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Terrorism in Ulster

Acute Observer | Jersey Shore USA | 01/12/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The film opens with a scenic shot of the shores of Ireland. Then a march down a city street. The police and army are patrolling behind the crowds. Then we see investigators questioning a suspect who was beaten and tortured by the authorities. They hold a press conference to announce their findings. Other reporters question them about allegations of a "shoot to kill" policy that targeted innocent civilians. The killing and torture in the Six Counties remind one reporter of Chile after their coup. But Northern Ireland isn't quite like Chile, is it? One of the reporters makes a call to get more information. He meets a man, and their car is ambushed; they are both murdered. The official news is that they refused to stop for a police checkpoint.



The British send their top police detective to re-examine the evidence that led to the shooting of Paul Sullivan and Frank Malloy. The ballistics show Sullivan was shot at 2 meters, not from far away. Something's wrong here. Mr. Kerrigan talks to Ingrid Jensen, the close friend of Sullivan, who tells about what she knows. They talk to the widow of Frank Malloy. When they question one of the police officers, and he tells them what really happened. Superintendent Frazier told them what to say. Frazier was merely following orders from higher authorities - a Mr. Brody. Kerrigan can't get the missing tape. At a club Kerrigan is told about the other colonies that had to fight for their freedom from English rule. Kerrigan meets a former British officer, Captain Harris, who worked in Psychological Operations - Black Propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The CIA and MI5 spread rumors to defeat the Labor government; this benefited the election of Margaret Thatcher. [Was she a puppet?] Kerrigan will meet him again in Dublin to get the tape that will expose the plot.



There were disorders in England in the early 1970s that led to the fall of the Conservative government. Two powerful politicians, smug, sleek, and smiling, tell Kerrigan why the means used to uphold the government are justified; they say so. One shows Kerrigan photographs of him and Ingrid that can create a scandal. The pressure is on for him to drop the investigation. Captain Harris hands over the tape to Ingrid Jensen. After this he is abducted from a busy street in daylight and thrown into a waiting van. We later hear he was found murdered, and the IRA is blamed. Another propaganda trick? Career policeman Kerrigan returns to England. The low-level agents will take the blame. The status quo is maintained.



The slow pace of this film reminds me of "All the President's Men" but without the happy ending. It will educate you about the troubles in Ulster. Do these dirty tricks only occur in Ulster? Note how very little of this news is ever reported in America.

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