Duplicity and Deception: Policing the Twilight Zone of the Troubles

A leading detective reveals the truth behind the headlines of some of Northern Ireland's most violent crimes. Alan Simpson was the senior investigating officer in the case of the controversial killing of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. As he writes here, ""from the outset there was suspicion of security forces collusion in the murder."" He reveals for the first time the dramatic secrets behind the kidnapping and murder of Thomas Niedermayer, German Consul to Northern Ireland and manager of the Grundig factory. He reveals, too, the extraordinary degree of collusion between republican and loyalist paramilitaries. The author was a central player in cases from the Shankill Butchers to the supergrass trials ""I had many unique experiences,"" he writes, ""which, in order to protect certain people, I felt I could not write about until a sufficient period of time had elapsed. I believe that time has now arrived...""