The Troubles Podcast

When it comes to the history of the Provisional IRA, there are many divisive figures within the paramilitary group. 

Some were beloved who then fell out of favour, either by leaning too far towards peace, or refusing to give up the violence. 

Few are as beloved as Brendan Hughes

His story is also rather unique, in the years before he died, Hughes was extremely candid about his time in the Provisional IRA. He contributed to the Boston College Tapes between 2001 and 2006, providing an insight into his time in the IRA that was revealed after his death in 2008.

What was revealed had significant repercussions for people still alive today, and especially Gerry Adams. 

Brendan was a unique person, and through these interviews we have been given an extremely rare insight into his life behind the veil of being a paramilitary. 

This is the story of the troubles, told entirely from the perspective of The Dark, Brendan Hughes,

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In the early days of the Troubles, the Provisional IRA needed two things: guns and money.

As hundreds of thousands of Irish Americans watched the troubles unfold, many of them wanted to help. NORAID was born out of this need.

But was it just humanitarian aid that they were sending home, or was it weapons? This is the story of NORAID.

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Chris Ward is at home with his parents. He’ s watching football on the television with his father when they hear a knock on the door.

He answers and a man says “Alright Chris, I’m here to talk to you about Celtic”. The man then pushed past Chris into the house. A second man then appeared, dressed in black and a third.

Chris worked at Northern Bank in Belfast, which was the largest retail bank in Northern Ireland, which distributed cash to its 95 branches, and hundreds of ATMS in Northern Ireland. It was one of four banks in Northern Ireland which had the capacity to print its own banknotes.

The men made it clear to Chris that they were here because of the bank he worked in, and if he and his family cooperated they would be fine. If they didn't they would be killed. What transpired that night ended up being the largest cash robbery in British and Irish history.

This is the story of the Northern Bank Robbery.

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This episode is being released on the 50-year anniversary of the Kingsmill Massacre; an attack which saw members of the provisional IRA march 11 Protestant factory workers off a bus, line them up and execute them.

All were killed, except for Alan and this week he tells us what life is like after such a life-altering event.

We talked about a lot of things, and honed in on that English accent heard on the night of the killing and how Alan does not believe that was Captain Robert Nairac but instead the clues point toward ex-paratrooper turned IRA paramilitary, Paddy O' Kane.

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This week on the podcast: The Disappeared. People who were abducted, killed, and secretly buried someone on the island of Ireland. There's a lot in here, including:


The toll on family members when they don't know where their loved one is buried


The Disappeared Commission who are still organising digs and searches


Details about all 17 of the Disappeared and one additional person who has disappeared.


Reasons why people were taken

Anyone with information on the four outstanding Disappeared cases should contact the ICLVR on +353 1 602 8655 or [email protected] or ICLVR PO Box 10827 Dublin, Ireland. 

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