Agent White Exposed, British Dirty Tricks Exposed

04th February 2006

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