Brandon Sullivan & Winnie Woods team up to deconstruct the testimony of a former RUC member.


Part One – Thrilling Willie McCrea; Gary Armstrong’s dysfunctional start in life, raw sectarianism, and beginnings in the RUC

I read this mercifully short book written by one of the RUC officers convicted in relation to crimes committed by those associated with what became known as the “Glenanne gang.” I am reading it in the line of duty, so to speak, as it will become part of a larger research project. In 1991, the loyalist campaign of sectarian murder was steadily increasing after a lull in the 1980s, pausing for a ceasefire, unreciprocated by the IRA who apparently increased the tempo of their attacks, during a session of political talks.

The front cover shows Armstrong having received a decoration from the Queen, and underneath that - and demonstrating his penchant for being associated with terrorists, so long as they are the Catholic murdering type - is a quote from Willie McCrea. He describes the book as “thrilling.” McCrea called for parts of Eire to be bombed by the RAF, and also Crossmaglen, in 1986. Despite this support for indiscriminate attacks, he was outraged when the IRA machine-gunned his home in 1994. Inside the book is another endorsement from another supposed man of God, praising Armstrong, whilst acknowledging that he could be difficult, forthright, and “controversial.” I couldn’t’ help but notice the parallels with the as yet not retracted (despite invitations to do so) praise for the troglodyte bigot and paedophile David Tweed, for whom the most reactionary unionist politician have only positive things to say.

Other recipients of medals from the Queen include the killers of unarmed Irish civilians Soldier F, and Dennis Hutchins. To be fair to Hutchins and F, though, they didn’t end up convicted terrorists. Armstrong did, but as far as I know, wasn’t stripped of his honour.

The Cassel report has this to say about Gary Armstrong:

Gary Armstrong — RUC sergeant, given a two-year suspended sentence in relation to the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Father Hugh Murphy, in retaliation for the murder of a policeman. Armstrong was named by Judge Barron as one of the group of RUC members who carried out the gun and bomb attack on the Rock Bar.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I reject the notion that the RUC was a purely sectarian force, and that whilst it needed essentially abolished and rebuilt, it contained decent and fair-minded officers. This book not only makes such a defence more difficult, it also, in my opinion, goes some way to explaining why the RUC were targeted with such ferocity and frequency by republicans. Simply put, the bigotry and abuses of power perpetrated by this man and his comrades, albeit whilst “policing” areas of mounting security force casualties, could do nothing but increase support for the IRA.

Given what else this man is guilty of, it seems almost churlish to criticise his writing style, but he is an appalling writer, and not a man of any obvious intelligence. There is no nuance, wit, tact, or style. He CAPITALISES often, usually when emphasises his being SAVED (by the Free P’s, naturally).

Armstrong spends a little bit of time talking about his childhood, themes of poverty, “staunch Protestant” parents, but not the abstemious types. They seem chaotic and feckless, more interested in socialising than parenting, and Armstrong was mainly raised by his grandparents. He attended the Royal School Armagh, where he was bullied for his poverty, and got involved in pretty crime and general thuggery; themes that would continue until his finding God. His father and brother were convicted for attacking “Roman Catholics”, and Armstrong, despite his private education, failed academically, comparatively, and seemed to be acting out violently in response to his bullying at the hands of wealthier Protestant classmates.

And then, aged 18, this son of a feckless sectarian criminal father was accepted into the RUC. Posted to Newtownhamilton, his land rover was hit by IRA bullets very shortly after he had joined. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his parental influences, Armstrong’s analysis of the IRA attack was “to see the potential within the Roman Catholic community in Newtownhamilton for my murder.” This is followed by as asinine claim that he would “went on the offensive but was careful to be as even-handed as possible” against the IRA. This alleged care would not last long.

Armstrong describes the South Armagh IRA picking off security force targets regularly, which is true (this was 1972 and onwards), and also describes, but exaggerates, the support for these actions by “the Roman Catholics.” He also describes his friend and RUC colleague, George, being shot dead, and his deep upset at this. He admits to his first crime following this killing – and his description of it reveals his broad, sectarian, and frankly self-servingly idiotic outlook:

I grabbed a man I believed to be a terrorist, or at least a supporter, and pushed him out of the window of a bombed out building opposite the station.

As a result of his “apparent hatred” his “sympathetic superiors” promoted him, without passing the requisite exams, to the Special Patrol Group, based in Bessbrook.

He describes his joy at seeing, on the first night out with his new unit, his comrades stop and beat and kick “two young men outside Armagh.” He doesn’t mention if they were “terrorists” or “supporters” but we can assume they were not Protestants.

Armstrong’s blind bigotry runs through this book. He seems proud of it; his supposed Christian faith seems not to preclude him from vainly describe how violently effective a harasser of Catholics he was. His own words capture this better than I can:

Roman Catholics, especially young militant ones, were fair game, and the number of times I satiated my appetite for revenge on their persons are too many to record – hospital records bear witness. 

One is left wondering how many were inspired to join for support the IRA as a result of these actions.

He goes on:

My hatred was running amok as a I turned my attention to making the life of the one other policeman who was a Catholic in our squad a real misery. He eventually emigrated to Canada.

Fellow RUC bigot, murderer, and criminal Billy McCaughey recounted tormenting this Catholic RUC man by dangling him outside of a land rover. It should be recognised, however, that the investigation that landed many of these RUC low-lives into prison was conducted by other RUC officers, dedicated professionals, not twisted bigots. I am following some leads as to the makeup of this team, and will most likely write more at a later date.

Like the recently deceased bigot and paedophile Davy Tweed, Armstrong also harassed Catholics bullied people, and played rugby. Armstrong says it was a release for his hatred of Catholics and describes some violent sectarian assaults he committed. He also talks about heavy drinking, drug-taking, and committing numerous assaults.

Gary Armstrong, 1991, From Palace To Prison. Published by Freedom Publishing. ISBN-13:978-0947852849

⏩ Brandon Sullivan is a middle aged, middle management, centre-left Belfast man. Would prefer people focused on the actual bad guys. 

Winnie Woods is recently retired housewife with an interest in human rights & politics.

Confessions Of A Uniformed Ulster Bigot @ Ⅰ

Brandon Sullivan & Winnie Woods team up to deconstruct the testimony of a former RUC member.


Part One – Thrilling Willie McCrea; Gary Armstrong’s dysfunctional start in life, raw sectarianism, and beginnings in the RUC

I read this mercifully short book written by one of the RUC officers convicted in relation to crimes committed by those associated with what became known as the “Glenanne gang.” I am reading it in the line of duty, so to speak, as it will become part of a larger research project. In 1991, the loyalist campaign of sectarian murder was steadily increasing after a lull in the 1980s, pausing for a ceasefire, unreciprocated by the IRA who apparently increased the tempo of their attacks, during a session of political talks.

The front cover shows Armstrong having received a decoration from the Queen, and underneath that - and demonstrating his penchant for being associated with terrorists, so long as they are the Catholic murdering type - is a quote from Willie McCrea. He describes the book as “thrilling.” McCrea called for parts of Eire to be bombed by the RAF, and also Crossmaglen, in 1986. Despite this support for indiscriminate attacks, he was outraged when the IRA machine-gunned his home in 1994. Inside the book is another endorsement from another supposed man of God, praising Armstrong, whilst acknowledging that he could be difficult, forthright, and “controversial.” I couldn’t’ help but notice the parallels with the as yet not retracted (despite invitations to do so) praise for the troglodyte bigot and paedophile David Tweed, for whom the most reactionary unionist politician have only positive things to say.

Other recipients of medals from the Queen include the killers of unarmed Irish civilians Soldier F, and Dennis Hutchins. To be fair to Hutchins and F, though, they didn’t end up convicted terrorists. Armstrong did, but as far as I know, wasn’t stripped of his honour.

The Cassel report has this to say about Gary Armstrong:

Gary Armstrong — RUC sergeant, given a two-year suspended sentence in relation to the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Father Hugh Murphy, in retaliation for the murder of a policeman. Armstrong was named by Judge Barron as one of the group of RUC members who carried out the gun and bomb attack on the Rock Bar.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I reject the notion that the RUC was a purely sectarian force, and that whilst it needed essentially abolished and rebuilt, it contained decent and fair-minded officers. This book not only makes such a defence more difficult, it also, in my opinion, goes some way to explaining why the RUC were targeted with such ferocity and frequency by republicans. Simply put, the bigotry and abuses of power perpetrated by this man and his comrades, albeit whilst “policing” areas of mounting security force casualties, could do nothing but increase support for the IRA.

Given what else this man is guilty of, it seems almost churlish to criticise his writing style, but he is an appalling writer, and not a man of any obvious intelligence. There is no nuance, wit, tact, or style. He CAPITALISES often, usually when emphasises his being SAVED (by the Free P’s, naturally).

Armstrong spends a little bit of time talking about his childhood, themes of poverty, “staunch Protestant” parents, but not the abstemious types. They seem chaotic and feckless, more interested in socialising than parenting, and Armstrong was mainly raised by his grandparents. He attended the Royal School Armagh, where he was bullied for his poverty, and got involved in pretty crime and general thuggery; themes that would continue until his finding God. His father and brother were convicted for attacking “Roman Catholics”, and Armstrong, despite his private education, failed academically, comparatively, and seemed to be acting out violently in response to his bullying at the hands of wealthier Protestant classmates.

And then, aged 18, this son of a feckless sectarian criminal father was accepted into the RUC. Posted to Newtownhamilton, his land rover was hit by IRA bullets very shortly after he had joined. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his parental influences, Armstrong’s analysis of the IRA attack was “to see the potential within the Roman Catholic community in Newtownhamilton for my murder.” This is followed by as asinine claim that he would “went on the offensive but was careful to be as even-handed as possible” against the IRA. This alleged care would not last long.

Armstrong describes the South Armagh IRA picking off security force targets regularly, which is true (this was 1972 and onwards), and also describes, but exaggerates, the support for these actions by “the Roman Catholics.” He also describes his friend and RUC colleague, George, being shot dead, and his deep upset at this. He admits to his first crime following this killing – and his description of it reveals his broad, sectarian, and frankly self-servingly idiotic outlook:

I grabbed a man I believed to be a terrorist, or at least a supporter, and pushed him out of the window of a bombed out building opposite the station.

As a result of his “apparent hatred” his “sympathetic superiors” promoted him, without passing the requisite exams, to the Special Patrol Group, based in Bessbrook.

He describes his joy at seeing, on the first night out with his new unit, his comrades stop and beat and kick “two young men outside Armagh.” He doesn’t mention if they were “terrorists” or “supporters” but we can assume they were not Protestants.

Armstrong’s blind bigotry runs through this book. He seems proud of it; his supposed Christian faith seems not to preclude him from vainly describe how violently effective a harasser of Catholics he was. His own words capture this better than I can:

Roman Catholics, especially young militant ones, were fair game, and the number of times I satiated my appetite for revenge on their persons are too many to record – hospital records bear witness. 

One is left wondering how many were inspired to join for support the IRA as a result of these actions.

He goes on:

My hatred was running amok as a I turned my attention to making the life of the one other policeman who was a Catholic in our squad a real misery. He eventually emigrated to Canada.

Fellow RUC bigot, murderer, and criminal Billy McCaughey recounted tormenting this Catholic RUC man by dangling him outside of a land rover. It should be recognised, however, that the investigation that landed many of these RUC low-lives into prison was conducted by other RUC officers, dedicated professionals, not twisted bigots. I am following some leads as to the makeup of this team, and will most likely write more at a later date.

Like the recently deceased bigot and paedophile Davy Tweed, Armstrong also harassed Catholics bullied people, and played rugby. Armstrong says it was a release for his hatred of Catholics and describes some violent sectarian assaults he committed. He also talks about heavy drinking, drug-taking, and committing numerous assaults.

Gary Armstrong, 1991, From Palace To Prison. Published by Freedom Publishing. ISBN-13:978-0947852849

⏩ Brandon Sullivan is a middle aged, middle management, centre-left Belfast man. Would prefer people focused on the actual bad guys. 

Winnie Woods is recently retired housewife with an interest in human rights & politics.

14 comments:

  1. Think I would give this one a miss.
    Lethal Allies which covers The Glennane Gangs murderous campaign in the 1970s is a must read .Harrowing to say the least.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thankfully I haven't read the book which Brandon has been describing - nor am I likely to! It's disgusting that a creep, bigot and general gangster can make money off his spewing sectarian shite!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an unsavoury character.
    Great work Brandon & Winnie. Hadn't even heard of the book up until now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good to see the decent cops went after him too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stop Press

    >Statelet conceived under threat of violence>Statelet birthed by Imperialist coloniser>Police Militia formed to protect enforced partitionist statelet>Member of Police Militia goes rogue.

    In other news

    >Vatican announces the Pope still remains a catholic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HJ,

      I'm curious of your thoughts on whether British withdrawal back then would have led to widespread violence, at least in the North?

      Delete
    2. Lol Steve!

      What republicans were looking for was a declaration of intent to withdraw.
      A withdrawal ... ah feck that!

      Delete
    3. HJ,

      You think that would have been enough? I suppose they did fudge it in 98!

      Delete
    4. Dipping in and out of Malachy O'Doherty's Northern Ireland On The Brink Of Civil War suggest ye huns wouldn't have worn it.
      There's a slim chance O'Bradaigh might have gone for it had Whitelaw or Merlyn Rees been up for it. Once Roy Mason arrived with his policies of securitisation and criminalisation that remote possibility passed, that along with the Northernisation of the Army Council and it became a different project.

      Delete
    5. I don't think so either. A civil war in the north would have been a certainty.

      Delete
  6. @ Not Really Here

    To be fair to Gary Armstrong, the book does contain a disclaimer that all royalties go to "missionary" work, and the church he's a member of does seem to raise money for charitable causes etc. But the money raised would be, I am guessing, very modest, and I think he wrote the book simply for his own messed up ego.

    @ Steve R

    A British declaration of intent could have led to civil war. But I imagine UKG would have sent the UDR to some campaign overseas, and also ensured or facilitated a degree of control over the more "militia" minded RUC elements. Which leaves loyalist paramilitaries, who likely would have gone on some kind of a rampage - the so-called Doomsday Scenario, for which Brendan Hughes was alleged to have had plans in his possession to deal with when captured at Myrtlefield Park - though I have heard these plans were sensationalised and exaggerated.

    I think, and it's a question of when IMO, unionists/loyalists are presented with constitutional change, there will only be significant levels of lethal violence from loyalists if republicans use/increase violence.

    ReplyDelete
  7. @ Also at Steve R

    This research I'm doing is essentially into the decent RUC officers who pursued, successfully, a number of wretched characters like Sgt Armstrong.

    It's interesting, I can't help comparing the "religious conversion" of egocentrics like Sgt Armstrong and Pastor McClintock with "Basher" Bates. Bates sought no publicity, but did write an article for a religious magazine that I read. Who knows what Bates might have done if he lived, but for some reason, I don't think he would have revelled in his notoriety like McClintock and Armstrong.

    Pure speculation on my part. Others who knew Bates (or the others) inside or out may have a different opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brandon,

      I'm always highly suspicious of religious conversion particularly when incarcerated, though I do know Bates was fond of The Dark and apparently stopped a hit on him, the accuracy of which I do not know however. I squarely blame religion for most ills but I'm also a Deist. I know personally a few old RUC who have absolutely no interest in sectarian bullshit and hated Loyalists with a passion. Just a few of the many juxtapositions of the wee 6 lol

      Delete