Martin Ingram, Force Research Unit, May 2006
The affects upon the individual and his family, can and almost certainly will, be massive. Whether they be innocent or not. The stigma associated with informing can last many generations in a Republican community. It is different to almost every other community that I know off. A recent case comes clearly to mind, that of Jim Lynagh. Jim Lynagh was accused in the Sunday World Newspaper of being an informer. He is accused of leaking the information required to mount the aggressive operation against a well-known and formidable PIRA grouping.
The accusation went as far as to suggest that Jim Lynagh was wearing a throat Mike to provide those tasked to prosecute this operation with a running commentary upon the pre-attack activities and to give a real time insight into the actual attack.
I am an experienced agent Handler and I can tell you that who ever fed that story to the press was taking the mickey out of that reporter. The practice of using a throat mike or indeed any other electronic device on the individual was never employed for very obvious and frankly sensible reasons.
I have seen no compelling evidence to suggest Jim Lynagh was an agent. Indeed from a personal understanding and opinion I would put the chances of Jim Lynagh being a tout on a par with Bobby Sands or Francie Hughes or his old friend Seamus McElwain being one also. That said I may be wrong but I very much doubt it.
Since the exposure of Freddie Scappaticci there has been a steady stream of names – both Republican and Loyalist leaked to the public by one form or another, which has by design or accident created an environment, which makes the public suspicious of any further exposures. I say this, because this practice of using a shot gun approach to the serious subject of informers / state collusion is wrong and is not in the publics or the victim’s interest.
I suspect and have done so for some time that this tactic is designed and directed by those who have an interest in frustrating the exposure of murderers and criminals. In the coming months the authorities know that a very high profile individual who is both a murderer and an Agent of the State is going to be exposed along with documentation which will reflect badly upon the state. It is possible that this individual will ride the storm because of the paranoia created; do not be fooled by this tactic. The truth should win out.