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Thatcher's Spy

My Life as an MI5 Agent Inside Sinn Féin

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Thatcher's Spy

By: Willie Carlin
Narrated by: Matthew Forsythe
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About this listen

In Thatcher's Spy, the Cold War meets Northern Ireland's Dirty War in the remarkable real-life story of a deep under-cover British intelligence agent, a man now doomed forever to look over his shoulder.

In March 1985, as he climbed the six steps of Margaret Thatcher's prime-ministerial jet on the runway of RAF Aldergrove, little did Willie Carlin know the role Freddie Scappaticci played in saving his life.

So began the dramatic extraction of Margaret Thatcher's key undercover agent in Sinn Féin. For 11 years, Willie Carlin worked alongside IRA commander Martin McGuinness in the republican movement's political wing in Derry.

He was MI5's man at McGuinness' side and gave the British State unprecedented insight into the IRA leader's strategic thinking. When Carlin's cover was blown in 1985, Thatcher authorised the use of her jet to whisk him to safety. Incredibly, it was another British spy inside the IRA's secretive counter-intelligence unit, the 'nuttin' squad', who saved Carlin's life. This is his story.

©2019 Willie Carlin (P)2019 W. F. Howes Espionage Politicians Politics & Activism True Crime Thought-Provoking Inspiring
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a disturbing yet informative account of the world of intelligence during the troubles. Also a reminder that our attitude to each other over race and religion is so often impacted by the accident of birth. It takes a special person to overcome such prejudice and bravery to stand against it while living within it. By the way tell the narrator that "corps" is pronounced "core" even in NI.

Disturbing and informative

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I've listened to a few books now regarding spies in the North of Ireland and this 1 is up there with the best.
Another great read is Double Agent. The story of Kevin Fulton who is mentioned in this book.

Highly recommended

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Things I've learnt from this book:

IRA did not fight for freedom and unity of Ireland, they were just a bunch of evil murderers. Similar to Hamas who don't care about Palestinians, they only fight for power.
Interesting book but in terms of Karma, at the end of it I was wondering if author was actually a righteous man on the right side of events? Lost three of his children and other relatives...it made me think if fighting for land, whichever side you're on, is a righteous, higher cause? I don't think so

Dark days

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Within the first few minutes of this book I became totally distracted by the poor standard of the narrator. Words pronounced wrong (I'm from NI so it's not dialect). When he reads ombudsman as omnibus then you'll know what I mean. It's a great story but I actually wish I had just read the book rather than have it devalued by such bad performance

Great story ruined by narration

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well written
well read
enlightening
a must read for those interested in good Friday agreements

fascinating spy history.

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