5 June 2006
A writes:
Martin asked could you please put up his response to the Liam Clarke piece today:http://cryptome.org/mcguinness-spy3.htmMartin Ingram is the co-author with Greg Harkin of the best seller Stakeknife: Britain's secret agents in Ireland.
Martin Ingram
I have no intention of getting into a public slanging match with Liam Clarke but I feel I must address a number of points raised within Liam’s latest communication to Cryptome.
My record on telling the truth stands and he knows it. He feels slightly put out by having his bells jangled that is all.
Liam Clarke knows that the now Chief Constable Hugh Orde told the family of Mr Notorantonio that my claims that he featured within the Brian Nelson files -- that he had been involved in the Stakeknife story -- were true. Mr Clarke sat on that story because his sources did not want the story in the public domain.
The newspaper (the People) that did carry the story received an immediate injunction, forcing that paper to publish a blank page in recognition of the state's desire to stop the story from being told. The injunction made it clear that no mention of the murder could be made and further more a second injunction prevented the paper from telling the world that it had been injuncted in the first place.
Liam Clarke may well have a close relationship with Sir John Stevens but no matter how many times he repeats Sir John stories it does not make them accurate or authentic. The bottom line is Sir John was not best pleased when this story made it to print.
Liam is also being disingenuous in regards to his contacts. Liam enjoyed entertaining the now Chief Constable in his home of an evening. Now I am unsure how many journalists in Northern Ireland enjoy that privilege but I would speculate not many. Indeed I doubt many could muster a contact book with an MI6 officer within, so for Liam to say he does not enjoy a privileged relationship with key personnel is wrong.