Jim sturgess and ben kingsley in an adaptation of martin. Martin mcgartland is also the author of bestselling fifty dead men walking. He spent years begging mi5 for financial and psychological help. As a direct result, the ira tracked martin down to his safehouse and shot him six times. The film is set from 1988 until 1991, the time in which mcgartland acted as an undercover agent within the ira during the troubles. Martin mcgartland has been in hiding since he was ambushed by a masked man who shot him six times outside his home in whitley bay, north tyneside, in 1999. Mar 01, 2010 its the story of the reallife martin mcgartland, who joined and then betrayed the irish republican army. Loosely adapted by the canadian director kari skogland from martin. Ira informant gunned down on doorstep receives police apology.
Martin mcgartland, who has lived under a secret identity since fleeing. It premiered in september 2008, and stars jim sturgess as martin mcgartland, a british agent who went undercover into the provisional irish republican army ira, and ben kingsley as fergus, his british handler. It was a sunny day in the tyneside resort and mcgartland, an. Informer martin mcgartland was given a new identity. Image caption informer martin mcgartland was given a new identity police have renewed their appeal for information 11 years after the attempted murder of a former ira informer on tyneside. Apr 27, 2020 winton keenen king pin of cover up and corruption in martin mcgartland cases continues to obstruct public apology to martin mcgartland request to northumbria police by martin mcgartland. Jan 24, 2016 martin marty mcgartland born 30 january 1970 in belfast, northern ireland1 is a former british agent who infiltrated the provisional irish republican army ira2 in 1989 to pass information to ruc special branch.
But martin mcgartland, who worked as a british state agent inside the iras belfast brigade during the late 1980s and early 90s, disputed the films authenticity. Mr mcgartland was shot as he sat in his car in duchess street, whitley bay, on june 17, 1999 but he survived, despite being targeted at close range. He has asked gerry adams when could he return to west belfast only to be told by the sinn fein president that it is a matter for him and the ira. Martin mcgartland has been in hiding since he was ambushed by a masked man who shot him six times outside his home in whitley bay, north. Martin mcgartland shooting and the police, government and mi5. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. After the shooting, northumbria police documents show that two. I had no idea who martin mcgartland was until i watched this movie, unlike the main. The informer who was left out in the cold northern ireland. Rays friend and fellow agent, martin mcgartland, said. Jun 24, 2010 martin marty mcgartland was a british agent inside the ira.
Secret hearings can be used in exira informer claim case. Martin mcgartland born 30 january 1970 is a former british informer who infiltrated the provisional irish republican army ira in 1989 to pass information to ruc special branch. Martin continues in his fight for truth and justice. It premiered in september 2008, and stars jim sturgess as martin mcgartland, a british agent who went undercover into the provisional irish republican.
The martin mcgartland cases and the mi5,british state collusion 5,976 views 7 years ago mi5 and british state collusion in the martin mcgartland cases show less. During the court case northumbria police read out martins name and his full home address in open court. Jun 17, 2010 martin mcgartland was shot as he sat in his car in duchess street, whitley bay, on 17 june 1999. Uk northern ireland life of ira informer made into film bbc news. A northern ireland court has heard a claim that the exira informer martin mcgartland has abandoned his two young sons in belfast. Jul 14, 2015 the court of appeal has ruled that the home secretary can use secret court hearings to defend a damages claim being brought by a former ira informer. Former spy criticizes ira involvement in film about his life cbc news. He has written two books about his life, fifty dead men walking. The information commissioner has issued a decision notice against sue sim and northumbria police which states, the commissioner finds that the force incorrectly applied section 141 to the request. Martin mcgartland is a former british informer who infiltrated the provisional irish republican army ira in 1989 to pass information to ruc special branch. Eight years earlier the belfastborn agent became the only person ever to escape from the ira s.
Northumbria police continue to coverup martins attempted murder. A former ira mole who was shot six times and left for dead says he is fearing for his life after a northumbria police security blunder martin mcgartland has. Former british spy martin mcgartland continues his criticism of the film fifty dead men walking and its canadian director kari skogland. Martin mcgartland is suing mi5 for breach of contract and negligence after he was shot by the ira in 1999. Former british spy says police report confirms he was shot by ira.
Martin marty mcgartland british agent inside the ira. Former british spy says police report confirms he was shot by ira martin mcgartland claims 1999 murder plot was covered up to keep peace process alive 9 months ago a former british agent who infiltrated the ira says an internal police report has finally confirmed that he was targeted and shot by the group in a murder plot that he alleges was. Fifty dead men walking is a 2008 englishlanguage crime thriller film written and directed by kari skogland. Ira informant gunned down on doorstep receives police.
Even in his safe house in england he was tracked down and shot six times. Join facebook to connect with martin marty mcgartland and others you may know. Case of former ira mole, who was shot on tyneside, should be. It also shows that, despite the efforts of special branch and the security service and appeals to senior figures in the republican movement, the provisional ira still want him dead. He was later shot six times by a gunman, but recovered from the injuries. Martin mcgartland told the belfast telegraph that he hopes police will finally now. Jim sturgess martin mcgartland, ben kingsley fergus. Sep 19, 2015 an ira informant gunned down on his doorstep has received his first apology from police 17 years after the attack martin mcgartland was blasted at point blank range with at least five bullets. Ex ira mole martin mcgartland who was shot in whitley bay. The canadian filmmaker knew next to nothing about the troubles in northern ireland when she threw herself headlong into a feature film based on ira informer martin mcgartlands memoir, fifty. It is disgraceful that ray died in these circumstances. To the ira, he was a trusted intelligence officer and an integral member of an activeservice unit. Jun 02, 2008 martin marty mcgartland was a british agent inside the ira. Appeal over ira informer shooting on tyneside bbc news.
Martin mcgartland is a former provisional irish republican army pira informer who joined the organisation in order to pass information to british security forces. Five people have been arrested but no one has ever been charged. Bbc news northern ireland exira man abandoned sons. Police have visited the home in england of a former british agent in the ira and warned him that his life is in danger. Exarmy spy ira mcgartland living on borrowed time after. In 1999 mcgartland was shot six times by two gunmen outside his home in whitley bay, north tyneside. It is a loose adaptation of martin mcgartland s 1997 autobiography of the same name. The men were held for questioning about the shooting of martin mcgartland. Former british spy says police report confirms he was shot by ira martin mcgartland claims 1999 murder plot was covered up t a former british agent who. Martin mcgartland, who was shot seven times in whitley bay in 1999, is suing the home office after mi5 withdrew medical support and benefits.
Ira informant gunned down on doorstep receives police apology 17. Martin was kidnapped by the ira in 1991 and escaped by jumping from a third floor window. A dead man walking has mr mcgartlands ira past caught up with him as an ira informer martin mcgartland was always going to be a marked man. His identity became publicly known after a minor court case. To this day martin mcgartland cannot live a normal life or return to northern ireland. The ruc in belfast and police in glasgow, scotland, arrested two men in a joint operation. Sep 03, 2019 martin mcgartland shooting downplayed by police, investigation finds the report reveals officers suspected ira links to the shooting in the days and weeks after the attack, but did not make this. An ira informant gunned down on his doorstep has received his first apology from police 17 years after the attack martin mcgartland was blasted at point blank range with at least five bullets. Sue sim and northumbria police said foi request relating to martin mcgartland attempted murder case was vexatious. Jul 08, 2014 martin mcgartland, who was shot seven times in whitley bay in 1999, is suing the home office after mi5 withdrew medical support and benefits. Ex ira mole martin mcgartland who was shot in whitley bay fears. Northumbria police, mi5 and the british state continue to cover up ira involvement in martins attempted murder. Sep 17, 2016 a former ira mole who was shot six times and left for dead says he is fearing for his life after a northumbria police security blunder martin mcgartland has been in hiding since he was ambushed. A canadian director intends to make a film about the life of former ira informer martin mcgartland.
Mcgartland, formerly a member of the irish republican army ira who turned informer, was shot and injured on 17 june 1999 at his home in whitley bay, england. Detectives investigating the attempted murder of a former british agent in the ira are probing a new dna lead. He has written two books about his life, fifty dead men. Whitley bay shooting victim martin mcgartland will have.
When he was exposed as an informer in 1991 he was abducted by the ira, but escaped and was resettled in england. 1 firstly as someone else pointed out martin was never shot in canada. Aug 21, 2009 after the opening scene, set in canada in 1999, in which martin is shot several times, the story flashes back to 1988, to find him eking out a living as a doortodoor salesman of stolen shoes and. Martin mcgartland was shot as he sat in his car in duchess street, whitley bay, on 17 june 1999. Martin mcgartland was blasted at point blank range with at least five bullets in 1999 and left for dead by a masked gunman. Martin mcgartland claims 1999 murder plot was covered up to keep peace process alive. Jun 20, 2014 martin mcgartland, who was shot seven times in whitley bay, north tyneside, in 1999, and his partner jo asher are taking action in a test case surrounding controversial new secrecy rules that deny defendants access to the evidence against them. Former british spy says police report confirms he was shot. Its set in ireland and stars an english actor, jim sturgess along with ben kingsley, another famous noncanadian. It was also alleged that mcgartland, who is living under police protection in england since escaping from the ira, had not paid a penny of maintenance in respect of his sons, martin, 10, and padraig, 8. Here is a man who is loving, gentle and good humoured, who works for the special branch against the ira out of principle and yet moves within the ira as a plausible operator, recruited for his criminal nerve. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and.
Dna breakthrough in hunt for gunman behind 1999 murder bid on. Martin mcgartland, a former police agent within the ira, was torn between admiration and anger as he watched the first cut of fifty dead men. Martin mcgartland police agent in ira, disowns fifty dead men. To the british government, however, he was known only as agent carol. Sep 01, 1997 for more than four years, martin mcgartland lived a doublelife. Martin mcgartland was shot by the ira who were led to his safe house by northumbria police after they took a flawed court case against him in 1997. Martin mcgartland saved 50 people from the ira but the act cost him his family, and he lives in fear for his life file photo there, the two passengers, the republican movements top assassins. The problem with 50 dead men walking is in the ambiguous character of the fictional martin mcgarland. When he was exposed as an informer in 1991, he escaped from ira custody and was resettled in england. Whitley bay shooting victim martin mcgartland will have court. Martin mcgartland is credited with thwarting 40 bombings after being. Sep 11, 2010 martin marty mcgartland was a british agent inside the ira. Martin mcgartland, who has lived under a secret identity since fleeing northern ireland in 1991, was told of the threat on friday night.
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