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Death in Derry

Martin McGuinness and the Derry IRA’s War Against the British

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Death in Derry

By: Jonathan Trigg
Narrated by: Alan Turkington
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When civil rights protests in the 1960s gave way to armed struggle, the Provisional IRA in Derry–both city and county–led the fight against the British security forces. In the city Martin McGuinness–a young butcher’s assistant from the Bogside–quickly rose through the ranks, launching a bombing campaign that reduced the city centre to rubble. In tandem, the IRA’s active service units fought the British Army in the streets and alleys of the Bogside, Creggan, Shantallow and the Waterside.

Out in the townlands, a new generation from the county’s traditional republican families waged an equally ruthless war against their neighbours in the RUC and UDR. The Derry Brigade’s success would help propel McGuinness to the very top of the IRA’s Army Council.

By the early 1980s, the Derry Brigade appeared untouchable. However, in reality, Special Branch and British Intelligence had infiltrated it from top to bottom and almost destroyed the brigade. By the mid-1990s its war was all but over, its ranks decimated by death and incarceration. This is the story of that war told by those from all sides who survived it.

©2025 Jonathan Trigg (P)2025 W. F. Howes Ltd Europe United Kingdom War
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a great book, well told. gives an insightful look at a difficult period in irish history

insightful and unbiased

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excellent book, narrated perfectly. shocking waste of life, thank God for the cease fire and God bless all the Family's associated with the troubles

shocking sad but horrifically true

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A very good insite into Irish history, the origins of the troubles and the conflict in Londonderry. A really good read.

Death in derry

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I have listened to many audiobooks on the Irish troubles and this book is certainly one of the best. It has a wide breadth of information from many of the IRA participants with surprisingly detailed background. Likewise there is substantial information from the British side and in particular how intel penetrated the IRA to an extremely senior level. I particularly liked the narrator's soft Irish accent reminiscent of Eammon Andrews, for older listeners! Finally the sting in the tail is the author's speculation on whether Martin McGuinness was turned by British Intelligence. I won't spoil the ending by revealing his view!

Life and death in the IRA

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Really enjoyed this walk through Northern Ireland's history. it was very informative and had views from many people involved in the troubles. Many atrocities we have heard about but not in the detail that this goes into.

An Unbiased Read

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