PowerbaseRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Force Research Unit.jpg
Members of the Force Research Unit in the 1980s. Ian Hurst is pictured second from left. Philip Campbell Smith is second from the right. Smith was convicted of blagging information as a private detective in 2012, and accused by the BBC's Panorama of bugging Hurst's computer.
Formation1979
Parent organizationUK/Army
TypeIntelligence agency.png intelligence agency
Membership•  Ronnie Anderson
•  Ian Hurst
•  Peter Jones
• Gordon Kerr.jpg Gordon Kerr
•  David Moyles
•  Philip Campbell Smith
•  Margaret Walshaw

The Force Research Unit was a top secret unit of the British Army which was engaged in running informers and has been alleged to be involved in a number of assassinations in Ireland. It has reportedly now been renamed the Joint Support Group and seems to be associated with the Special Reconnaissance Regiment created in 2005. Both are reportedly headed by ex FRU head Gordon Kerr.[1]

History

According to journalist Peter Taylor, the FRU was established in 1979.[2] Another source says it was set up in 1982.

People

Agents

'Martin Ingram' reports that FRU agents were each given a number of which the first two digits signified their location, with the second two providing a unique identifier. The prefix '30' signified the FRU's western detachment (West Det.), while Brian Nelson's prefix '61' signified East Det.[6]

Provisional IRA

Ulster Defence Association

See Also

Further reading

 

Known members

3 of the 7 of the members already have pages here:

MemberDescription
Gordon Kerr
Philip Campbell Smith
Margaret Walshawsergeant
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References

  1. ↑ Simon Basketter Features Exposing Gordon Kerr and Tony Blair’s secret army Socialist Worker online, archive > dated 7 April 2007 | issue 2045
  2. ↑ Peter Taylor, Brits: The War Against the IRA, Bloomsbury, 2002, p.287.
  3. ↑ David Lister and Ian Cobain, Stakeknife is 'under guard at old Home Counties airbase', The Times, 13 May 2003.
  4. ↑ Greg Harkin, EX-ARMY AGENT ON WITNESS 'NOBBLE' CHARGE; FINUCANE MURDER SQUAD COPS RAID AUTHOR'S HOME IN ENGLAND, 19 November 2000.
  5. ↑ Liam Clarke, Soldier 'gagged' over RUC tribunal testimony, Sunday Times, 7 October 2007.
  6. ↑ Martin Ingram, Greg Harkin, Stakeknife: Britain's Secret Agents in Ireland, O'Brien Press, 2004, p.55.
  7. ↑ Rosie Cowan, He did the IRA's dirty work for 25 years - and was paid £80,000 a year by the government, The Guardian, 12 May 2003.
  8. ↑ Martin Ingram, Greg Harkin, Stakeknife: Britain's Secret Agents in Ireland, O'Brien Press, 2004, p.55.
  9. ↑ David Sharrock, Army concealing information, says former agent, telegraph.co.uk, 20 June 2001.
  10. ↑ Henry McDonald, Revealed: five British spies inside IRA, The Observer, 18 May 2003.
  11. ↑ Martin Ingram, Greg Harkin, Stakeknife: Britain's Secret Agents in Ireland, O'Brien Press, 2004, p.55.
  12. ↑ Nelson's shadowy past, BBC, 13 April 2003.
  13. ↑ Henry McDonald, The double agent who helped run terror cell, 20 April 2003.
Retrieved from "https://wikispooks.com/w/index.php?title=Force_Research_Unit&oldid=100485"