The Committee: Political Assassination in Northern Ireland

The publisher of this book considers it ""Too hot to publish in Britain and Ireland"" because of libel laws, and independent TV producer McPhilemy does ignite political dynamite about the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)--the state police of Northern Ireland--that could agitate the precarious ongoing peace process. He alleges that 60 people constitute ""The Committee,"" which is comprised of the cadres of various Unionist organizations such as the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Freedom Fighters and ""from the higher ranks of the locally recruited security forces, the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary."" The first murder carried out by the Committee was of Catholic Denis Carville in revenge for an IRA assassination, McPhilemy charges. Other sectarian killings followed of apolitical Catholics chosen at random. McPhilemy's company, Box Productions, uncovered the plot, eventually producing a documentary for Britain's commercial TV that aired in 1991. The report was criticized by the Protestant community. A court battle ensued between the RUC and the TV channel over sources which were not revealed, resulting in a contempt charge and a hefty fine. McPhilemy also describes his own successful libel battles against newspapers and the discovery of additional evidence that substantiates his allegations about the Committee. This is a startling, convincing expose. Photos not seen by PW. (May)