The Murder of an IRA Spy with Henry Hemming

Summary

Henry Hemming (X, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the case of Frank Hegarty, a British spy operating within the IRA. Henry is a bestselling espionage author. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• Espionage and the role of MI5 within the Troubles
• The story of Frank Hegarty, a British spy working in Derry
• Freddie Scappaticci, or Stakeknife, and Operation Kenova
• The moral implications of spying

Reflections

• Sacrifice, risk, and trust
• The nuances of conflict 

And much, much more …

Episode Notes

This week’s episode is a recording of a previous program held here at the International Spy Museum. Andrew sat down in conversation with Henry Hemming to discuss his new book, Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Spies, Murder, and Justice in Northern Ireland. 

Henry is a prolific espionage author – He’s written books on espionage and intelligence during the Second World War, including Agent M on the great MI5 spymaster Maxwell Knight, Agents of Influence on William Stevenson, and Churchill's Iceman on the one-man think-tank Geoffrey Pyke. Four Shots tells the true story of the murder of Frank Hegarty, a British spy working within the Irish Republican Army. Tune in for a fascinating conversation exploring the impact and influence of espionage throughout The Troubles. 

And… 

If you enjoy this episode, please consider tuning in to our other live program opportunities here at the International Spy Museum. Find all of our educational offerings and events here! 

Quotes of the Week

“This is where it becomes, morally, much more complex. What’s difficult … is that most of the handlers who were faced with these decisions didn't have adequate training. They didn't know what the law said. They didn't know exactly what the limits were to what they could and could not do … And suddenly, as we're beginning to find out, mistakes were made.” – Henry Hemming. 

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

• Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023) 
• Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023)
• The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022)

*Beginner Resources*

• Why is Ireland Divided? History Matters, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]
• What You Need to Know About The Troubles, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] 
• A Brief History of Ireland, T. Lambert, Local Histories (n.d.) [Short article] 

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• Stakeknife's Dirty War: The Inside Story of Scappaticci, the IRA’s Nutting Squad, and the British Spooks who Ran the War, R. O’Rawe (Merrion Press, 2023)
• The Intelligence War against the IRA, T. Leahy (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
• Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, P. Radden Keefe (Anchor, 2020)

Articles

• Kenova: Boutcher ‘troubled’ by ‘extremely fractious’ relationship with spy agency MI5, C. Young, The Irish News (2024)
• Stakeknife: Government Operation Kenova response criticized, J. O’Neill, BBC News NI (2024)
• MI5 spy reveals secret 'unauthorised' IRA talks, K. Brewer, BBC (2023)
• MI5 protected Martin McGuinness for years, says Thatcher’s spy within Sinn Féin, The Belfast News Letter (2019)
• Countering terrorism in Northern Ireland: the role of intelligence, M. Kirk-Smith & J. Dingley, Small Wars & Insurgencies (2009)
• The role and effectiveness of intelligence in Northern Ireland, B. W. C. Bamford, Intelligence and National Security (2005)

Video

• Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (2023)
• The Spy in the IRA (2017)

Primary Sources 

• Operation Kenova Interim Report (2024)
• Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry (2010)
• The Good Friday Agreement (1998)
• The Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)
• IRA Green Book (1977) 
• Guerrilla Warfare Handbook for IRA Volunteers (1956)

*Wildcard Resource*

• Much of the events mentioned in this week’s episode take place in Derry, or Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 
• Check out one of Erin’s favorite TV shows, Derry Girls – It tells the story of a young group of friends growing up in Derry during the Troubles. The town loved the show so much, they erected a mural to immortalize the five fictional friends that represented so many of their own upbringings in Derry.