Operation Chiffon
Operation Chiffon was the code name the British Intelligence M15 service gave to secret communications with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in 1991 as a means of exploring and bringing to and end of The Troubles.[1][2] A meeting in March 1993 that was not authorized by MI5 may have been instrumental in leading to ceasefire that led to the Good Friday Agreement.[2]
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Quotes
[edit]By MI5 officer Robert
[edit]- The final solution is union. It is going to happen anyway. The historical train - Europe - determines that. Unionists will have to change. This island will be as one.
- At the March 1993 meeting hosted at the home of peace activist and trusted contact Brendan Duddy as recorded in the minutes by Gerry Kelly. Martin McGuinness was the other person present the leadership of the PIRA and Sinn Fein with Kelly. McGuinness understood Robert to be the authorized "British Government Representative" and that his words here represented the views of the British Government.[2]
- I had all sorts of thoughts going through [my mind]. A concern that I was going against my own government and the Queen.
- Yes, I misled the prime minister so I misled the Queen as well. It was a hard and really very unpleasant thing to have on your conscience. I felt very alone.
- In a recording in the 2020s of an interview with Peter Taylor for a BBC Documentary over the 1993 meeting at Duddy's home.[2]
- I’d like what I did to be remembered, I did think I’d brought peace to Northern Ireland.
- Richardson, Hollie (25 March 2023). TV tonight: the M15 officer who risked his life to meet an IRA leader. The Guardian. Retrieved on 30 March 2023.
- A quote from the the person in an interview with Peter Taylor with the person he claims was the MI5 officer who claims he met against orders from his MI5 superiors to explore peace with Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1993. This claim should be seen in the context that Robert felt he was a critical link in the secret back channel originally established by Michael Oatley that may have been essential to engendering the PIRA's support for the more public channels working towards peace and the Good Friday Agreement.
By Gerry Kelly
[edit]- We were told he was a British government representative. We just took him at his word - that's what he was there for, he would represent the British government and therefore we were talking to the British government.
- It gave hope there was a possibility of a peace process through meaningful talks. I think he [Robert] did the right thing and he can claim to have been part of history.
- Speaking to Taylor in February 2023 when describing the March 1993 meeting and indicating belief Robert's actions were justified.[2]
References
[edit]- ↑ Christopher Andrew (2009) (in en). The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5. London: Allen Lane. p. 873. Wikidata Q117327931. ISBN 978-0-713-99885-6. OCLC 1148808033.
- ↑ a b c d e Brewer, Kirsty (2023-03-25). MI5 spy reveals secret 'unauthorised' IRA talks. Retrieved on 2023-03-30.
External links
[edit]- Operation Chiffon: The secret intelligence operation that lead to the ceasefire, Podcast by Claire Byrne for RTÉ