A general even referred to him as the intelligence services’ “golden egg.” Well, sort of - more of a wink-wink, unofficial nod. Thank God for that. But when you think about it, there has been a flood of public announcements, articles, books, tweets and social posts all pointing to this supposed mastermind spy in the IRA. You’d almost think there’s a deliberate effort to dump everything at Scap’s feet because it serves a greater purpose. Was he really that good?
This whole episode brings to mind one sharp-witted observer during Derry’s supergrass trial of Raymond Gilmour, who declared on a local wall: I knew Gilmour. Thank fuck he didn’t know me. I’d wager quite a few volunteers were relieved that Freddie didn’t know them either.
The media, of course, flooded the airwaves for some time, declaring Scap the “Top Spy,” and now they’ve repeated the official/unofficial line that it was indeed him. Case closed, £50 million spent - now move on.
The truth, of course, is that Scap was an enforcer with orders to kill as many volunteers as possible and muddy the waters about who was and wasn’t a real tout. The strategy was basic at its core, relying more on fear and the hope that embarrassed families would stay quiet and meekly accept the “reliability” of the information.
The reality is that Scap was not, never was, and couldn’t - even if he tried - have been the golden egg. That title still belongs to another far more worthy individual. The protections awarded to him are epic, and they make poor ole Scap look truly on his owny own.
But let’s step back for a moment before discussing how Republicans could prevent a rerun of the Scap-trap—and, God willing, help the Brits save millions on the next Kenova investigation.
A little context first. I’m the least politically astute ex-POW among my peers. I’ve never read the GFA, and I avoid debates because I simply lack the historical knowledge and experience they earned over decades of taking the fight to the Brits. My POW status came from pure idealism. I distinctly remember such revolutionary notions being labelled naïve after my arrest. Sadly, there’s now a ring of embarrassing truth to the naysayers.
My path down that lonely road was carved in a youth spent knee-deep in British and Unionist discrimination, suppression, and political assassinations on my own Belfast doorstep. There was no brainwashing or coercion - who needed it when you could witness all that blood and mayhem on your way to school?
A few people know my updated views, which I like to think of as simply having matured. One recently asked if I was anti–Sinn Féin and - hold my pint - if I supported dissidents. I replied that, as a much much wiser person now, I couldn’t give two flying forks for either. I’ve got the T-shirt and spent the best part of 20+ years trying to untangle whether my efforts were in vain. The evidence was always there. Part of me still refuses to look in the mirror and accept the truth, even though the other part looks back with a cheesy “I told you so” grin.
Despite any misgivings about the past, I want to underscore that peace is a positive for the North, and the fundamental reason the GFA is irreplaceable today is that the tech world has been exploding (no pun intended). “Man-made” wars will eventually take the “man” out of it entirely - and that’s before we even consider how AI is about to rule the world. Literally. The armed struggle is truly finished, and any attempts to resurrect it are doomed from a thousand different angles.
Returning to the Scap-trap: I’ve no doubt history will show he was the fall guy. The other lad is slipperier than fish oil and more durable than Teflon. Better yet, it’s not even a secret who he is, though only a handful of people know the details. I even wrote about it in my novel Lily White. Informing is a complicated process, apparently, and if you’re worth your weight in gold, you’re protected accordingly. Poor ole Scapp fell because he had a taste for donkeys, which drew the ire of some righteous Branch men who took advantage of his unusual inclinations.
Lady Justice is a fickle mistress - something Freddie no doubt took to heart. If we’re to avoid a rerun of Kenova, more people need to come forward before it’s too late. Touts make colossal mistakes all the time, and in the past we can be forgiven for doubting our instincts. Fear and paranoia can make it hard to whisper a word in someone’s ear about that gut feeling concerning a certain person.
The Peace Process is here to stay, no matter how the dirty pranksters in MI5 and their Branch counterparts try to whip up new hysteria. History will judge the rest of us badly. Worse still, it may laugh at us for swallowing the Scap pill not once but twice - when they hang someone else out to dry for the real golden egg.
Fortunately, there are enough breadcrumbs that will eventually lead to the Teflon Don’s door. Let’s hope it’s long before he joins the ranks of our dead heroes. It’s never a good look pissing on the grave of someone who can’t defend themselves and then trying to convince the world he was a real bastard.
‘Say nothing’ is out. Get it off your chest and say something. Our reputations can’t sink any lower at this point. And if we can force more truth into the open, at least we’ll save the taxpayer a few million - money that could be better spent promoting Irish for the next generation’s real heroes.
⏩Michael Phillips is a former republican prisoner.
This whole episode brings to mind one sharp-witted observer during Derry’s supergrass trial of Raymond Gilmour, who declared on a local wall: I knew Gilmour. Thank fuck he didn’t know me. I’d wager quite a few volunteers were relieved that Freddie didn’t know them either.
The media, of course, flooded the airwaves for some time, declaring Scap the “Top Spy,” and now they’ve repeated the official/unofficial line that it was indeed him. Case closed, £50 million spent - now move on.
The truth, of course, is that Scap was an enforcer with orders to kill as many volunteers as possible and muddy the waters about who was and wasn’t a real tout. The strategy was basic at its core, relying more on fear and the hope that embarrassed families would stay quiet and meekly accept the “reliability” of the information.
The reality is that Scap was not, never was, and couldn’t - even if he tried - have been the golden egg. That title still belongs to another far more worthy individual. The protections awarded to him are epic, and they make poor ole Scap look truly on his owny own.
But let’s step back for a moment before discussing how Republicans could prevent a rerun of the Scap-trap—and, God willing, help the Brits save millions on the next Kenova investigation.
A little context first. I’m the least politically astute ex-POW among my peers. I’ve never read the GFA, and I avoid debates because I simply lack the historical knowledge and experience they earned over decades of taking the fight to the Brits. My POW status came from pure idealism. I distinctly remember such revolutionary notions being labelled naïve after my arrest. Sadly, there’s now a ring of embarrassing truth to the naysayers.
My path down that lonely road was carved in a youth spent knee-deep in British and Unionist discrimination, suppression, and political assassinations on my own Belfast doorstep. There was no brainwashing or coercion - who needed it when you could witness all that blood and mayhem on your way to school?
A few people know my updated views, which I like to think of as simply having matured. One recently asked if I was anti–Sinn Féin and - hold my pint - if I supported dissidents. I replied that, as a much much wiser person now, I couldn’t give two flying forks for either. I’ve got the T-shirt and spent the best part of 20+ years trying to untangle whether my efforts were in vain. The evidence was always there. Part of me still refuses to look in the mirror and accept the truth, even though the other part looks back with a cheesy “I told you so” grin.
Despite any misgivings about the past, I want to underscore that peace is a positive for the North, and the fundamental reason the GFA is irreplaceable today is that the tech world has been exploding (no pun intended). “Man-made” wars will eventually take the “man” out of it entirely - and that’s before we even consider how AI is about to rule the world. Literally. The armed struggle is truly finished, and any attempts to resurrect it are doomed from a thousand different angles.
Returning to the Scap-trap: I’ve no doubt history will show he was the fall guy. The other lad is slipperier than fish oil and more durable than Teflon. Better yet, it’s not even a secret who he is, though only a handful of people know the details. I even wrote about it in my novel Lily White. Informing is a complicated process, apparently, and if you’re worth your weight in gold, you’re protected accordingly. Poor ole Scapp fell because he had a taste for donkeys, which drew the ire of some righteous Branch men who took advantage of his unusual inclinations.
Lady Justice is a fickle mistress - something Freddie no doubt took to heart. If we’re to avoid a rerun of Kenova, more people need to come forward before it’s too late. Touts make colossal mistakes all the time, and in the past we can be forgiven for doubting our instincts. Fear and paranoia can make it hard to whisper a word in someone’s ear about that gut feeling concerning a certain person.
The Peace Process is here to stay, no matter how the dirty pranksters in MI5 and their Branch counterparts try to whip up new hysteria. History will judge the rest of us badly. Worse still, it may laugh at us for swallowing the Scap pill not once but twice - when they hang someone else out to dry for the real golden egg.
Fortunately, there are enough breadcrumbs that will eventually lead to the Teflon Don’s door. Let’s hope it’s long before he joins the ranks of our dead heroes. It’s never a good look pissing on the grave of someone who can’t defend themselves and then trying to convince the world he was a real bastard.
‘Say nothing’ is out. Get it off your chest and say something. Our reputations can’t sink any lower at this point. And if we can force more truth into the open, at least we’ll save the taxpayer a few million - money that could be better spent promoting Irish for the next generation’s real heroes.
⏩Michael Phillips is a former republican prisoner.
Welcome to The Pensive Quill, Michael.
ReplyDeleteA lively, flowing piece.
It might be said that Scap was the Military's golden egg but the goose that laid him was pretty promiscuous and laid other eggs, bigger ones.
That goose could also fish like a champion.
DeleteAn excellent article and an excellent analysis. I am not sure any of us will live long enough to see the naming and shaming of the gaggle of geese who were laying the golden eggs. Scaps fall just like Denis's was contrived by the Brits. Cui bono ?
ReplyDelete