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IRA supergrass Raymond Gilmour found dead at home in Kent | IRA supergrass Raymond Gilmour found dead at home in Kent |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A former supergrass who infiltrated the IRA at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has been found dead at his home in Kent. | A former supergrass who infiltrated the IRA at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has been found dead at his home in Kent. |
Raymond Gilmour, from Londonderry, was found dead by his son, according to the Belfast Telegraph. | Raymond Gilmour, from Londonderry, was found dead by his son, according to the Belfast Telegraph. |
He became an RUC Special Branch informer when he was 17 and was the only witness in a trial of 35 IRA suspects that collapsed in 1984. | He became an RUC Special Branch informer when he was 17 and was the only witness in a trial of 35 IRA suspects that collapsed in 1984. |
Raymond Gilmour lived under an assumed identity for more than 30 years. | |
It is understood that his death is not being treated as suspicious. | It is understood that his death is not being treated as suspicious. |
He first joined republican paramilitaries, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in 1976 as a police agent working for the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). | He first joined republican paramilitaries, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) in 1976 as a police agent working for the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). |
He then moved to the IRA in 1980 before his cover was blown two years later when police used information supplied by him to recover a machine gun. | He then moved to the IRA in 1980 before his cover was blown two years later when police used information supplied by him to recover a machine gun. |
He decided to testify against a number of alleged republicans in 1984, but the case collapsed when the then lord chief justice, Lord Lowry, dismissed his evidence, calling it "unworthy of belief". | He decided to testify against a number of alleged republicans in 1984, but the case collapsed when the then lord chief justice, Lord Lowry, dismissed his evidence, calling it "unworthy of belief". |
Sir John Hermon, the RUC chief constable at that time, called them "CTs" - converted terrorists. Technically they were "assisting offenders". | Sir John Hermon, the RUC chief constable at that time, called them "CTs" - converted terrorists. Technically they were "assisting offenders". |
But on the streets of the communities they came from, as evidenced by the graffiti on the walls, they were branded "touts" and "supergrasses". | But on the streets of the communities they came from, as evidenced by the graffiti on the walls, they were branded "touts" and "supergrasses". |
During the early 1980s, people took to the streets to protest at what they called the "show trials". | During the early 1980s, people took to the streets to protest at what they called the "show trials". |
It was claimed informers were offered cash inducements and that secret deals were struck at a political level, approved by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland. | It was claimed informers were offered cash inducements and that secret deals were struck at a political level, approved by the secretary of state for Northern Ireland. |
At that time, the trials held in the now derelict Crumlin Road courthouse in Belfast were the largest in British criminal history. | At that time, the trials held in the now derelict Crumlin Road courthouse in Belfast were the largest in British criminal history. |
In one of them in 1983, 22 IRA suspects were jailed for a total of 4,000 years. | In one of them in 1983, 22 IRA suspects were jailed for a total of 4,000 years. |