God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism

by Martin Dillon

In this astonishing and at times terrifying book, acclaimed writer and political commentator Martin Dillon examines for the first time the true role of religion in the conflict in Northern Ireland. He interviewed those directly involved--terrorists like Kenny McClinton and Billy Wright and churchmen like Father Pat Buckley--finding that the terrorists were more forthcoming than the priests and ministers. Dillon charts the history of the paramilitary forces on both sides and exposes the shocking covert role of British intelligence. He finds that, ultimately, both the church and government have failed their communities, allowing men and women of violence to fill a vacuum with bigotry and violence.

Genres: Ireland, History, Nonfiction, Religion, Irish Literature, Politics

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 1997

About the author

Martin Dillon has won international acclaim for his unique, investigative works on the Ireland conflict. Dr. Conor Cruise O’Brien, the renowned historian and scholar, described him as “our Virgil to that inferno.” The Irish Times hailed him as one of the most creative writers of our time and the Guardian compared him to John Le Carrie and Len Deighton. Martin Dillon’s trilogy, The Shankill Butchers, The Dirty War & God and the Gun, sold over a quarter of a million copies in the British Isles. His twelve non-fiction works are considered definitive accounts of the conflict. He began his distinguished career as a newspaper reporter and later became a programme editor with the BBC and a writer/producer with its award winning Timewatch. Throughout his BBC career he campaigned against its flawed interpretations of what constituted balance. He has been a terrorism expert for news outlets in Europe and North America. His play The Squad was one of the first about The Troubles and was produced on BBC radio and television by the late Ronald Mason, the esteemed Head of BBC Radio Three Drama. Dillon’s books include The Enemy Within, an account of the IRA’s terror campaigns in Britain, starting at the outbreak of World War II. Stone Cold was a portrait of a natural born killer and in The Trigger Men he delved into the lives of the most notorious assassins. Dillon exposed the IRA’s secret burials, the use of State-sponsored assassins and the phenomenon of sadistic torture by paramilitaries. He helped prepare the way for peace in Ireland by bringing together Nobel Prize winner, John Hume, and Gerry Adams, the IRA’s political leader. His help and advice were sought by the Margaret Thatcher and John Major governments. As a journalist and writer his life has been intertwined with the history of the Irish Troubles and its darkest days. He is often described as one of the most important voices of the conflict.
His latest book is his the memoir, Crossing the Line- My Life on the Edge.
According to Irish Times, the memoir “details a life that’s involved many incredible moments: witnessing the horrors of the Troubles; encounters with major political figures and paramilitaries; rubbing shoulders with Irish literary greats; a successful broadcasting career, but one where he butted heads with BBC management; and having to leave Northern Ireland because of death threats.
Henry McDonald; author, journalist and Ireland correspondent for The Guardian says the memoir is replete with such colourful stories involving the politicians, terrorists, artists and writers he met while covering the conflict in Northern Ireland”.
Readers of this book, and of Dillon’s other works, will agree that “He has that unique knack of combining forensic historical fact-based research with the art of thriller-like writing. His books have accurately chartered the terror and the horror of recent Northern Irish history but always in a tone of compassion for the innocent victims caught up in conflict. Works like his 'The Shankill Butchers' and 'The Dirty War' stand the test of time and will be essential reading for generations to come for those trying to make sense out of the madness that was 'The Troubles'.
Author and journalist, Hugh Jordan, had this to say about Martin Dillon in 2017:
Martin Dillon is a renowned world expert on terrorism. He has written and spoken extensively on this modern day phenomenon, which continues to hit the headlines on a daily basis.

As a journalist, he came well-equipped to cope with the subject. Born in Belfast – the citadel of Ulster unionism at the heart of the divided society that is Northern Ireland - Martin Dillon understood from an early age, the causes of political conflict which if left unaddressed manifests itself in violence.

And as young reporter he stood out among his peers, because he quickly identified the line where politics ended and terrorism began.

Martin’s professional life began on a leading Irish newspaper in 1968.

Reviews

[Rachel Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, but loses focus at times

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've more Scottish blood in my veins than anything, and claim the Clan Mackenzie as part of my family's roots. Remember that lakeside castle in the beginning of the first Highlander movie (before the series got crappy), just before the main character gets run through by a barbarian's sword and finds out from Sean Connery that he's immortal? What?!? You've never seen it? Get off your duff and go rent the thing, for Pete's sake. That's the Mackenzie Castle, that is. In some distant, almost ridiculous way, I have an attachment to that, and to a tartan found on kilts, and to different patches of green and rocky land across the sea. I've history in a place I barely know.

The Irish know their history, and for those remaining in Ireland, awareness of that history runs deep. Closer than bone and blood for some, and for many, religion is the crown of that awareness. Through religion, and identification with religion, all is defined and understood. Lines are drawn, neighborhoods are specified, streets are declared forbidden or allowed. Through religion, whole portions of the population, even though they may share the same ruddy skin and red hair that you do, are declared either "acceptable" or "enemy".

"The Church" is a dangerously divisive term, and is understood very differently by a great many people. In the name of both Catholicism and Protestantism, that understanding has often translated into violence, bloodshed, grief, death, and loss. "God and the Gun" is about that violence, that terrorism in the name of the Church that has riddled Ireland (Northern Ireland particularly) for decades. It's a heartbreaking, shocking, enraging, and deeply moving book, and I challenge you to read it and not feel something.

Reading interviews with different Irish leaders, and what they justify in the name of Christ, is enough to make me feel many things, anger and disgust not the least of them.

A good, challenging read.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book looks at the relationship between the paramilitaries, both Protestant and Catholica, in Northern Ireland and their relationship with their respective churches. Dillon uses a series of interviews with both paramilitaries and clergymen to illustrate the different views and opinions with some indicating a close relationship between the church and the paramilitary while others show a more strained relationship based on the politics of the region rather than religious conviction.

Although this book does cover both sides of the religious divide and is relatively well balanced, it doesn't go into the depth of analysis and detail as Dillon's other works and as a result it leaves the reader wanting to know a lot more than is given. Whether this is due to the author or an over eager editor trying to simply a complex situation or due to the lack of co-operation that was evidently a real hurdle when asking about this particular subject I do not know. I'm inclined to think that it is more the latter than anything else as the role of the church within the communities on both sides is not only a very complex matter but one that is protected fiercely from any form of criticism by those it serves.

[Kirk Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my money Dillon has bee the most effective writer covering the Troubles of Northern Ireland. The fact that the diehards on either side of the divide seem to have it in for him, suggests that he is hitting the right chord. In this book Dillon explores the role of actual religious practice and clergy involved in the Troubles and points out how they've alternately failed and provide hope for a better future. A very rewarding read.

[Wallace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Expected better, given martin Dillon's journalistic background, but this was a very disappointing read, with Mr Dillon failing utterly, in my opinion, to examine or prove his thesis of God and the Gun, The Church and Irish terrorism.

[Hana - booksonthebedside on tiktok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thought provoking read but I found myself disagreeing with the premise quite often.

In 'God and the Gun' Dillon seeks to unpick the relationship between paramilitaries and priests. His interviews span both sides of the conflict and he does an excellent job of highlighting the religious tenets that characterise the relationship between church and community. Dillon highlights the role of confession and canon law in the Catholic church, and shows the intense theological and moral reckoning the clergy faced during the conflict. He also explores the role of conversion within the Protestant faith and questions whether prison conversions are a self-serving excercise for inmates seeking an early release.

I have to acknowledge my bias, as I am from a country colonised and cannibalised by the British Empire but it often feels like in an attempt to remain balanced, the sheer violence of the British state is euphemised. Gerrymandering, dirty wars, intelligence gathering, checkpoints, stop and search policies, internment without trial are all forms of violence in my opinion. The vast majority of this state violence was targeted towards the Catholic population of the North. To me, it feels unfair to try and balance the Paisleyites perceived threats of discrimination, with the confirmed and state sanctioned discrimination against Catholics.

The first half of the book focuses solidly on the role of the church in the conflict but the second half seems to meander slightly into a more general discussion of the conflict. It's clear that Dillon abhors the violence that occurred and wants to the churches to acknowledge where they fell short but some of the book seems overly idealistic.

[Pinko Palest]

Dillon's books are always exciting and revealing. There is of course some sermonising, which sounds very dated now, but all in all, a fascinating picture, especially as regards some of the protestants

[Beata Horała · Rating 4 out of 5]

Z tej książki nie dowiemy się kto był dobry, a kto zły. Dużym plusem są wywiady ze świadkami i walczącymi. Wciągająca. Polecam zainteresowanym tematyką "the Troubles"

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I have never understood completely the Troubles in Ireland, I thought this book, containing interviews and commentary by the author, would help me understand at least some of the problems. I came away more confused than when I began....Catholic vs. Protestant vs. Presbyterian, the IRA vs. the Brits, and so many splinter groups that I could not draw connections between any of them.

[Hunter Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible portrait of Irish fighters and clerics in the midst of this bloody war. Dillon goes right for the source, and it'll give you chills he comes so close to the gore.

[John Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

An informative account of the Struggles, but the text did not seem to flow and made reading tough.

[Mylinda Mayfield Lawhun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly detailed book regarding the role of religion in the Northern Ireland conflict BKA The Troubles. A greatly informative, provocative read.