1 April 1999 Edition
British ban collusion book
The British Ministry of Defence has banned a book on Brian Nelson, one of the British intelligence agents who colluded with the UDA in targeting nationalists. It is widely believed that the book is being suppressed because the information would support the growing calls for an independent inquiry into the 1989 assassination of solicitor Pat Finucane.
The book, titled Ten Thirty Three, which was Nelson's military codename, and written by Nicholas Davies, a former Daily Mirror journalist who writes on security matters, was banned on 23 February 1998. Under the ban, Davies is not allowed to disclose any information on the subject ``without express prior written consent of the Ministry of Defence''.
In February, Davies had his laptop computer and other material about his book seized from his house and was later told that he was to stop the publication of his book because it could jeopardise national security.
Brian Nelson was convicted of 5 charges of conspiracy to murder and 14 of possession of information useful to terrorists. He pleaded guilty to these charges in order to avoid a trial which would have aired more information about his activity and which would have exposed his links to the British army.
At the trial, it emerged that Nelson and his handlers held onto information which resulted in several murders, the most prominent being the murder of Pat Finucane, whose address and details were given to the UDA by Nelson.
The book, titled Ten Thirty Three, which was Nelson's military codename, and written by Nicholas Davies, a former Daily Mirror journalist who writes on security matters, was banned on 23 February 1998. Under the ban, Davies is not allowed to disclose any information on the subject ``without express prior written consent of the Ministry of Defence''.
In February, Davies had his laptop computer and other material about his book seized from his house and was later told that he was to stop the publication of his book because it could jeopardise national security.
Brian Nelson was convicted of 5 charges of conspiracy to murder and 14 of possession of information useful to terrorists. He pleaded guilty to these charges in order to avoid a trial which would have aired more information about his activity and which would have exposed his links to the British army.
At the trial, it emerged that Nelson and his handlers held onto information which resulted in several murders, the most prominent being the murder of Pat Finucane, whose address and details were given to the UDA by Nelson.