Charlie One: The True Story of an Irishman in the British Army and His Role in Covert Counter-Terrorism Operations in Northern Ireland

Description

Seán Hartnett grew up in Cork in the 1970s where he observed the worst of the northern Troubles with fascination. Despite his family’s strong republican ties and his own attempt to join the IRA, Hartnett shocked family and friends when he changed allegiance and joined the British Armed Forces.

In 2001 Hartnett returns to his native Ireland, but this time as a member of the British Army’s most secretive covert counter-terrorist unit in Northern Ireland, Joint Communications Unit Northern Ireland aka JCU-NI, the FRU, 14 Intelligence Company, or simply ‘The Det’. For the next three years Hartnett is directly involved in some of the highest profile events of that period, from the arrest of John Hannan for the bombing of the BBC in London, to the tragic murder of David Caldwell; the prevention of the murder of Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair and some of the biggest blunders by British Intelligence in the history of the Troubles, including the true story behind the murders of Corporals Howes and Wood at an IRA funeral in 1988.

‘Charlie One’, the call sign for the most wanted targets of British Intelligence operations in NI, documents the journey of an Irish Republican serving in Britain’s most secretive counter-terrorism unit. Filled with roller coaster emotions and explosive revelations of British Intelligence covert capabilities and operations, Charlie One provides a truly unique, detailed and unbiased account of the secret war fought on the streets of Northern Ireland.

Table of Contents

1. Up the ’RA
2. The Queen’s Shilling
3. Swift and Sure
4. Sierra Leone
5. Norn Iron
6. Howes and Wood
7. The Short Straw
8. First Operation
9. Hare & Hounds
10. The Colombian Connection
11. Sheriff’s Mountain
12. Heli Down
13. You’re Nicked
14. Early Days at North Det
15. Deadly Dilemma
16. Harvey Street
17. Tout
18. The Book
19. On Your Bike
20. Mad Dog
21. Lady Luck
22. The Arse
23. Withdrawal Methods
24. Ní Bheidh ár Leithéidí Arís Ann

About the Author

Seán Hartnett was born in Cork in 1975 and is married with two step children. He joined the British Army in 1998 and served for almost seven years before moving first to South Africa, then Australia and finally returning to Ireland just as the Celtic Tiger was collapsing. He has worked as a security consultant for major companies and on government projects worldwide. He has also worked in the area of commercial espionage and counter espionage.