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The exposure of two senior republicans as informers for British intelligence in 2005 led to a popular perception that the IRA had 'lost' the intelligence war and was pressurised into peace. In this first in-depth study across the entire conflict, Thomas Leahy re-evaluates the successes and failures of Britain's intelligence activities against the IRA, from the use of agents and informers to special-forces, surveillance and electronic intelligence. Using new interview material alongside memoirs and Irish and UK archival materials, he suggests that the IRA was not forced into peace by British intelligence. His work sheds new light on key questions in intelligence and security studies. How does British intelligence operate against paramilitaries? Is it effective? When should governments 'talk to terrorists'? And does regional variation explain the outcome of intelligence conflicts? This is a major contribution to the history of the conflict and of why peace emerged in Northern Ireland.

Political violence --- Counterinsurgency --- Intelligence service --- Informers --- Informants (Criminal investigation) --- Police informers --- Stool pigeons --- Complaints (Criminal procedure) --- Crime prevention --- Criminal investigation --- Prosecution --- State's evidence --- Counter intelligence --- Counterespionage --- Counterintelligence --- Intelligence community --- Secret police (Intelligence service) --- Public administration --- Research --- Disinformation --- Secret service --- Counterguerrilla warfare --- Guerrilla warfare --- Insurgency --- Violence --- Political crimes and offenses --- Terrorism --- History. --- History --- Irish Republican Army --- Great Britain. --- Angliǐskai︠a︡ Armii︠a︡ --- Tsava ha-Briṭi --- British Army --- בריטניה. --- צבא הבריטי --- England and Wales. --- Armata repubblicana irlandese --- Armée républicaine irlandaise --- I.R.A. --- IRA --- Official IRA --- Oglaig na h-Éireann --- Irish Volunteers --- Provisional IRA --- Ireland --- Northern Ireland --- G.N.I. --- GNI --- Irlande du Nord --- Kita Airurando --- Kitairurando --- Nordirland --- Norlin Airlann --- Pohjois-Irlanti --- Severna Irlandii︠a︡ --- Tuaisceart Éireann --- 北アイルランド --- History, Military. --- Snitches (Informers) --- Persons