Agent White Exposed, British Dirty Tricks Exposed

04th February 2006

Agent White Exposed, British Dirty Tricks Exposed

Speaking on revelations that convicted loyalist murderer and UDA/UFF
leader John White is a paid Special Branch agent Relatives for Justice
have called for an independent inquiry into the murderous activities of
RUC/PSNI Special Branch agents. We pose the question – just how many
lives have been sacrificed by the British state in the pursuit of
running their dirty war via their agents?

RFJ Director Mark Thompson said:

‘This week has witnessed revelations relating to state agents that in
any other society would have surely toppled police chiefs, ministers
and possibly governments. It is now without question that RUC/PSNI
Special Branch was, and continues to be, out of control running agents
such as Torrens Knight and John White. And these are just the latest
examples in a string of public disclosures.’

‘White
and Knight were personally responsible for some of the most vile and
repugnant sectarian murders over three decades of conflict. Fuelled
solely by their sectarian hatred of Catholics, nationalist and
republicans the recruitment and operation of these people expose the
overall modas operandi of Special Branch and indeed the personal
motivations of their handlers. The fact that these killers were paid
huge sums of public money only adds to the public concern and
especially the concerns of the bereaved and injured.’

‘In relation to John White questions are also raised as to the failure
of the Assets Recovery Agency, run by former RUC/PSNI Assistant Chief
Constable, Alan McQuillan, to seize the proceeds of his drugs empire.
Alan McQuillan was a Divisional Commander in North Belfast at the
height of UDA/UFF violence and when White was an agent. The failure to
stop the activities of the UDA/UFF is an indicator of the intentions of
the Special Branch.’

‘The Special Branch priority
above and beyond everything is their dirty war, especially against
republicans, political and societal change, and the peace process.
Special Branch activities have deliberately gone unchecked for decades
at the cost of many lives both Catholic and Protestant – all
expandable. Indeed many people will justifiably ask how many lives did
Special Branch and their counterparts in Military Intelligence casually
extinguish in pursuit of their dirty war.’

‘The
Special Branch and Military Intelligence have acted as judge, jury and
executioner. They have been politically facilitated at the highest
levels of the state and they wield control of the prosecution service.
This has been crucial to enabling their dirty war.’

‘The hundreds of families bereaved and injured due to the activities of
Special Branch and Military Intelligence demand the truth and
accountability. This can only be achieved by a thorough independent
inquiry and we are calling for this now – the evidence in recent times
vindicates our consistent analysis down the years that the activities
of Special Branch and Military Intelligence effectively prolonged,
sustained and fuelled the conflict. Some would argue that they ran the
war through their agents. The evidence to date suggests that their
interests lie solely in sustaining conflict and control of loyalism.
These are all matters of huge public concern.’

‘Far
from protecting lives, which is the sworn duty of any police service,
it now clear beyond any doubt that quite the opposite was the case.’

‘For the bereaved and injured victims of state agents such as White and
Knight it is equally important that the faceless people who run these
agents are held accountable and not protected by legislation such as
the Inquiries Act. The British government must act in accordance with
international legal and human rights obligations and facilitate an
independent inquiry based on the principle of transparency. They must
stop hiding behind their sovereignty.’

Special Branch
remains at the heart of policing and continues its activities. Until
these matters are comprehensively addressed then there cannot be any
confidence in current policing structures.’

ENDS