God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism

by Martin Dillon

Overview

In this astonishing and at times terrifying book, acclaimed writer and political commentator Martin Dillon examines for the first time the true role of religion in the conflict in Northern Ireland. He interviewed those directly involved--terrorists like Kenny McClinton and Billy Wright and churchmen like Father Pat Buckley--finding that the terrorists were more forthcoming than the priests and ministers. Dillon charts the history of the paramilitary forces on both sides and exposes the shocking covert role of British intelligence. He finds that, ultimately, both the church and government have failed their communities, allowing men and women of violence to fill a vacuum with bigotry and violence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136680601
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/23/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Martin Dillon worked for the BBC in Northern Ireland for eighteen years and has won international acclaim for his non-fiction books about Ireland. A writer and producer of documentaries, Dillon has also been featured in news segments on CNN, ABC News, CBC, and National Public Radio, and is often called on as one of the foremost authorities on global terrorism. Dillon is the author of six bestselling books on terrorism in Northern Ireland. He currently resides in New York City.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Chronology of Major Events; Chapter 3 The Maniac?; Chapter 4 The Army of God; Chapter 5 Walking with Christ?; Chapter 6 The Battle for Souls; Chapter 7 The Last Confession; Chapter 8 A Maverick Priest?; Chapter 9 A Holy Cause for Holy Men?; Chapter 10 Women at War; Chapter 11 Church and State; Chapter 12 For God and Ulster; Chapter 13 Bigots and Gunmen I: Loyalists; Chapter 14 Bigots and Gunmen II: Republicans; Chapter 15 Reflections;

What People are Saying About This

Conor Cruise O'Brien

Martin Dillon is the greatest living authority on Irish terrorism.

Editorial Reviews

An important work, containing interviews and material as disturbing as they are significant.

Irish Times

Journalist Dillon covered Northern Ireland for the BBC for 18 years and published a trilogy in Ireland on "The Troubles," now being released in this country in paperback (God and the Gun; The Shankill Butchers; The Dirty War, Routledge, 1999). In God and the Gun, Dillon interviewed Protestant and Catholic terrorists to discern whether this is a religious war or one of economics and class. Aside from IRA "sources," Dillon interviewed the late Billy Wright, a.k.a. "King Rat," a notorious Protestant assassin killed by the IRA in prison in 1997. He also talked with Protestant terrorist Kenny McClinton and Father Pat Buckley, who admitted breaking the seal of the confessional to save lives on both sides. Some of Dillon's subjects answer directly, others quaver. There are many passages that make the book poignant and ironic as Dillon concludes that what should have been a civil rights struggle was manipulated into a religious war. He bogs down a bit at the end, reciting history to put his story in context, but this is still essential for all Irish history collections.--Robert C. Moore, Raytheon Electronic Sys., Sudbury, MA

Library Journal

Writer and political commentator Dillon examines the true role of religion in the hyper-violent political conflict in Northern Ireland through interviews with terrorists like Kenny McClinton and the late Billy Wright, as well as respected holy men like Father Pat Buckley. He charts the history of the paramilitary forces on both sides of the conflict, discussing issues such as religious conditioning and bigotry, widespread political violence, and controversial prison conversions. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

...likely to become the reference work on the subject.

Washington Times

"...facinating..." — Baltimore Sun
"...several good books within its covers." — USA Today
"...likely to become the reference work on the subject." — Washington Times
"An important work, containing interviews and material as disturbing as they are significant." — The Irish Times
"Martin Dillon is the greatest living authority on Irish terrorism." — Conor Cruise O'Brien

From the Publisher