Big Boys' Rules: The SAS and the Secret Struggle against the IRA

by mark-urban

In this book, defence specialist and war correspondent Mark Urban explores covert operations against the IRA from the mid-1970s to the Loughgall shooting in 1987. Drawing on interviews with people who have served at the heart of intelligence and special operations in Ulster, as well as with members of paramilitary groups, this book examines the roles of the army, the police and special branch, as well as both MI5 and MI6. The book also looks at the shoot to kill allegations, and records members of the security forces describing the deliberate deception of the press and courts in Ulster. The author also reveals many details including the events which lead up to the killing of eight IRA members in May 1987 in the village of Loughgall.

Genres: History, Military History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Ireland, War, British Literature

266 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well researched account of the SAS's time in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles" - also a good addition to my collection of books concerning this period.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

My obsession with the SAS. They make Delta Force and SEALS look like pansies.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Wish we would treat these terrorists like we do the current scum who wish to destroy us. Shoot to kill.

[Gra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. This book was a tough read, sometimes with bad English, a bit like listening to a foreign football manager where sentences seemed back to front as it were. The final third or so I found it even harder to get through but the undertone of questioning whatever the security forces did came through loud and clear. The message then seemed to be that whatever cowardly act the IRÀ took in killing hundreds if not thousands of innocent people over the years wasn’t questioned and appeared to be acceptable. Suggestions and lots of conjecture came in as to why the forces acted the way they did along with clever use of doubting words like “the army said” as opposed to the facts. The book was padded out with lots of this type of thing on why people acted the way they did after or during an event. The title of the book was lost throughout…if terrorists go about their evil cowardly business the way they do, when they meet an opposing force willing to stand up to them they need to play by those rules E.g. planting bombs to kill innocent children like in Warrington as opposed to fighting against the troops that will have defended the public.

[Javier HG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho este libro. No solo es un estudio sobre el conflicto norirlandés, sino también un estudio sobre la lucha antiterrorista en general. "Big boys' rules" muestra que hay diferentes fases, y que muchas veces el problema son las peleas internas en los servicios de seguridad. En el caso de Irlanda del Norte, la falta de coordinación (cuando no abierta pelea) entre el ejército, la policía, y los servicios de inteligencia, suponía muchas veces un problema mayor que el IRA. Leyendo el libro de Mark Urban te quedas sorprendido de que algunos atentados pudieran evitarse, tal era la descoordinación interna.

Por el lado del IRA, no era el bloque monolítico que a veces pensamos basándonos en su "mística". Uno de sus principales debilidades era el número de "topos" o delatores. Algunos años era mayor el número de terroristas ejecutados por la propia organización que los que abatían las fuerzas de seguridad.

Un libro muy recomendable para aquell@s que quieran saber más sobre Irlanda del Norte y la lucha antiterrorista.

[Trae Mitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informationally, this book is 5-star packed. The depth of the research that went into the writing is exceptionally good, and surprisingly balanced and objective. Unfortunately, the text is a bit dry, making the read a bit tedious at times. Regardless, it is refreshing to read a book about the Troubles written from an unbiased point of view. Urban does a good job of attempting to interpret the many incidents he documents from a neutral point of view, assigning blame to the IRA and UK forces when applicable.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book they has been well researched. A little dated now as it was published over 30 years ago. But a good insight into the tactics of RUC & SAS to ambush members of IRA.

[Andrew Tollemache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its been more than 25 years since The Troubles in Northern Ireland were settled by a negotiated peace (for now), but it was still interesting to read this history by Mark Urban about how the UK used its army special forces, the SAS to hunt IRA operatives on the UK's own soil. The US has Posse Commitatus laws that serverly restrict the miltary from doing operations on US soil, but the Brits were having their top SF operators set up ambushes, maintain observation posts etc in amongst their own civilian population. Pretty wild when you think about it.
In Urban's book we see how the deployment of the SAS grew out the explostion in IRA attacks & bombings in the 1970s as The Troubles exploded. Urban goes to great lengths to detail both the successes and calamities the SAS along with the rests of the UK anti-IRA had till the book wraps its narrative in early 1990s. Urban only briefly discusses the famous SAS ambush of IRA operatives in Gibraltar as he believes that topic widely covered elsewhere.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read, written very authoritatively and objectively, it is also apparently very well researched. My main criticism is that it could do with a refresh to bring it up to date, as it was written in the 1990s, but I understand that it was as much a commentary and external critique of British covert operations in Northern Ireland than it was pure history, and so I understand that its moment has perhaps passed.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a present from a friend who worked for the British Army in Ireland during the Troubles. The author gives a good review of the secret fight against both the IRA and loyalist groups from 1976 to 1987. I would like to find the follow on that covers from 1978 until the end of IRA's armed struggle.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, well balanced and easy to read. It managed to strike a good balance between both sides of the arguement while still backing up our soldiers. Provided a good alternative to IRA propaganda against British forces in Northern Ireland.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intelligence war against the IRA in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1980s. The story began with the introduction of the SAS 22 regiment in 1976 and ends with the Loughgall ambush in 1987.

[Jamie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting. The army were never the bad guys in Northern Ireland. The terrorists were. People seem unaware or disrespectful of that which is upsetting. Where mistakes made? Undoubtedly. Is that the fault of soldiers, who were only there because they got sent there by men in government? Absolutely fucking not.

The IRA are as bad as ISIS. They deserve the same treatment, yet, disgustingly they seem to be given credit they do not deserve for murder, particularly in the USA, thanks to the insidious, vile campaigns by Jerry Adams &Co helped by NORAID. Sinn Fein is just the IRA posing as a legitimate face of terrorism. No matter how much I read I will never understand or accept they are anything but evil.