Fifty Dead Men Walking: The Heroic True Story of a British Secret Agent Inside the IRA

by Martin McGartland

Brought up a strong Catholic in Belfast, Mar tin McGartland decided to help put a stop to the cruelty of the IRA. He worked as a British agent inside the IRA, and is reported to have saved the lives of over fifty people. This book tells his story.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ireland, Autobiography, Biography, Irish Literature, Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lee Sherred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago but was reminded of it recently. A very informative book detailing the pressures faced by the author, from both sides, after finding themselves in the most dangerous position possible at the time. If anyone is interested in the realities of what was happening in Northern Ireland in the latter part of the twentieth century than this is well worth a read.

[Elliot Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, though its writing style left something to be desired and felt as though it was written by a teenager with its repetitive text. Without belittling the author's contribution to the security of others, he clearly loves himself, has an ego, and seems rather self-centered; when things don't go his way he likes to moan about it and is a hypocrite. I lost sympathy for him by the end.

[Rhonda Heyns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by the man who lived the life of a Special Branch agent infiltrating the IRA. it is written just as he speaks, and as a result is an easy read, easy to understand to the average person. What Martin went through to help his country and save lives is nothing short of phenomenal.

While the story is true, the movie inspired by the book has been doctored for Hollywood and view-ability. Read the book first, take the movie with a grain of salt.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough book. Written in a very straightforward, almost childish manner. 'I did this, then I did that'. Could have done with a lot more insight into why he turned against his childhood friends. If my family was subjected to that abuse by the British and RUC as a child it would take a hell of a lot for me to join them as an information. There is a lot here he is not telling us.

[Jamie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note. I wrote this for the goodreads site, unfortunately Amazon hijack kindle reviews to this site and it's not a setting I can change. The quotes to back up points mentioned are on my profile there but don't show up on Amazon reviews. The relevant points can also be confirmed from various reliable online sources if you can't find me on good reads. Please read them before making any kind of ignorant troll attack on my opinion of this book. Thanks :)

‘There’s nobody more callous and ruthless than MI5 once an agent has pasted his/her sell-by-date. Hope you enjoyed reading my story’, Marty McGartland, January 2013'

Growing up in England, I was always aware of the war in Ireland, as an adult I understand it's as horrific as anything ISIS have done in recent years. The actions of ISIS have caused understandable universal outrage. The actions of Irish Terrorism inexplicably, not so much. Reading this, once again, I cannot understand why that's the case.

There might be spoilers, if so I'm sorry but most of the information in this book has been widely reported, made into movies etc. Also, this got a bit longer than my normal reviews so I apologize for that.

This is not really an enjoyable book. There are parts that made me very angry. It's not the book, it's the subject. The book is well written, well edited, engaging and interesting which are normally things that I love in a book, especially a non fiction book (because non fiction does tend to be awkward and dull at times even if the overall topic is fascinating) but for me, in this area, the subject is just hard to read. I'm glad that this guy was one of the brave that were willing to risk so much trying to save and protect hundreds of others. He should be getting a peace prize nomination instead of the hideous snake maguiness


I hope lots of people in America have or will read this. I grew up in England. I've always vaguely known how horrific events related to Northern Ireland were. I've always been vaguely aware my American friends and family seemed to think the situation in Ireland " Wasn't that bad, was it? And you know Bloody Sunday was bad wasn't it?"
The Bloody Sunday references always get me. Yes, Bloody Sunday was a tragedy but the focus on that seems to infer other atrocities like the kingsmill massacre, the Omagh and Birmingham bombings weren't *that* bad...and anyway you work it, the fact remains that the 'peace prize nominee' was in fact, known to be carrying a machine gun at the event. Even as a child, thanks to family holidays, I was definitely aware and made sick by the knowledge that Americans had charity collections for the IRA, the way we had them for British Legion or Guide Dogs for the Blind.

I never thought I'd see the day when the most vile example of a terrorist commander is inexplicably nominated for a peace prize! The same period of time a royal marine admits to stealing weapons for that 'cause' and 60+ year old paratroopers are being arrested for doing their job, I'm not disputing the correctness of the orders they were given but their job is to follow orders, however insane they might seem to be.

I wondered if I was mis remembering events at the time or if the way adults in my life had explained things to me because of their jobs. I'm half intelligent, I know it's not impossible my own culture, environment and upbringing was making me biased. So, as usual I started reading about it.

This is not the only book on the subject that I've read over the years or plan to read in the future,but honestly, so far this is one of the only one that actually seems to acknowledge both sides. I find the books written by terrorist types on both sides are mostly pathetic attempts to justify their appalling actions.

Turns out, my child memory was right but the adults had been playing it down. They really were worse than that bad.


Mr McGartland didn't particularly want to betray people he'd known his whole life, nor did he want innocent families suffering punishment beatings because a terrorist decided it was necessary or men being blown apart in their homes and cars, just because they happened to be in the Army. The normal drama of teenagers falling in love (like they do!) In Ireland that was enough for a pregnant girl and her boyfriend to be executed in cold blood just because of a postcode or she was Protestant and he was Catholic. Bobby Sands and his poster boys for terrorism were not "martyrs" they were suicidal attention whores. The reason they were not entitled to POW status and privileges was because they weren't prisoners of war, they were terrorists.


Murder, attacks on innocent families theft, hijacking, punishment squads, affairs, kneecapping, friends of the PLO, fraud, violent incest, (Jerry Adam's brother raped his daughter, Adams didn't act on that, years later he tried to bully his niece into keeping it quiet because he feared his reputation was likely to suffer.) The claim that they did not attack civilian targets is a lie, for example, not one of the pubs bombed in Birmingham was a military or government establishment or known to be patronized by military or government staff. Plenty is said about the inappropriate use of plastic bullets by the Army, little is said about Belfast confetti, a by product of using traditional bullets, the spent casings were collected and thrown at security forces by children. This practice also caused accidental blinding in some cases. How many media or propaganda stories about that are there compared to the accidental blindness as result of misfiring plastic bullets?

The IRA are not the bunch of poor, misunderstood choirboys under the brutal boot of the British Army as they seem to be considered in America. The loyalists were no better. They're all terrorists who even today show no remorse for the sickening acts they performed. Sinn Fein are not even "duly elected" as they committed voter fraud to get their seats.

In comparison, the British Army were responsible for only about 10% of the total deaths in the war in Northern Ireland. (I refuse to contribute to the downplaying of the atrocities of that war by referencing it by that inaccurate, cutsey label "The Troubles"). Yet, the British Army and government have apologized frequently for the occasional unacceptable actions of their men, unlike the various shameless terrorist murderers responsible for the other 90% of deaths.

Those killed by the British Army, their loved ones have been able to ask for answers, millions have been spent on official inquiries that have not given answers, soldiers have been unjustly called to account for their actions under order, the bodies were available to the family for a funeral. On the other hand, the terrorists, even to this day, refuse to apologize, give answers for their voluntary actions or share information on people responsible for various murders or in some cases divulge the locations of remains of people they murdered.


All over the world, it's rightly considered criminal, immoral and ignorant to deny the holocaust or support terrorist groups such as ISIS. Hopefully books like this will influence people to understand that the Irish war and the terrorist commanders responsible shouldn't be denied or absolved the way they are currently.

Ps. I wrote this for the goodreads site. The quotes to back up points mentioned don't show up on Amazon reviews. They can also be confirmed from various reliable online sources if you can't find me on good reads. Please read them before making any kind of ignorant troll attack which you maybe feel you can justify simply because your distant family once lived in a village in Ireland, because if they did, that doesn't make you Irish but if you're human, whatever your roots are, you should find the actions of terrorism abhorrent, irrespective of the colour of whatever terrorist flag they made the free choice to live under. Thanks :)

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

More indepth below but I appreciated the book, didn't love it.

What I liked:
The theme - I am very interested in IRA/Troubles history and to have a story of someone who worked intimately on both sides (RUC/IRA) was very appealing.
The writing style - it's clear that Martin was not edited too much; this is not some man trying to be more than he is - his writing is simple clear and to the point. I appreciated his frankness; some autobiographies get too preachy and self-praising for me but Martin stuck the facts, gave praise where it was due and I didn't feel he was unjustly glorifiying himself. Other autobiographies get too elitist in language and readers can tell that the someone else wrote the book for them - I truly believe Martin wrote this book - its a simple quick read but intricate; exactly how an uneducated double spy would speak (in my opinion).
The truth - a lot of book (that I have read, at least) seem to leave out the brutality of the IRA towards their own people but this is a crux in Martin's story. Not that I like violence, but it was refreshing to see someone acknowledge the double-edge sword that was the IRA-Catholic relationship during that time.

What I didn't like:
The cyclical stories - 190 pages of the same thing. "IRA said blahblah. I told SB blahblah. Blahblah didn't happen. I'm nervous." Repeat ad nausaem. I understand he was a spy, that was his job, but I didn't need to read his whole career - which I think I did - I would have survived if I have been a little more information about a few big cases.
The "ignorance" - Martin does a great job at highlighting the true horrors of the IRA to their fellow Catholics, which is hard to find in a lot of books. He really shows why Catholics would turn away and be truly terrified of the IRA; but Martin, in my opinion, didn't give fair credit to the UVF, who also were cruel to the Protestants. He only highlighted the UVF as violent towards IRA members and seemed to ignore their penchant for inciting internecine violence in their community. This really isn't that big of a problem (especially because his work didn't deal too much with UVF) but I'm being picky and I feel like both sides of the war should have gotten the same verbal beat down.

[Jenny Karraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having gone to college in the 70's when there was much in the news about the Troubles in Ireland, later living in a northeastern city with a large Irish population, and then visiting Northern Ireland 20 years later, I found this book fascinating. Though Irish and resenting the British occupation/presence and their rough handling of the Catholic people, the author was even more resentful of the harsh treatment by the IRA of their own people. On my trip to Portrush one summer, I observed the parade of the Orangemen (Protestant Irish) through the Catholic section of town, drums drumming and instruments playing. Rather than a celebration of their heritage, it seemed more of a rubbing it in your face of the Protestants' supposed superiority over the Catholics. This man took tremendous risks to protect the lives of British people who lived in Northern Ireland, and with each episode I was wondering when he would finally get caught. At times he seemed immoral in his behavior, yet at others he seemed to stand for justice and fair treatment by all for all. When finally found out and having to leave the country and eventually his family, your heart broke. With the violence and terrorism in the Middle East currently eclipsing that of Ireland and the consequent more negative view of the IRA's activities, associating them more with terrorism than the nobler cause of rejoining a divided land, you would have thought that this fellow would have been safe. But it seems these hatreds never go away and attempts on his life are a constant threat. I admire his courage and determination to persevere and not back down. It's not many who are willing to pay such a high price for what they believe in.

[Andreas_55 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so happy about this. He was a traitor and did what he did mainly for the money he got from the Special Branch. He likes to put himself in a very nice picture by saying he did it for the peace, blablabla. He likes to put the whole blame for the troubles on the IRA but forgets to mention the crimes and killings done by the british occupation army in Northern Ireland.

[Matthew Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author allows the reader to dive into his world of Belfast in the troubles. Giving an insight into how life was like then, the fear and control the IRA had over the area while similarly to brutal ness of the British army and security services both sides alienating the community and pushing young men and women into the opposites arms.

Very interesting read, ending was quite abrupt

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read the book and avoid the movie

[Conor Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read, very hard to put down and a brilliant insight to the troubles in belfast.

[Sarah McNally · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual story of "naive" man turned informer. Not much to be learned, probably a little dated now. Better written than some others of this genre.

[Megan Knowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story and learnt more about the Troubles. Quite repetitive in parts though

[Baeleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was very interesting and you learned a lot about the IRA and what life was like during that time

[SWZIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin McGartland’s autobiography opens with memories of when he was four years old. After being enticed by the sound of music, the young boy eluded the protective eye of his mother to investigate the source of the loud rhythm. Distraught, she eventually found her Catholic son marching in front of the band during an orange parade. As he grew up, similar escapades were to follow, for Marty, as he was called, was a little rapscallion. He was afraid of nothing, except his formidable mother. So, the book begins by depicting, what it was like for a Catholic boy growing up in Northern Ireland. From the perspective of a young boy, he described the turbulence as ‘exciting’.

As he grew up, he developed more understanding. The soldiers who burst into their homes looking for hidden weapons and destroying their homes in the process, would anger him. Young Catholics supported the IRA, but, Marty’s support was short lived. The IRA considered themselves to be law-enforcers and meted out harsh punishments, such as kneecapping, even for trivial misdemeanours – and some victims were totally innocent. This sickened Marty.

Then one day he was approached by Special Branch. They wanted him to work for them. Subsequently, Martin McGartland became a secret agent and infiltrated the IRA. He risked torture and certain death. Marty managed to abort and thwart many killings of soldiers, policemen and innocent civilians. Spurred by the knowledge that he was saving lives, he continued his perilous missions, even though by this time he had a wife and children. The suspense was almost unbearable.

I could feel Marty’s fear and anxiety as the noose closed in on him: He was well-aware that the numerous times he was involved in averting the IRA’s plan to murder, would sooner or later culminate in their realization that their scuppered plans was not purely bad luck or coincidental.
I cannot believe the courage of people who did this type of work. It’s ironic that there are many people in Northern Ireland who don’t even realise that they owe their life to Martin McGartland (and others like him) – because, without his (their) intervention, they would have been shot or blown-up.

I recommend this true story. The style of writing is very easy to read. I only had a baseline understanding of the conflict in Ireland, and the book explains a lot.

[Damon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the latest book in my quest to understand more of the part of the world where I was conceived and have my roots. Having been born in London of Belfast protestant parents and then adopted (completely coincidentally) in to a family with its roots in Belfast's catholic community, one of whom died in an act of sectarian violence in 1972, the subject grips me and I feel compelled to know more, to understand. So did Martin McGartland assist my understanding, perhaps, but more interesting is the man himself. I say man, boy or lad when sucked in to the game by his handlers might be more apt and whilst the text repeatedly refers to his acts being based on principles I can't help feeling that he was young, jobless and scraping an illegal living through knock-off goods when suddenly the Special Branch offer him esteem, thrills and bundles of cash. As he matured perhaps there was truly a feeling of doing the right thing, no matter what arguments can be offered from either side of the torn community if the man believed he was saving lives, and his actions did, then he has the right to cling to what he did as a matter of principle. Regardless of whether it was truly principle or thrills or the cash, the fact remains that it cost him a life with his lover, his children and the ability to ever be himself and live without sleeping with one eye open.
The book reads as you'd expect and with some thrilling passages made all the more chilling in the knowledge that it all happened comparatively recently and in streets that might not wish to be a part of the UK, but which on the face of it resemble just about any urban settlement in the British Isles.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an open and honest account of life working as an informer for the Special Branch from it's start as a young Catholic boy taunting the RUC and the British Army to it's finish as a retired informer hiding from IRA execution squads on the Mainland. McGartland is honest about his views throughout and admits that his views have changed during his life following various events in Northern Ireland. He writes as he would speak, that is readable and more accessible than many of the texts on life for the ordinary person in the Province during the Troubles. McGartland doesn't take sides in his telling of the story, he merely states what he believed at the time and how this governed his actions for the benefit of his community and his country and in doing so he takes the reader on a journey of deceit, betrayal, hatred and violence from which no-one comes out on top.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many eye roll moments for me in this book. Did you know Marty is the most amazing person ever to be a double agent ever, and is admired and beloved by all? No? You will if you read this book. He's even the best at being shot at least 900 times on one occasion and surviving!! He's a-maz-ing! I get lots of Baron Munchausen-type feelings from this guy, and he's clearly got a right ego on him: "Did I tell you I befriend homeless people because I'm a great guy?"

Lots of inconsistencies and a very 'what I did in the school holiday' level of writing means I have to rate it low. Interesting insight to the troubles in NI, but I expect there are better written books on the topic out there.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Znepokojivě děsivé vyprávění o občanských nepokojích v Irsku z první ruky. Autor nám přibližuje pohled na práci v utajení, kterou on sám musel provádět a díky níž se nakonec stal doživotním uprchlíkem.

[Senioreuge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a dreadful book. The author is a fantasist exploiting the complex problems of Northern Ireland to make a few pounds. I found it hard to finish, would not recommend it to anyone. Truly a book for the unknowing and gullible.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting account of an IRA/RUC double agent. Good insider insight of "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland. This guy is a hero to his people.

[Kerry Smyth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful writing and riddled with inconsistencies and exaggerations, to the point I doubted much of what was written.

[Joe Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to the recent news coverage into the role of Irish double-agent Freddie Scappaticci AKA 'Stakeknife' I decided to give this book a go after sitting on my shelf for an embarrassing length of time.

My first foray into books regarding The Troubles, McGartland's book is a thrilling and suspenseful account of a double-agent's life on the razor's edge of gathering intelligence as a paid-up member of the IRA, whilst passing said intelligence on potential IRA victims and attacks to The Special Branch.

McGartland definitely sets the scene of the murky and ultra violent landscape that benighted Northern Ireland during the late 1980s to early 1990s well. As well as his early criminal background that flourished during the anarchic environment that swarmed around Belfast at the time.

The overarching tone of suspense and terror at being uncovered and meeting a grisly end at the hands of the IRA's internal security services (otherwise known as 'Nutting Squads', although McGartland never once refers to them as such), never leaves you and builds to a terrifying, albeit predictable epilogue.

McGartland's inside knowledge of IRA tactics and operations is insightful and impressive, as is the timeline of key events that accompany's the author's tenure as a double-agent.

I enjoyed this book. However that's not to say it was perfect. In fact, far from it. The author's moral crusade sometimes wanders into the saintly, it is clear that he has a high opinion of himself and the dialogue seems unlikely and comicbook-eqsue. On a number of occasions the book ceases being autobiographical and becomes a bit novelesque. On occasion you're left checking the dust jacket looking for ANDY MCNAB.

The writing style at times is almost amateurish, yet the book never ceases, despite it's grim subject matter, to not entertain.

McGartland's deeds are extremely heroic, his in-depth retelling of the averted murders and terrorist attacks he had a hand in sabotaging, whilst utilising source material in which he is referenced (as Agent Carol) is surprising and assists in bringing the reader back down to reality.

This book could have been epic, think Donnie Brasco meets Harry's Game, but it's tawdry writing style, the author's ego (although you could easily argue it's well deserved) and it's cardboard cutout antagonists let it down, and it starts straying into similar genres as football hooligan 'books'.

A decent time-killer or pool side read. Just don't expect much more.

[Lee Newcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.

The Troubles in Ireland & N’ Ireland is a period of time I’m not familiar with and as of late, mainly after Rory Carroll’s book Killing Thatcher, I’ve found myself more and more interested in this particular time in history.

This book is a great story from the perspective of someone who has no allegiance to either side of the Troubles, but moreover finds the brutality of this era completely unjust. Marty McGartland finds himself committing petty crime to get by, and as a result is picked up by Special Branch to become an informant and is recruited by the IRA. To live that life for over 4 years is absolutely insane to me, and to be credited with saving the lives of at least 50 people (hence the title) is incredible.

Good read, repetitive storytelling in parts but had me gripped from the start.

[Cathy Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin McGartland worked in secret for Special Branch while he was a member of the IRA, this is his story, in his own words.
Because he’s not an author it does read more like a simple, factual account rather than anything more literary. It is very much a series of “this happened and then that happened, then I went here and then I went there.” It is though, of course, entirely authentic and especially in the second half, Martin’s fear of being caught and his constant state of tension are very tangible.
It was also written and published prior to the Good Friday Agreement and so there is no comment from Martin as to how he has lived since peace came to Northern Ireland.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and fast read that was fascinating. McGartland covers his experience being in Belfast growing up during The Troubles and how they affected his family and worldview. I was fascinated by his transition to a source within the IRA for the Brits and he was very good at describing all his missions... some of which were quite harrowing! He definitely gave up a lot to do what he did, but he justified it to both himself and the reader well. All and all a great window into this time period from someone who was neck deep in it!

[Martin Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

The book is very informative on a subject that people know about but seldom know the ins and outs of it. This book let's you in to the facts and the organisation of what became a very powerful two decades of the troubles in northern Ireland

Found the information very accurate from a very brave man who literally risked everything to do a bit of good in a fight against brutality.

[Huzzah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frightening and enlightening

I knew The Troubles in Northern Ireland were violent, but I didn't realize the extent of it. Mr. McGartland does an excellent job clarifying just how complicated and downright terrifying the NI situation was and likely continues to be. I rarely read a book straight through without pause; this one I did. Well written, I'm now off to read his follow-up book.

[James Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazingly true tale. The level of suspense was overwhelming from his recruitment to his crazy jump. What he did to survive and save lives was absolutely extraordinary.

I enjoyed reading about another world and issues that have occurred there and I felt this book really set a great setting and had me totally intrigued.

A great read, almost cracking my all-time favorites but just missed the mark. I would definitely recommend.

[Mark Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book, I really enjoyed reading this true life story, and wow what a thing Marty did with his life, to sacrifice everything he did to protect the lives of innocent people. This guy's deserves not only protection from the state, he also deserves reconition for his service.
I can't wait to read dead man running