The Informer by Sean O'Callaghan, 0552146072, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Book contains important answers

This book gives an unparalleled insight into the IRA in the Irish Republic during the height of the troubles. The author showed tremendous courage in his determination to atone for his actions early in the troubles. Full of detail (which some might find off-putting) and gives the answer to many mysteries of the troubles (eg the kidnap of Shergar). Comparable with Eamon Collin's (better-written) "Killing Rage" but with some important differences. Sean never goes into as much depth on his motivation and soul-searching as the the deeply troubled Eamon Collins did but Sean was a much more senior IRA operative with very close links to the leadership of Sinn Fein/IRA and hence more political insights. It can also be argued that Sean's decisiveness kept him alive when Eamon's pontificating contributed to his own murder. The two dissidents meet in Dublin as described in this book. Contains some gruesome details of (ironically) hunger-strikes.

A Really Good Book

No matter what your point of view is on the Irish politics, this book is worth reading. A clear majority of American media publications show only one - fairly tale side of the conflict. The story in this book describes the ugly reality.

Exciting and extraordinary

I read this because it was endorsed by Kevin Toolis who's "Rebel Hearts" is a classic journalistic exploration of the human nature of the republican movement. This book rings true, and Mr O'Callaghan's story astonishes. A young "volunteer" he turned informer in an attempt to redeem himself, having murdered and assisted in murder for a morally bankrupt organisation. His work became the destruction of the Provisional IRA from within. Such courage... Read it! (and read Rebel Hearts too!)

A gripping, deeply felt account of a search for redemption

This is an outstanding personal account of one man's search for personal redemption. It describes how a young person can get caught up in fanaticism and commit cold blooded acts and yet also over time change and seek to make recompense. It is well written and gripping. Sean O'Callaghan is a courageous man who has not sought protection since his release from prison. I feel he is a friend of the search for peace in Ireland.

Interesting yet relentlessly one-sided..

Interesting yet relentlessly one-sided. Just one example: O'Callaghan makes transparent attempts to play down the brutality of the notorious RUC, who have been discredited by a long catalog of well-documented human rights abuses. This is a man with an agenda; I'm sure that Davy Adams and the countless other nationalists and Catholics who have been brutalized by this political police would disagree with him regarding their "benevolence". Having read dozens of books from all political angles about Northern Ireland, I do not trust this man to tell the whole truth. He obviously believes in his cause, he makes it quite clear that his number one goal is to bring down the Irish Republican movement. This underminds his credibility. He does have something to say, but the biased way in which he presents the situation in Northern Ireland discredits him with people who know much about both sides of the conflict. He states at one point that he wasn't raised in Northern Ireland as if that were an asset; well it shows. I wonder how very different he would sound had he grown up in the ghettos of Belfast in the 60's and 70's.

Not recommended as a first book about Northern Ireland unless you don't mind getting only one side of the story.

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