FAKE-IRISH ACCENT gets BRIT SOLDIER K*LLED in THE TROUBLES | The Death of Capt. Robert Nairac

Padraig Og O' Ruaric, author of "The Disappeared" speaks about the life, work and eventual murder of Capt. Robert Nairac, an English solider stationed in the north in the 70s and whose body has still never been found.
Padraig tells us about Nairac's daring alpha-male confidence which led him to a South Armagh pub where he tried to pass himself off as Irish while undercover and how his fake-accent & rebel song knowledge did not fool the locals.
FULL EPISODE OUT SOON
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[@jinkylarsson2869]

The story about Nairac getting killed because of his fake accent is a fallacy. He walked around Newry , Bessbrook and other areas of south Armagh in his British army uniform while on patrol , making himself known to locals , and then he'd walk into bars in civvies being brash and flashy. The IRA wasn't a parochial organisation without a top class intelligence wing , it's members had intelligence encompassing the whole 32 counties. Nairac's card was marked by IRA intelligence well before he walked into the Four Steps.

[@ccahill2322]

@jinkylarrson, Was not the "Four Steps"... if you knew what you were talking about you would know that.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Three steps inn Drumintee. Nairac was taking a piss and two lads in toilets asked him who he was. Later he was offered for a fight outside and then was bungled into a car and Liam Townson in Meigh was called for. He admitted to all. A mad fact is His commanding officer had asked him if he wanted an SAS backup crew when leaving the base but declined. Man was not long for this world.

[@jinkylarsson2869]

@@cannibalholocaust3015 Yes , chara. I'm from around the area and know the Three steps well , don't know why I called it the Four Steps. And you're right that Nairac wasn't long for the world. Due to his antics various battalion areas knew about him and it was only a matter of time before he got plugged. For such an educated man his behaviour was very erratic and stupid , leaving me to believe that Nairac thought the Irish a stupid people and he just didn't comprehend the professionalism of the IRA and the support it had in our communities.

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

That is correct. British intelligence had even received reports that the IRA knew about a British officer going into bars, and that they intended to get him. Nairac was warned about this intel. Nairac was naive, and clumsy- if you are carrying out covert surveillance, the very last thing you do is draw attention to yourself- you certainly don't get up on stage and sing, 'Danny Boy.' Nor do you set a pattern- by entering the same bar on consecutive nights. These communities are very tightly nit and they notice strangers. He went out freelancing without liaising with his chain of command, and without any back up.

[@KravMagaThailand]

@@liverpoolscottish6430 One colleague of his I read, may have been Colin Wallace, suspected Nairac was some how getting sympathy for the Irish side. Not sure how true that is but I did read it somewhere. He definitely was some sort of fantasist & maverick with the is eccentric behaviour & going it alone. His job is to read was as a Liason officer between intelligence & SAS & it wasn’t the job that brought him death. As most people who’ve done any reading on him know, he was not SAS at all.

[@Coolerman565]

These small communities don't miss anything they can spot strangers a mile away, good friend of mine lived in Donegal in the 70s and 80s, his wife was Irish, when he first moved out there from the UK to a small village he went to the pub one night with his Brother in law, he said some people were staring at him they knew who he was and where he was from,but he never came to any harm his Brother in law told him later some IRA were in the pub that night, how anyone would think Nairac could blend into that community without notice must have been mad.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Even today a stranger stick out like a sore thumb let alone then

[@stephensmith4480]

@@jackietreehorn5561 Jakie I went through it all when I met my missus, well over 20 years ago in Belfast I know what it's like.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@stephensmith4480 good man, good luck and salutations to you smitty

[@stephensmith4480]

@@jackietreehorn5561 👍☘

[@thomaspurvey]

Nairac ignored the soldiers first rule, ( Never Underestimate The Enemy ).

[@Saddam_al-Husseini]

This has to be one of the stupidest ways to get yourself killed 😂😂😂

[@raygreen5926]

Nairac was clearly recognized from somebody from Crossmaglen. His big mistake was going to that pub on two consecutive nights, Friday and and that fateful Saturday night. He was on an adrenaline rush, may a buried death wish born of a dislike of the humdrum. Rather like the famous Blair Mayne of Newtownards (who never adjusted to civilian life ) or Sean Flynn, photojournalist, who disappeared in Cambodia in April 1970 or Jerry " Mad Dog" Shriver ( who also disappeared in Cambodia 1969 ), the fact that these people engage in risky behaviour, almost inviting the intervention of the Fates. Today, you can see the same situation manifesting with people volunteering to fight in Ukraine, with a disdain for their safety. So Nairac paid the ultimate price and there will always be the suspicion that he was there that night at the Miami showband massacre. Its unlikely his body will ever be found now. The people who buried his body are likely dead now too. But he will always be enigmatic, an adventurer who has become part of the folklore of south Armagh ☘🇩🇰

[@jackwild8019]

Dulce et decorum est pro patri

[@jameslarkin8494]

You make me want to vomit with that bile of a statement.

[@gerardhenry5501]

People from xmaglen would not really be in this pub drinking .

[@raygreen5926]

@@gerardhenry5501 the band playing that night were from Crossmaglen

[@gerardhenry5501]

@@raygreen5926 it’s a good drive to cross from there and I know this place the police and army based in forkill tro minutes from this bar would of been out stopping cars most nights . So drinking and driving was tough back then kops were everywhere

[@MickKly-ih4it]

During the Troubles everyone became hyper aware of everything going on around them for preservation purposes, I was a very active teenager in Derry during the 70’s and it would have been extremely difficult for any outsider to come into the Bogside, Creggan, Shantallow or even the Waterside Catholic areas without being sussed out immediately such was the level of vigilance. Nairac obviously underestimated the networks of ground level intelligence , the eyes and ears of the community being aware of nefarious elements constantly on the alert, that’s how it was back then , everyone not known was considered suspect until vouched for by a reliable source.

[@kevinwhelan9607]

If ever someone was brought down by hubris it was the unfortunate Nairac- talk about being hoist by your own petard. As someone who like Nairac has experience of the English public school system, I can tell you it indicates in one an extraordinary degree of confidence, rock hard self-belief, and much more. Excellent analysis, by the way: cogent and well-argued.

[@derekrushton1705]

Absolutely. Well said. An arrogance that money produces. Interestingly I once lived in Malone (Belfast) where Protestants/Loyalists/Catholics/Republicans lived peacefully, side by side. Five miles down the road on The Falls Road/Shankhill Road the same 'tribes' were trying to kill one another. Why? An excellent education & intelligent professional parents. [( IE A Marxist Class Analysis)still true til this day].

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Marxist class analysis? Looool Intelligence is 60-80% heritable so it’s a case of good breeding. Paramilitaries weren’t the sharpest tools but as any good workman will tell you a blunt tool is more dangerous than a sharp one.

[@jimmyolsenschannel6263]

Interesting video. Nirac is said to have been infatuated with Lawrence of Arabia, which seems to explain a lot of things in his behaviour. Furthermore he was supposed to have a Mauritian accent because that was where he was really from. Must have sounded quite noticable when mixed with a fake Galway or Belfast accent. Finally, one small pedantic detail if you can forgive me: a Thompson Gun is not a machine gun but a sub-machinegun. I'll get me coat ...

[@brianmcmanus7213]

Niarac was a leasion officer with the Glenanne gang, he was very friendly with Wier the RUC man organising the secterian murders innocent Catholics. He supplied the Loylist death Squads with Arms and Explosives , he was also very friendly with the Jackel , a man from Ba

[@henrymoreland8719]

" innocent " of what?.

[@douglastaggart9360]

Nairac was Catholic himself so why would murder other Catholics

[@Starryplough1916]

@@douglastaggart9360it’s nothing to do with religion

[@jackietreehorn5561]

​@@douglastaggart9360that's silly

[@seanheader9279]

you are 100 percent right

[@-DC-]

He F***ked Around, He Found Out.

[@Spook2431NYC]

Fantasticinterview, new subscriber fr NYC👋

[@ysgol3]

Very interesting, thank you - subscribed. I always assumed that Nairac was working at a very deep level for British intelligence, and doing so 'in plain sight', but the fact that he was on the streets s a uniformed soldier - even photographed there - now makes me think that just can't be true. A maverick with a crazy 'defiance of death' wish seems more plausible after watching this. Thanks again.

[@jockstrap]

I can tell different parts of Derry Tyrone and Belfast by their accents so some brit trying to pass that off would be caught out

[@KravMagaThailand]

I read that Nairac attended UCD for a term or year before going into the army.

[@anthonyhassett]

No it was Trinity.

[@padraigoruairc]

@@anthonyhassett - Nope it was Trinity College in Oxford not TCD Dublin

[@raygreen5926]

​@@padraigoruairc he strolled around Trinity College, Dublin, and visited Bewleys Cafe, Grafton St, there is also a photograph of him in an open sport's car near St. Stephen's Green 📷🌻

[@KravMagaThailand]

A friend who remembers Nairac called to his family farm in S Armagh one night. Called at front door in uniform but carrying a pump action shotgun an unusual nonstandard issue weapon to have. Same person saw him come into pubs with a patrol & get up to sing with the band.

[@jameslarkin8494]

He also wore a shotgun in Ardoyne.Well Known.

[@Barracuda71-ln3jr]

Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I read he was discovered using the name of an ex-PIRA man who had already been dead for several years & when he tossed this name about in the pub it was obviously looked into by members of the PIRA who found out that he was lying. If I'm wrong than someone please correct me on this.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

He said he was a oira member from Belfast and south Armagh was a provisional stronghold... south Armagh is clicky.....to think he was gonna go there and come back alive was a fantasy

[@Barracuda71-ln3jr]

@@jackietreehorn5561 He was on his 4th tour of duty I believe & for someone having put that much time "in country" he should have known better especially in an area like South Armagh where as you said they are extremely "clicky".

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@Barracuda71-ln3jr i grew up there

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@Barracuda71-ln3jr for an educated man he was as thick as champ with street smarts

[@Barracuda71-ln3jr]

@@jackietreehorn5561 You would know than.

[@jimkearney51]

Someone in the military wanted rid of Nairac, why else would they send a british soldier with a dodgy accent to South Armagh?

[@pdoyle9854]

Ten minutes,? Where's the rest of the interview?

[@kevincallaghan3212]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5_UpKiorq2Ai6Msi=My2Uq5li9R_TeTDC

[@angloaust1575]

Hazards of undercover duty He knew the risks and met His fate!

[@Brummiekid61]

Is it safe for a couple to visit this area in a motorhome? We live in Birmingham UK and love to visit places all over the UK and Europe. I would hate to step in to the Three Steps Pub and be treated as someone who is a political pariah. The area seems a lovely place to visit with great scenery but the past history does put me off a little!

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Perfectly safe now for tourists from England....times have changed people are friendly..I wouldn't mention politics though or anything about the past... other than that you be sweet

[@seanheader9279]

I also think British intelligence used him and give him a free hand to see what he could do...Apparently he wasn't answerable to anyone....I wonder why? EXPENDABLE,,

[@kevinwhelan9607]

I meant "inculcate" not indicate.

[@user-wv6my7kt1k]

He played Russian roulette with his life in the north his risks ego etc was his ending

[@cclewes7373]

He was reckless. Same with H.Jones

[@ghosted000]

Bit of a clampet thinking he could bluff them aul farmers down there boi

[@mo6278]

He is gone never be seen tough war

[@user-rg6zg7dr7x]

Very accurate from all the Niarac stories I have listened to. My opinion is he was let be free lance and was integral as part of the Glenane murderers

[@jameslarkin8494]

His first priority was the Grenadier Guards,he was posted to The Occupied 6 Counties,he got whacked,so what! There's plenty of information on that piece of shit..Google his name and try to read it without blaming Irish Nationalists..

[@hunnybunnysdaddy]

If you have ANYTHING to back up your OPINIION maybe you should present it to the PSNI

[@dowdallerno1]

Why will they arrest him?🙄🤔👌

[@jackietreehorn5561]

No one can be charged now I thought pre gfa

[@seanheader9279]

Eamon Collins was not an informer so get your facts right!!!

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Retracted his statement

[@JohnJohn-mo8rt]

Some balls or just mad ☘️

[@eamonnlittle9040]

He's Irish of course he calls them volunteers.What you want him to call them "dem bastards"?.

[@John-eo4zm]

He was a clown

[@derekrushton1705]

Robert Nairac owned a kestrel when he was at Oxford University. It became famous when it starred in the film 'Kes' with that young lad Billy. He wasn't in the SAS but used their bar at Bessbrook Mill. Probably in the FRU or 14 int. Bit naive to say the least going into that pub without back up but that was the type of character Captain Nairac was. Maverick. Where was he buried?

[@jacquiewalton1355]

An urban myth about Nairac's kestrel ..There were 3 kestrels in the film, named Freedom, Hardy, and Willis, which were trained by Richard Hines, the writer’s brother, who showed Bradley how to handle them.

[@paulkenneally789]

Kes was filmed in 1969 .. years before

[@user-pu8sg4sd4f]

One if his captors worked in the nearby piggery. He was buried in a pigs stomach after being put through a mincer hence why the body will never be found. What goes around comes around

[@leejenkins245]

@@user-pu8sg4sd4f I'd heard that he was strapped to Shergar ridden by Lord Lucan and sent to the Bermuda Triangle

[@B.elireland]

@@leejenkins245😂😂😂😂😂

[@robertburke2246]

Is he the highest rank the ira killed during the troubles?

[@jameslarkin8494]

Mountbatten,Niarac was a soldier who was a dreamer.

[@fintonmainz7845]

Interesting question. Who was the highest ranking British soldier?

[@patkearney9320]

Don’t know brits never let the enemy know when they score unless it’s obvious. All military around the world do the same.

[@patkearney9320]

@@jameslarkin8494 Mountbatten was the cherry on the pie. A royal getting hit is a massive deal and hard to swallow for the establishment in England.

[@jimmymullen7825]

@@fintonmainz7845 Lieut Col David Blair, CO, Queens Own Highlanders.......

[@elisamcgowan4774]

'Executed'?, a very sanitary way of describing a cold blooded murder, still, you insist on calling the IRA 'volunteers', it should not surprise me. By the way, although born in England, am also half Irish myself. I will agree with you though, Robert Nairac was reckless.

[@bpd1111]

Would it not surprise you if you were to be called out on your own hypocrisy? As an englishman who talks about murder and sanitisation on an island where the legacy bill allows for the state in your payment through taxation to cover up state sponsored murder the direction of terrorism and commit atrocities such as that of the miami showband by state agencies in the employ of people such as yourself. Executed? You today are complicit in 4 decades of terrorism in the north of ireland as you allow your government to execute its citizens without recourse through its legacy bill.

[@gerald1108]

But you have no problem calling loyalists volunteers, FS you even wear a poppy every November to honour these people, people like Lenny Murphy and basher bates ( the shankill butchers) and members of the Glenanne gang.

[@patkearney9320]

Volunteers go looking to join the ra don’t go looking for them that’s the difference, young men would join up after every atrocity and vice versa. Being a volunteer means sacrifice and hardship people think long and hard before going for a green book.

[@jamescornflake1542]

They were probably very angry, ''Hot blooded'' perhaps?

[@jackietreehorn5561]

The mrf British army undercover unit shot civilians not so sanitary and they even admitted it on a BBC documentary...cold blooded as a witches tit

[@henrymoreland8719]

Very few Irish nationalist republican operatives had Nairac's abilities, or balls.

[@Starryplough1916]

Don’t be stupid! He’s down in Louth enjoying the beach 🤣

[@jackietreehorn5561]

There's a difference between having balls and just pure stupidity

[@roadrash1282]

…….and where did his abilities and balls get him in the end pal? His parents never got to bury his body in their local cemetery. Something no parent should ever have to go through.

[@henrymoreland8719]

They got him killed, but he still had them.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@henrymoreland8719 there is a fine line between balls and stupidity id say

[@user-no7de4dc8j]

Have a look at the 'Miami showband massacre'....