The Volunteer: A Former IRA Man's True Story

by Shane Paul O'Doherty

Shane O¿Doherty joined the IRA at 15 years of age and was later arrested. He was one of the first prisoners to work his way past the negativity of the philosophy of armed struggle, beginning to recommend publicly and privately an end to violence and a full engagement with the democratic process. From his prison cell, O¿Doherty courageously wrote letters of apology to his victims. This is a graphic account of his life in the IRA and explains why ordinary people might turn to terrorism.

Genres: Irish Literature, History

216 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 1993

Reviews

[Lou Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho como libro biográfico. Hasta ahora lo que sabía del IRA era muy por encima y no tenía ni idea de cómo llegó a afectar a Irlanda y UK. Ha sido interesante verlo desde el punto de vista del terrorista, ver lo que le impulsó a ello, las motivaciones. Al ser cortito se lee rápido y la forma de narrar, aún sin diálogos (que yo pensaba que este tipo de libros no me engancharían), es muy fluida. Cuenta lo necesario sin irse por las ramas y va a lo que, al menos a mí, me interesaba saber. No es un libro para desarrollar personajes o contar una gran historia, sino para ver la evolución de Shane, todas las etapas, y cómo era el IRA desde el interior, al menos desde el punto de vista de un adolescente. Obviamente, al ser autobiográfico, es bastante parcial, pero ha sido interesante ver como Shane comenzaba justificando al IRA para más adelante darse cuenta de su error y exponer su postura en contra desde su propia experiencia.

[Kerry]

It was okay. Really self-centered guy. I get the idea he claimed responsibility for a lot more than he actually did.

[Jason Blean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very few people have come out the Northern Ireland conflict, having been heavily involved in the bombings and shootings and then had a 180 degree about-turn and been so vocal and unambiguous a campaigner about the futility of revolutionary AND state violence; Shane Paul O'Doherty is one of them. For that alone this deserves a read. An IRA volunteer at 15, Shane doesn't shy away from his involvement in a grubby bloody sectarian war. On the contrary he retells it, in graphic detail, through the eyes of his adolescent romanticised former self, along with the dreadful details of the harm he caused to himself, his family and his political and military enemies at the time. This is a heart-felt, eloquent, rational and coherent narrative of The Troubles, all the more remarkable in its objectivity, criticising both paramilitary groups for their mistaken blood sacrifice ideology and state actors - police, army and prison warders and governors for their unjustified violence and abuse of prisoners. Ten years after being sucked into the IRA, Shane has an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ in his prison cell via an argument with a racist Jesuit priest. From that point on he has seen himself not as a revolutionary with a justified cause, excusing his violent actions but as a human rights violator, required to ask forgiveness from his victims, and in need of restoring his relationship with his community, himself and God. Although determined and committed to the cause of peaceful political change and justice, thus begins an excruciatingly difficult path towards restoration and freedom, via solitary confinement, a psychiatric ward (for asking for forgiveness of his victims) and humiliation in the UK national media. Shane's story of how he navigates these troubled waters is compelling. It also gives a unique insight and testimony of the nature and extent of injustices meted out to those who were on the frontline of The Ulster Troubles, yet without excusing their acts or twisting the narrative.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read account of one mans experience in the IRA in the early days of the COnflict and his time in the british prison system.I especially liked his description of what it was like as a youth in Derry in the 1960's. Shane came across as very believable. I wouldnt say the book was self serving, but feel he left out specific operations he was involved in that may have killed people as he was vague about his time on the Derry brigade staff but this is true of most books by participants in the war.