Phoenix: Policing the shadows

by Jack Holland

The revealing story of Ian Phoenix who was head of Northern Ireland's police counter-surveillance unit. His position was so secret that most of his family were unaware of it until after his death.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ireland

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 1996

Reviews

[PAUL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Ian Phoenix who was tragically killed in the Chinook helicopter that crashed on the Hill of Stone, Mull in June 1994. 29 men, many of them very high-ranking policemen and M15 agents were on board the helicopter that came down in foggy conditions and to this day no one knows what happened to bring down the Chinook. The weather was not ideal but not serious enough to hinder the two competent pilots aboard. Teething problems with the controls and GPS system may have played their part in the crash but the official report into the crash absolved all blame from the pilots, despite two senior RAF men stating their culpability.
Ian Phoenix was a career Army man, serving in the Paratroop regiment for nine years before joining the RUC and playing a major part in combating terrorism in Northern Ireland, not just from the PIRA but the various Loyalist terrorist organisations too.
This is a cracking read but rather let down by the poor proofreading.

[Gra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with a lot of books I have, I’ve had this for ages and not read it until now. At first it wasn’t like I’d expected but nonetheless a good read, setting the background of how Ian got to where he got to. Get the impression he was very serious about his work and knew when to switch off and always friendly with people and a likeable fellow. A straight talker where work was concerned which is always appreciated by employees and a far cry from most of our experiences. I suppose the military background was behind this. Shame this isn’t repeated in other work places. This was a great book and a fair account into a difficult subject. The last chapters were sad, regarding the accident and inquest and the funeral parts quite moving. The last paragraphs are especially poignant regarding extremism and a lesson for some.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

An information-rich account of an undercover policeman's job policing terrorism in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. This one was based around a series of diaries so it has a very ordinary, matter of fact feel to it, with plenty of description throughout about day-to-day operations and what it took to combat a series of extremely bloodthirsty foes. There is some political backdrop and digression at times but it never overlays the feet-on-the-ground feel. The protagonist is quite a character and presented realistically, warts-and-all, which I appreciated.

[Shaun Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true hero

If you really want to understand the troubles this book should go on you reading list.
Ian was from the nationalist tradition but believed in law and worked hard to fight all wrong doers regardless of their beliefs.
It is also a love story of a family who came to terms with not saying what Ian did for a living. Having to check the car and what to do if the nock came on the door

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving account by a journalist based on the diaries of a former Paratrooper and Borneo Claret Ops Veteran who became a specialist surveillance Constable.

Ian Phoenix was a superb peeler, vastly superior to the Julian Fantinos, Raymond "Popeye" Kellys and Andrew McCabes of today.

[John Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book that underlined the complexity of the Troubles. A conflict where the protagonists had multiple motivations; some good, some bad. Phoenix was a fascinating character who deserves to be much better known, particularly the undercover nature of his activities. Many people who encountered him were shocked to discover his true identity after he died on the Milk of Kintyre.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative and detailed, but not the type of detail I enjoy. The final 2 chapters plus bonus chapter were written in a different style that I found easier to read. A lot of the story focused on the helicopter crash that took the life of Phoenix where I was expecting a more historical review of policing the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[Tim Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A salutry warning describing the range of forces that anyone challenging the legitimacy of the British State may come up against ...