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Kitson and the Military Reaction Force

Britain’s Military Reaction Force and Operation Everson

Paper Trail has linked Britain’s Military Reaction Force (MRF) to multiple murders and attempted murders of civilians in Belfast in 1972. Secret British military documents prove that the MRF was indeed guilty of a catalogue of murders and attempted murders of unarmed civilians – including teenagers – in Belfast between May and September 1972. The […]
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Military Reaction Force Telephone Number in 1972

If the police wanted to discover if the British Army’s Military Reaction Force had shot another civilian, all it had to do was telephone Palace Barracks 3534. If only we knew back then…
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Black and Tans: A Historical Brief for a British Minister in 1972

In May 1972, the British Minister of State for Northern Ireland requested a short note on the origins of the Black and Tans and the B Specials. Lord Windlesham requested the historical brief regarding the Black and Tans and B Specials “at a time when the Royal Ulster Constabulary is under strength and there is […]
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The Soldiers’ Truce, Christmas Day 1914

Remembering the Soldiers’ Truce on the Western Front 105 years ago, Christmas Day 1914. The festive miracle continued throughout Christmas Day and is recorded in the War Diary of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. “At dawn 25th, the Germans shouted out ‘Merry Xmas’ from their trenches and danced and sang in front of their […]
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The Soldiers’ Truce, Christmas Eve 1914

Remembering the Soldiers’ Truce on the Western Front 105 years ago, Christmas 1914. Peace broke out 105 years ago along certain sections of the Western Front when troops on both sides of the trenches put down their weapons and sang Christmas hymns during a Soldiers’ Truce. Thanks to the great work of the National Archives, […]
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Who Killed Joseph Downey?

Nobody in the Market was certain who killed Joseph Downey. A local witness at the inquest said he had watched Joseph Downey walking up McAuley Street in the Market, Belfast, close to his home and had shouted a warning to him there was shooting in the area. He thought Joseph had been drinking and did […]
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Michael Leonard Murder 1973

Listen: Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill on the Murder of Michael Leonard by RUC

? Listen: Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill discusses the murder of Michael Leonard by the RUC in 1973. Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill was interviewed by Ocean FM  (7th October 2019) about the murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1973 and the family’s on-going campaign for truth. This followed the […]
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Michael Leonard Murder 1973

Michael Leonard: Murder of Civilian by RUC Debated in Seanad

The murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by RUC in 1973 is to be raised in the Seanad. An important Commencement Matter regarding the murder of Donegal civilian, Michael Leonard, by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) on 17th May 1973 will be discussed in Seanad Éireann today (2nd October 2019) as the family fight for […]
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Paper Trail Pro Podcast

EU Committee of Ministers

Vindication for campaigning families at the EU Committee of Ministers last week. The Deputies of the Committee of Ministers at the European Parliament (link): 1. recalled that this group of cases concerns the effectiveness of investigations into the deaths of the applicants’ next-of-kin in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, either during security force […]
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