Stray Bullets

By: E.S. Haggan
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  • Summary

  • Having served over thirty years in the RUC / PSNI I was medically retired with CPTSD. Dissociative Identity Disorder also evolved in me as a residue of CPTSD. I wrote a novel, 'The Bitter End of Dreams', through which I hoped to reflect the experiences of working class folk caught in the grip of a sectarian conflict. I set my story in Belfast, but replaced the Judeo-Christian god with that of Mithras. I also gave Northern Ireland an extra county. Such counterfactual alterations opened up for me the opportunity to place my story deep within the NI Troubles without being shackled to specific timelines, events and real people - thus avoiding the risk of libelling anyone, while being able to write a story, familiar to many, and retaining a sense of place and the tragedy of the Troubles. ​​I'm going to talk openly about elements of policing the Troubles, religion, politics, sectarianism and our toxic ideologies. I've explored these topics in my novel, as well as the placing of actual events and atrocities; albeit heavily disguised or deeply submerged in subtext.​​To better frame my thoughts I will, firstly, discuss each chapter in sequence before reading that chapter. In this way I should be able to complete a spoken word version of my novel while using the opportunity it provides to elaborate on its creation process in the context of the NI Troubles.​​Thank you.

    © 2024 Stray Bullets
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History Social Sciences True Crime
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Episodes
  • The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part II

    The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part II
    Oct 9 2024

    This is the concluding episode in which I look at issues related by a retired RUC Special Branch officer as quoted from the work cited below, as well as my thoughts on such.

    Work cited in this episode:

    Barker, Alan, 'Shadows: Inside Northern Ireland's Special Branch', Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, 2004

    Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.
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    28 mins
  • The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part I

    The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Agent Handling Part I
    Oct 9 2024

    This episode continues my look at allegations of collusion against the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Obviously, there's nothing revelatory within (other than some aspects of agent handling and possible pitfalls of such). There's nothing to breach the Official Secrets Act either.

    In saying all that I sincerely hope that the biographical book extracts, I'll quote from, by a retired member of RUC Special Branch are of some interest, together with my own thoughts on the issue - plus the odd anecdote.

    As this episode slightly overran the time I had initially allowed for it I've continued it on to conclusion in a follow-up episode which will carry the same title as this one albeit with the addition of a 'Part II'.

    Again, thank you all very much for your support, continued understanding and questions.

    Work cited in this episode:

    Barker, Alan, 'Shadows: Inside Northern Ireland's Special Branch', Mainstream Publishing Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, 2004

    Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Impromptu Episode: Intelligence Streams

    The Royal Ulster Constabulary and Collusion: Impromptu Episode: Intelligence Streams
    Sep 19 2024

    This is an interim, or rather impromptu, episode of sorts. In it I consider my working relationship with an Intelligence Cell within the British Army during the very early years of my career, and how it became affected following the brutal murder of Loughlin Maginn in 1989.

    As such I hope to complete a more comprehensive and concluding episode looking at allegations of collusion and the RUC.

    I hope you enjoy these episodes - if that's the right word?! - and I am once again heartened by the continued encouragement and very positive feedback from folks right across Northern Ireland's religious, as well as political / ideological, divide together with interaction with folks beyond Ireland.

    Thank you.

    Work cited:

    Lost Lives (Revised ed.), McKittrick D., et al, Transworld, 2001

    ----

    Link:

    Loughlin Maginn: Family of man shot dead by UDA settle claim against police and MoD

    Click here if you’d like to send me a comment or question. Thank you.
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    30 mins

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