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The Informer

The Informer

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: To Hell or Barbados - The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland
Review: How could Sean O'Calloghan betray his fellow Irish Patriots in order to help the British in Northern Ireland and proudly write about it, and just 2 years later write about how the British betrayed the Irish - especially the young women and children - by enslaving them and torturing them for Centuries?

I applaud Sean for notifying the World about the many Holocausts that have occurred to the Irish over the Centuries at the hands of the British, but I don't understand how he could betray the same Patriots who FINALLY allowed the Republic of Ireland to become free from the TYRANNY and INJUSTICE and CRUELTY of British rule.

Would Sean condone the betrayers of the Irish women and children who were enslaved - the betrayers who helped to round them up and ship them to Barbados and other Carribbean islands and to the Amazon and even to Virginia and New England and other parts of the present United States?

Remember, England INVADED Ireland - not the other way around. England was the aggressor and occupier - not the other way around. England used terroristic behaviors and procedures against the Irish - including the innocent civilian women and children - but the Irish, who were simply defending themselves, are called the terrorists? That doesn't make any sense. They were no more terrorists than the United States Patriots like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and all of the others - all of whom were considered TRAITORS and TERRORISTS by the English monarchy at the time of the American Revolutionary War, and they would have been HUNG as TRAITORS if the Americans had lost the War.

I'm very glad that Sean has written about the Irish slave trade that lasted for Centuries, but I'm very disappointed that he betrayed his fellow Patriots who were trying to correct some of the injustices of the British tyrants. I'm very glad that a peaceful solution is possibly at hand, but I ache to think about how many fellow Irish Patriots Sean helped to torture and kill through his treachery. If he didn't agree with the IRA anymore, why didn't he just leave? Why did he have to spy for the enemy of all of the innocent Irish?

I hope that everyone who reads this review will go out and read 'To Hell or Barbados - The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland' instead of this book. Sean's other book is a must read.

Perhaps Sean's book revealing the truth about Irish slavery was an attempt to make up for this unfortunate book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent and enlightening
Review: I was of the opinion that if someone had murdered then it is virtually unforgivable. I now have nothing but admiration for Sean. Once he realised that killing was not the answer and he set about thwarting IRA operations from the many posts he held, it showed a side of him that took tremendous courage and the cost to his personal relationships were more than I think most of us could accept. His courage and brinkmanship in his hunger and thirst strikes filled me with admiration for a man who's only desire is to see lasting peace in Ireland. I wish him well in all his ongoing unsung efforts to help secure peace in Ireland. If Sean had a magic wand I would like to know waht he would do to secure peace in Ireland

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Nice to read
Review: This book is about Sean O'Callaghan's life as a member of the IRA and his subsequent life as an informer for the Irish gardai. Good to read and interesting as it gives a good insight into his life from when he was a small boy. At first, I thought this would be similar to Martin McGartland's books, however, it is not. O'Callaghan gives a little insight into several issues surrounding the conflict between the IRA and the British and Irish forces. At one stage whilst talking about his youth he explains the link between Irish Catholicism and Irish Nationalism which highlights how much of a fraud the Irish Catholic Church really is.

O'Callaghan's book is a good read but not if you are more interested in the politics and issues of the Northern Irish Troubles. This book is mainly about the terrorist operations he helped to execute and later to prevent. It also gives solid evidence that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were leading members of the Irish Republican Army before they became politicians with Sinn Fein.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Missed its mark
Review: This book tackles a huge subject with much honesty. Sean O'Callaghan puts his hands up and freely admits that he was seduced by and participated in militant republicanism and fought for his fellow countrymen with zeal. This is not unusual and many writers and commentators have described this real experience very well in the past.

Sean O'Callaghan stands out as a fairly unique subject in being a high level operative who has completely repudiated the philosophy of the IRA. The critical stage of realisation and crystallisation of his personal morality lack description. Whilst we take one view on O'Callaghan's actions as a person, his power as a writer is lacking and he missed a golden opportunity to describe the mental anguish leading to resolve that he must have experienced. A few notes on emotions here and there don't do justice to the tumultuous experience he has absorbed. Perhaps O'Callaghan isn't too bothered - after all his mission is clearly stated as damage maximisation to the IRA. However, given his literary ambitions, he might have spent more time on describing himself rather than listing activities which we can't really absorb en masse.

Whatever one's politics, O'Callaghan's courage is assured. The book is a necessary read in understanding the development through the 1980's of Irish politics. However, O'Callaghan's direction is inflexible where Sinn Fein's was dynamic. O'Callaghan's resolve to fight the IRA and its political group does not consider their move toward a peace strategy to have any merit and to be a cynical exercise. It is his account, of course, and his opinion, but it is certainly out of step with the rest of the world. Progress has been made.

Overall, the book promises more than it delivers. It reads as a historical narrative rather than an exploration of a personal journey. When an experienced writer produces a biography, I'll buy that.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: DO NOT GET THIS BOOK
Review: This book was absolutely terrible. the author should have gotten a co-author to help him write because he is a terrible writer. the book was confusing, random, and followed no pattern what so ever. not too mention he is extremely long winded. i got so bored reading about his childhood i kept falling asleep. and the childhood takes forever to get through. i would not recommend this book to my worst enemies, it was terrible.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A modern day classic of the history of the Irish "Problem".
Review: This is a book that should be read by everyone. Sean O'Callahan is a gifted writer who is not afraid of speaking up for his convictions. He tells the story of the Irish "Problem" so well and so succintly. You can feel the feelings that he has and want to be there to support him.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A front line account on the nature of terrorism
Review: This is a remarkable story, of how a member of a terrorist organisation can come to recognise its true nature, and of the courage and ability to then become an effective agent and informer to frustrate its operation. Sean is a brave man who is still on an IRA death list, and was under no illusions about the risks he took when he began to work with the Irish police. While he has turned his back on violence, he shows understanding and even compassion for the destructive effect of terrorism on its young, naive recruits, as well as on its victims. If you want to know what the IRA is like, read this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Irish question explained - all I needed to know
Review: This is the definitive work for our time on the question of Northern Ireland and how it relates to British politics and world politics in the area of post-colonial rationilization and adjustment. A must for all students of conflict resolution problems. This man has suffered and writes from his experience. Read it.


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