Operation Chiffon
The Secret Story of MI5 and MI6 and the Road to Peace in Ireland
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Operation Chiffon
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Narrated by:
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Peter Taylor
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By:
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Peter Taylor
About this listen
Bloomsbury presents Operation Chiffon written and read by Peter Taylor.
On the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Peter Taylor tells for the first time the gripping story of Operation Chiffon, the top-secret intelligence operation that helped bring peace to Ireland.
‘A gripping exploration of how MI5 and MI6 worked for a ceasefire with the IRA – and how one meeting changed everything’ Telegraph
'An extraordinary story . . . A true tale of espionage' The Times
April 1998: the Good Friday Agreement is signed, ending decades of violence and bloodshed in Northern Ireland. The process of getting the IRA to end its so-called ‘armed struggle’ was always the prerequisite of the search for peace. It was Operation Chiffon that finally helped make it possible.
Operation Chiffon takes us inside the top-secret intelligence operation whose roots go back to the bloodiest years of the conflict in the early 1970s, involving officers from MI6 and, later in the 1990s, MI5. The remarkable story, which has remained hidden for forty years, is now revealed by legendary BBC journalist Peter Taylor with unique access to the officers involved. Drawing on exclusive interviews and Taylor’s fifty years of covering the conflict, the book narrates in first-hand detail how those involved risked their careers – and their lives – to help secure the fragile peace that exists today.
Taylor vividly brings this covert operation to life and in the process chronicles the history of Sinn Féin, rising from obscurity in the early days of the Troubles to becoming the largest political party in Ireland today. It is a story fraught with uncertainty and danger that, as Brexit risks destabilising what was achieved in the Good Friday Agreement twenty-five years ago, is more important than ever to remember.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A J
- 17-06-23
A reliable source
A great recount of the troubles and an insight into the people that helped bring peace from one of few Journalists that you can trust on this matter .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-11-23
Amazing detail
loved it , a true and honest account by honourable men . especially Peter Taylor himself
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- Matthew
- 11-08-23
Excellent
As a history student I find this a very balanced, yet very informative listen. Truly excellent.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-10-24
intelligence role
incorrect date of Shankill bomb as narrator said 23rd August 1993 it was 23rd October 1993
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mike Garbutt
- 11-06-23
Great historical piece
This is well structured, read and informative. Highly recommend reading for anybody interested in the subject. More interesting is reading it with the knowledge that we know the outcome and how it could hand been different.
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- damian milligan
- 24-10-23
Unbiased
excellent to have the background detail presented without bias and with total comprehension of the circumstances of the era
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Matthew
- 14-07-23
A veteran with 2 tours on Northern Ireland
As someone who served in the province during the 1990's I feel I have the right to my opinion.
This book shows how diplomacy works against everything and everyone.
Knowing that the government was so weak as to run a 'surrender to the terrorists' policy whilst we were getting shot at makes my blood boil.
The author shows his real cards at the end of the book. He trashes Brexit and the conservative government. As such I find his opinions and reporting to be tainted.
Listen to the book but please do not buy into the 'surrender' narrative. The British Army, RUC, MI5, had the IRA on it's knees. We infiltrated the highest echelons with huge effect.
If we had been given the opportunity, we could have shut down the Provisionals and secured the sovereignty of Northern Ireland.
Dr William Matchett's thesis expands on my thoughts and allows you to gain a better idea as to the success we had.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Patrick Egan
- 19-01-24
Amazing book by an extremely courageous author
It was a part of the struggle that I knew nothing about bur Peter brings it to life brilliantly. It is a must read
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- maurice cassidy
- 17-04-23
Very informative
This is a book that should be read by all the youth of NI. It relays the struggles we, as the people of N Ireland, suffered on both sides of the community. It also shows how fragile peace is, and we need to work harder to galvanise this peace in light of brexit.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Jordan
- 11-07-23
As good as it gets
The best summary with depth of a chronological story of events throughout the entirety of the troubles
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