The killing of Gillian Johnston

 Between 1981 and August 1988,I endeavoured to gather details of RUC, British Army and UDR men's vehicles, marque, colour, manufacturer and type.

One of those vehicles was that driven by Gillian Johnston who was an ancillary worker in Lisnaskea Police Station.

It was as I recall a M.1 Vauxhall Astra,light blue.

The registration was FIB 525.

In most instances, my operational intelligence notes were thrown in the fire by disinterested Provos and I was told that "things aren't done that way".

In the summer of 1987,I passed on out-of-date information to Kathleen Gleeson in her house and told her that she should check the details first before acting.

I suggested her sister might know more about the police than I did. Indeed,in 1983 I had suggested to the Director of Intelligence in the county that we use traditional republican agents from strong republican families and new, unknown recruits to form intelligence units.

Gillian Johnston was ambushed on her way home to Garrison and killed. Gleeson either did not check the identity of the driver of the vehicle or wanted to kill a woman and make her the innocent victim of an armed attack.

Gillian Johnston left behind a heartbroken mother and a gravely traumatised boyfriend and grieving family circle.

This is what comes of high blown rhetoric in dirtrags like An Phoblacht and talk of armed struggle and wars of (national) liberation from demented penmen such as Danny Morrison and Gerry Adams.

My advice is,"Go and jump in Belfast Lough. You are both only tramps with tramps' tongues recruited from the dole queue by the Irish Army and vigilantees."

.....

In my briefing to Pat Doherty,the Director of Operations in August 1988,I recommended the standing down of the South Donegal/North Fermanagh unit of the IRA (and the reconstruction of the South Fermanagh/South Leitrim Command of the IRA according to standard military lines).