This book is an extensively researched, comprehensive, and authoritative history of the RUC, especially in the years following the intensification of the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1969. How effective was the RUC? The author observes that as a policing force the RUC “discharged its responsibilities well, providing an effective deterrent against crime and having an excellent detection rate, so much so that even in the worst years of the ‘troubles’ the crime clearance rate in Northern Ireland was higher than that of many forces in Great Britain”.

Richard Doherty is one of Ireland’s leading military history authors with more than a dozen monographs to his credit.

Perspectives on Terrorism

Article: 'Why the republican narrative of nationalist hostility to policing is historical revisionism which must be confronted' as featured by

Belfast Telegraph, 2nd July 2018

This is not an impartial book. Perhaps it’s not even an objective book but then I don’t think that was the aim. This is the story of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, as told by Richard Doherty, one of its former members. Or to cite the full title, Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, the award of the George Cross being for “exceptional recognition of the outstanding contribution made by the RUC to peace in Northern Ireland.”

Indeed “The Troubles” dominate the book although the opening chapters provide a brief summary of the emergence of the RUC from the Royal Irish Constabulary following partition. It is often overlooked that while the RUC was in the front line of anti-terrorist operations, it was first and foremost a normal police force, conducting the everyday tasks of its mainland counterparts. And it was while undertaking these “normal” events that so many police officers lost their lives: shot in the back while comforting a female involved in a traffic collision, delivering a false bereavement message to be lured into an ambush and so on. Page after page relates to the death and injury of officers, some only recently joined while others such as a 61 year old with 42 years of service murdered in his driveway. And among other tragedies one officer was shot dead after visiting his wife and new born son in hospital.

The life of an RUC officer was anything but normal. Unable to hang washing on the line lest the colour if their shirt reveal their occupation, mindful of what their children could say even to their own friends. Members of the RUC remained targets for the rest of their lives.

And the RUC was attacked from both ends of the political/sectarian divide. Loyalist terrorists were responsible for the deaths of both the first male and female officers to be killed. Many had to move out of “loyalist” estates, with at least one later being killed in his new home by the IRA. The RUC’s commitment to impartiality found favour with neither side.

The author is especially critical of the SDLP and John Hume in particular for failing to adequately support the force. A succession of Chief Constables are also put under the microscope, with Sir John Hermon the most highly regarded and Hugh Annesley not even deemed worthy of a mention in the Index.

There are legions of books on the history of Northern Ireland and The Troubles. This book will appeal to anyone who wants to know what it was like to be part of the “thin green line” and the price that its members paid – and continue to pay.

Peter Weedon