Michael Oatley

Michael Oatley CMG, OBE (born 1935) is a former Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) officer, involved in the resolution of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. He directed MI6 operations in the Middle East, 1984–88, and in Europe, 1988–91. He was responsible for counter-terrorist operations from 1985–88.

Quotes about Oatley

• Oatley embarked on an extremely dangerous — even foolhardy — programme of visiting hardline republican areas, to which the Army went only in armoured vehicles. He did it without telling anybody, in order to talk with people who could bring him closer to his objective. Frankly, he was extraordinarily lucky to get away with it, and would certainly have been stopped if anyone [in government] had realised what he was doing.
  • Former Whitelaw staff member being interviewed by Huband, 29 October 2010. Mark Christopher Huband (2013) (in en). Trading secrets: spies and intelligence in an age of terror. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 46–47, 232. Wikidata Q117428955. ISBN 978-1-84885-843-5. OCLC 842919694. </ref>
  • Oatley's method of establishing communication with the Provisional Irish Republican Army and understanding its links with Sein Fein.