9 April 1998 Edition
Set a place for Mr Nelson please
By Meadbh Gallagher
Brian Nelson is a wanted man. ``An influential group of Irish Americans'', the Irish News reports, want to speak to him, and are willing to pay ``a seven figure sum'' to do that.
A leading UN lawyer wants to talk to him too, for free. His role in the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane is just one of the reasons why he finds himself in the news again.
Unless there's a judicial enquiry, the UN representative says, ``it will be difficult to have confidence in the institutions of the state''.
The Sunday Telegraph also put Mr Nelson back in the frame with their `The army and the Death Squads' exposé, which, without a hint of irony from Telegraph towers, carried the headline: ``Everything was done to stop the truth coming out''.
It's no wonder old Paddy Mayhew was driven to write a letter of protest to the Daily Telegraph in the days after. Of course the DT turned it into a half page opinion piece, but don't let that get to you.
Paddy's piece was a defence of the realm that he used to share with the RUC back in the good old days.
It had `all the hallmarks', to use a phrase current in those days, of the ominous noises that emit from your old banger car as it retches into its dying moments. Served you well at the time but no use now, you know.
Blusterer turned prophet of doom, Paddy must be feeling pretty left out.
Brian Nelson, on the other hand... well, his place in history is assured. No matter what the outcome at Stormont, the British agent and UDA chief intelligence officer will continue to cover column inches. His is no story that will just die down. His victims are too many, his connections with the British state too far-reaching.
But as the British satirical magazine Private Eye pointed out last week, sometimes the timing of the latest Nelson `exposé' can set you thinking about the reasons behind it. Private Eye complain they have been talking about him for years but no one was listening. Well, so too have Phoenix magazine here, never mind An Phoblacht and Republican Publications.
Released from prison now, Brian Nelson might wish himself out of the limelight. His British handlers certainly wish he was. But Brian Nelson will not just go away - his living ghost will haunt the British government's every move.
Brian Nelson is a wanted man. ``An influential group of Irish Americans'', the Irish News reports, want to speak to him, and are willing to pay ``a seven figure sum'' to do that.
A leading UN lawyer wants to talk to him too, for free. His role in the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane is just one of the reasons why he finds himself in the news again.
Unless there's a judicial enquiry, the UN representative says, ``it will be difficult to have confidence in the institutions of the state''.
The Sunday Telegraph also put Mr Nelson back in the frame with their `The army and the Death Squads' exposé, which, without a hint of irony from Telegraph towers, carried the headline: ``Everything was done to stop the truth coming out''.
It's no wonder old Paddy Mayhew was driven to write a letter of protest to the Daily Telegraph in the days after. Of course the DT turned it into a half page opinion piece, but don't let that get to you.
Paddy's piece was a defence of the realm that he used to share with the RUC back in the good old days.
It had `all the hallmarks', to use a phrase current in those days, of the ominous noises that emit from your old banger car as it retches into its dying moments. Served you well at the time but no use now, you know.
Blusterer turned prophet of doom, Paddy must be feeling pretty left out.
Brian Nelson, on the other hand... well, his place in history is assured. No matter what the outcome at Stormont, the British agent and UDA chief intelligence officer will continue to cover column inches. His is no story that will just die down. His victims are too many, his connections with the British state too far-reaching.
But as the British satirical magazine Private Eye pointed out last week, sometimes the timing of the latest Nelson `exposé' can set you thinking about the reasons behind it. Private Eye complain they have been talking about him for years but no one was listening. Well, so too have Phoenix magazine here, never mind An Phoblacht and Republican Publications.
Released from prison now, Brian Nelson might wish himself out of the limelight. His British handlers certainly wish he was. But Brian Nelson will not just go away - his living ghost will haunt the British government's every move.