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Christopher “Pinta” McKnight grew up in Derry’s Bogside as this city erupted in violence and as a 15 year old boy he lied about his age and joined the Provisional IRA. Chris talks to us about his life in the IRA which included moving weapons and explosives as a young member , training camps in the Donegal Mountains and working closely with one of the troubles most notorious figures, Martin McGuinness. He tells us about his time on the “blanket protest” and being in Long Kesh during the pivotal 1981 Hunger Strike led by Bobby Sands as well as being the victim of one of Derry’s famous “touts”.

My guest recalls being there for the Battle of Bogside and how losing a childhood mate on Bloody Sunday turned him from a Catholic teen who was friends with a British solider to a young man intent on joining the IRA and waging war on the security forces.

Chris has since ran for public office for Sinn Fein and earned a degree in Law & Politics from Ulster University.

00:00 Growing Up In pre-conflict Derry

06:35 BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE

18:25 Bloody Sunday

41:15 Joining The IRA

46:50 Training Camps

53:00 Martin McGuinness, Claudy B*mb & South Derry

58:50 Prison

1:16:10 In Long Kesh When Bobby Sands Died

1:22:45 Martin McGuinness as Chief of Staff

1:25:58 Thoughts on Commercial B*mbing Campaign

1:26:30 INLA in Derry?

1:28:00 Ray Gilmour

1:31:45 Did Steaknife come to Derry ?

1:34:40 Cell Structure in Derry

1:43:45 Frank Hegarty

1:47:50 Derry IRA vs Belfast IRA

1:50:00 Attempt to recruit Chris as an informant

1:51:20 Was Martin McGuinness an informant or agent ?

2:01:55 Did Chris see Martin McGuiness change over time?

2:06:30 Thoughts on “Proxy B*mbs” and Joan Mathers M*rder (1981)

2:10:20 “Pinta” Nickname

2:11:55 Move towards Politics

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Stuart Griffiths is an ex-british paratrooper who was stationed in Belfast and East Tyrone during the late 80s/early 90s. His book “Pigs Disco” explores the sub-culture of hard dr*g use in his regiment including LSD and other substances which would get a soldier kicked out of the army.

He speaks about the reality of life on patrol in some of Belfast’s most hostile areas, facing both the IRA and also a population who had particular contempt for the parachute regiment, for obvious reasons. Stu tells us about the toxic environment in the paras and how this plus the conflict itself took it’s toll on his mental health.

He also talks about his time in East Tyrone and how his friend getting his legs blown off by a landmine had an effect on Stu as well as adjusting to adjust to life after the army while dealing with the mental scars of PTSD.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 “Pigs Disco”
17:45 On Patrol
23:00 BORN THE DAY AFTER BLOODY SUNDAY
37:10 Memorable Night in Belfast
52:05 Colluding With Loyalists??
57:40 Working with RUC (Police)
1:02:10 East Tyrone
1:14:30 Running into Ex-IRA member in Belfast
1:18:15 PTSD

BUY THE BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/ParaTripper-Para-Pap-STORY-Book-ebook/dp/B0GSVXF7M9?ref_=ast_author_mpb

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In June 1987, Thomas Emanuel Wilson, a member of the Official IRA, was abducted and subsequently m*rdered by the Provisional IRA’s “nutting squad”. Like so many of the killings involving Freddie Scappaticci, better known as “Agent Stakeknife”, the victim was lifted and m*rdered on the pretense of being an informer or a “tout”, but he wasn’t.

Paul Wilson was a very young child when his father was m*rdered and since taken it upon himself to dig as deep as he can to find the truth and possibly get the authorities to do more.

Paul discusses his father’s life, the circumstances of his death, his dealings with the Operation Kenova team and the additional names & information that he has unearthed in the course of his own hunt for the truth.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Recent Meeting with Kenova Team
1:35 Paul’s Father’s 1987 Life & M*rder (Thomas Emmanuel Wilson)
18:15 When Did Paul Become Aware of Scap (Stakeknife)
23:15 Mi5 Tampering in Kenova Investigation
29:25 Paul’s Journey Of Discovery
35:05 The PIRA’s “Internal Security Unit”
47:35 Further Investigations ?
56:50 Freddie Scappaticci
1:11:15 Kenova Team

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CONTACT THE SHOW: thegoodlistenerpodcast@gmail.com