Martin Dillon
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Martin Dillon (born 2 June 1949) is an Irish author, journalist, and broadcaster. He has won international acclaim for his investigative reporting and non-fiction works on
The Troubles The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "i ...
, including his bestselling trilogy, ''The Shankill Butchers'', ''The Dirty War'' and ''God and the Gun'', about the Northern Ireland conflict. The historian and scholar, Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien, described him as "our Virgil to that Inferno". ''
The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
'' hailed him as "one of the most creative writers of our time".


Early life

Martin Dillon was born in the Lower Falls area of West
Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...
,
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
. He grew up with nine siblings in a traditional Catholic household. His mother, Maureen, looked after the children while his father, Gerard, worked as a watch maker and later telephone engineer to support his large family. Dillon attended St Finian's Primary School on the Falls Road. In 1961, aged twelve, he left Belfast to pursue a religious vocation at Montfort College Seminary in
Romsey Romsey ( ) is a historic market town in the county of Hampshire, England. Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and the 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, whose statue has stood in the t ...
,
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
. The seminary was run by the Montfort Fathers, a French religious Order devoted to the teachings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort. After four years, he abandoned it and returned to Belfast to finish his studies at
St Malachy's College St Malachy's College, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is the oldest Catholic diocesan college in Ulster. The college's alumni and students are known as Malachians. History The college, founded by Bishop William Crolly, opened on the feast of Sain ...
and St Patrick's, Barnageeha. He attended Belfast College of Business Studies in 1970.


Career


Early career


Investigative journalism and first non-fiction book

Martin Dillon began his distinguished career as a newspaper reporter in 1968. He trained with the ''
Irish News Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
'', a daily newspaper with a mainly Irish Nationalist readership, and contributed to its weekly publication, '' The Irish Weekly''. He reported on a variety of events including those related to
The Troubles The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "i ...
in Northern Ireland. In 1972, he joined the ''Belfast Telegraph''. Mackay, 2017 stated "As an investigative journalist Dillon tried to reveal objectively the truth about the Northern Ireland Conflict. Under his forensic gaze, the cruelties and failings of all sides were exposed, whether they were Loyalist, Republican or British" Dillon valued his early years in journalism because of the challenges and unique experiences that later found expression in his non-fiction works. In 1973 Dillon published his first non-fiction book, "Political Murder in Northern Ireland"(co-authored with Denis Lehane). The content of the book is based on much of Dillon's own journalistic research and reporting for the ''
Irish News Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
'' and ''
Belfast Telegraph The ''Belfast Telegraph'' is a daily newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Independent News & Media. Its editor is Eoin Brannigan. Reflecting its unionist tradition, the paper has historically been "favoured by the Protestant po ...
''.


BBC years


Radio broadcaster, producer/writer, creator of programmes and TV shows

In 1973, Dillon joined BBC Northern Ireland’s Newsroom as a News Assistant. In 1975, he became a Radio Arts producer and later ran the General Programmes Radio Department, which constituted the majority of BBC Radio Ulster's output. In that role, he created the Behind the Headlines and Talkback programmes. Talkback broke the "normal rules of broadcasting", over 31 years ago. In 2016, Talkback celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. In 1985, while working as a producer of the ''Behind the Headlines'', he persuaded SDLP leader, John Hume, and Provisional Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, to debate their political positions live on the programme. During the broadcast, John Hume agreed to meet the Provisional IRA's Army Council. It was a controversial decision by him, but also a defining moment that led to open a dialogue with the Provisionals. The debate proved to be a seminal element in the genesis of the Northern Ireland peace process. Dillon also introduced John Hume to UDA paramilitary leader, John McMichael, credited with running assassination teams in Northern Ireland. He was offered a contract to work as a producer/writer with BBC 2 award-winning documentary department, Timewatch. His role was to script and produce a major series on the Northern Ireland Troubles. After a year working with the Timewatch, he clashed with the BBC authorities and resigned, reaching a financial settlement. During his 18 years work for the BBC, Dillon created and produced some award-winning TV programmes. "A brilliant producer (for BBC Northern Ireland radio and TV), Dillon recruited talented outsiders and created iconoclastic programmes that brought people living in the most afflicted areas into furious dialogue on air with politicians, police chiefs, comedians and writers. He worked with Paul Muldoon, became friends with Denis Johnston and Seán Ó Faoláin" (McKay, 2017). Reviewing ''Crossing The Line'' "Brave chronicler of the Troubles who made a point of crossing the line. Martin Dillon was always determined to uncover the truth of our sordid war AS far as I’m concerned, Martin Dillon changed the way the Troubles were reported." (Jordan, Sunday World, 17 September 2017) Throughout his broadcasting career, Dillon was known for his abrasive style and controversial programming. He fought against the BBC’s interpretation of balance in its news and current affairs output. His views brought him a lot of frustration and disillusionment with the BBC narrow interpretation of the concept of balance, which left the BBC’s Current Affairs department vulnerable to political manipulation in the divisive atmosphere of Northern Ireland. TV commentator, columnist, terrorism analyst and expert In 1992 Dillon left the BBC to pursue his writing career. He subsequently became a terrorism analyst and commentator for Sky Television and other television and radio networks. In 1992, he presented a television documentary ''
The Last Colony ''The Last Colony'' is a science fiction novel by American writer John Scalzi, the third set in his ''Old Man's War'' universe. It was nominated for a 2008 Hugo Award in the Best Novel category. Plot synopsis John Perry and Jane Sagan, the for ...
'' for
Channel Four Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service i ...
and
RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
. It examined the origins of The Troubles, focusing on the confusing nature and failure of much of British policymaking of the period, especially of the Tory government led by Prime Minister Edward Heath. The documentary also contained some sensational revelations, including Heath’s secret declaration that it was legal for British soldiers to shoot protesters on the streets of Northern Ireland because they were "enemies of the Crown". Later, it formed part of the evidence against Heath at the Bloody Sunday Tribunal in 2003. During that period Dillon published seven best-selling books on the Irish conflict and three plays for radio and television. He also contributed as a TV commentator and terrorism expert to several networks including BBC, RTÉ, Sky TV and Channel Four. Notable Works The Shankill Butchers The Dirty War God and the Gun


Literary works and themes

In his bestselling trilogy ''The Shankill Butchers'', ''The Dirty War'' and ''God and the Gun'', Dillon offers a balanced and objective perspective of the conflict, the participants and their motives. As the
Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
put it "Dillon is recommended reading for anyone wishing to understand the complexities of the British – Irish politics". ''The Shankill Butchers', A Case Study of Mass Murder'', 1989, is a study of Northern Ireland's infamous Shankill butchers gang who preyed on Belfast Catholics. Dillon exposes the depravity of the UVF gang that was run by an aggressive psychopath,
Lenny Murphy Hugh Leonard Thompson Murphy (2 March 1952 – 16 November 1982) was a Northern Irish loyalist and UVF officer. As leader of the Shankill Butchers gang, Murphy was responsible for many murders, mainly of Catholic civilians, often first kidna ...
, with the help of one of his brothers. The gang performed unspeakable acts on helpless victims, killing them in a gruesome fashion. Dillon painstakingly interviewed countless civilians, paramilitaries and police officers in compiling the book. According to the Listener, "the great value of Martin Dillon's carefully researched and readable work is that it enters a world that few journalists have been inclined or able to penetrate". ''The Dirty War'', 1990, is a detailed account of the undercover struggle in which all sides fought a no-rules battle, using spies, informants, assassins, disinformation and terrorist agents. Dillon examines the roles played by the
Provisional IRA The Irish Republican Army (IRA; ), also known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and informally as the Provos, was an Irish republicanism, Irish republican paramilitary organisation that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, fa ...
, British Intelligence, including
MI5 The Security Service, also known as MI5 ( Military Intelligence, Section 5), is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), G ...
and
Special Branch Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security and Intelligence (information gathering), intelligence in Policing in the United Kingdom, British, Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, ...
, British Military Intelligence, the Irish Government, and the British Army, and reveals disturbing facts about the way in which terrorists and the Intelligence agencies targeted, undermined and penetrated each other’s ranks. Within the pages of the book Dillon was one of the first to expose the IRA's practice of executing and secretly burying some of its victims; a practice which subsequently led to public demands for the IRA to reveal the whereabouts of those it made "disappear". He also unraveled the use of
state-sponsored terrorism State-sponsored terrorism is terrorist violence carried out with the active support of national governments provided to violent non-state actors. States can sponsor terrorist groups in several ways, including but not limited to funding terrorist ...
and the phenomenon of "Rompering", a form of sadistic torture used by the paramilitaries. ''
Killer in Clowntown A killer is someone or something that kills, such as a murderer or a serial killer. Killer may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters * Killer (''Home and Away''), a character from ''Home and Away'' * Killer Kane, ...
'' '' – Joe Doherty the IRA and the Special Relationship'', 1992, is the tale of Joe Doherty, the convicted IRA gunman who captured American popular opinion by frustrating the British Government’s attempts to have him extradited from New York to Northern Ireland to serve a 30-year prison sentence for murdering a British Special Air Services Officer. Dillon traces Doherty’s terror history, providing personal insights into legal events inside the US Attorney’s office in New York. He unveils proof of Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. S ...
's secret intervention in the case, including how she told the Americans overseeing the Doherty case that she considered his extradition to Britain a quid pro quo for her allowing U.S. jets to use British airspace on the way to bomb Libya. Dillon was asked by the Federal Court in New York to provide testimony about the inner workings of the IRA, based on his work ''The Dirty War'' He agreed on condition he would be judged a "friend of the court" witness and not one seen to be supporting one or the other side in the case. In the end, he was not called to give evidence. According to ''The Guardian'', "Dillon's book demands the attention of anyone concerned about civil liberties in the United Kingdom…a catalogue of cynicism, lies, harassment, torture and murder that makes the Cold war duplicity a la Deighton and Le Carre seem positively endearing". In '' Stone Cold: True Story of Michael Stone and the Milltown Massacre'', 1992, Dillon portrays Michael Stone, a natural born killer, infamous for his murder spree during an IRA funeral in Belfast’s Milltown Cemetery in March 1988. Stone, armed to the teeth, fired into the crowd of mourners, killing three men and wounding several others. His targets had been the Provisional IRA leaders present at the graveside, in particular
Gerry Adams Gerard Adams ( ga, Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh; born 6 October 1948) is an Irish republican politician who was the president of Sinn Féin between 13 November 1983 and 10 February 2018, and served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Louth from 2011 to 2020 ...
and
Martin McGuinness James Martin Pacelli McGuinness ( ga, Séamus Máirtín Pacelli Mag Aonghusa; 23 May 1950 – 21 March 2017) was an Irish republican politician and statesman from Sinn Féin and a leader within the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) during ...
. Stone was captured and confessed to a list of other murders, which landed him a life sentence in the
Maze Prison Her Majesty's Prison Maze (previously Long Kesh Detention Centre, and known colloquially as The Maze or H-Blocks) was a prison in Northern Ireland that was used to house alleged paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles from August 1971 to Sept ...
where he became a Loyalist icon. Drawing on conversations with Stone in prison, including correspondence with him, as well as on a network of contacts in the military and paramilitary world, Dillon provides a portrait of a charming, boastful, meticulous, sentimental and lethal killer. According to Time Out: "Dillon brings his customary expertise to this latest expose of Government complicity in sectarian murder, and delves into the byzantine world of terrorist organization with impressive results". In ''The Enemy Within: The IRA War Against the British'', 1994, Dillon examines the IRA bombing campaign in Britain before and after the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, and through to the 1970s and 80s. He analyzes the
IRA Ira or IRA may refer to: *Ira (name), a Hebrew, Sanskrit, Russian or Finnish language personal name *Ira (surname), a rare Estonian and some other language family name *Iran, UNDP code IRA Law *Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, US, on status of ...
's flirtation with
Nazism Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
and how Éire's wartime neutrality conditioned subsequent British policy towards Ireland. Dillon applies his extensive knowledge on the subject to provide new evidence of the political and military mistakes, which he argues, made British cities the most vulnerable in Europe to terrorist attacks. In fact, Dillon reveals for the first time the existence of what the IRA called its "England Department." He explains why the British Government held secret talks with the IRA/
Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Gri ...
amid the carnage of Warrington, and what was behind the IRA’s reluctance to denounce the
Downing Street Declaration Downing may refer to: Places * Downing, Missouri, US, a city * Downing, Wisconsin, US, a village * Downing Park (Newburgh, New York), US, a public park * Downing, Flintshire, Wales Buildings * Downing Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Austral ...
. It is his contention that the various Government agencies combating the IRA failed to eradicate the terrorist thread, leading to intrigue among them and to MI5 being given the sole responsibility for coordinating the war against the Provisionals. ''25 years of Terror: The IRA’s War against the British'', 1996, is the revised edition of ''The Enemy Within'', 1994. Dillon provides the first comprehensive survey of the IRA in Britain. According to ''
Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', kn ...
'', UK: "Dillon's account is packed with new information and should be required reading. It is a serious study, well researched and competently written". '' The Serpent’s Tail'', 1995, is Dillon’s first novel, based on a true-life story set against a background of ordinary family life in Catholic West Belfast. Dillon traces the steps of two young Belfast Catholics recruited as informers, who found themselves at the heart of a "sting" involving the
IRA Ira or IRA may refer to: *Ira (name), a Hebrew, Sanskrit, Russian or Finnish language personal name *Ira (surname), a rare Estonian and some other language family name *Iran, UNDP code IRA Law *Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, US, on status of ...
, the SAS and
MI5 The Security Service, also known as MI5 ( Military Intelligence, Section 5), is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), G ...
. The film script of the novel won European Script Fund award in 1995. ''In God and the Gun – The Church and Irish Terrorism'', 1997, Dillon explores the nexus of religion and
paramilitarism A paramilitary is an organization whose structure, tactics, training, subculture, and (often) function are similar to those of a professional military, but is not part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. Paramilitary units carr ...
. Dillon interviewed paramilitaries and religious figures to discern whether this is a religious war or one of economics and class. The interviewees included the late Billy Wright, a.k.a. "King Rat", a notorious Protestant assassin killed by the INLA in prison in 1997, Protestant terrorist Pastor
Kenny McClinton Kenneth McClinton (born 1947) is a Northern Irish pastor and sometime political activist. During his early years McClinton was an active member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA/UFF). He was a close friend of Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) ...
, and Fr. Pat Buckley who admitted breaking the seal of the confessional to save lives on both sides. According to ''Publishers Weekly'': "Dillon has written an eye-opening book about a sometimes-incomprehensible sectarian situation". In '' The Trigger Men'':'' Assassins and Terror Bosses in the Ireland Conflict'', 2003, Dillon delves into the dark and sinister world of Irish terrorism and counterterrorism. He analyzes the personalities of some of the most dangerous, professional and ruthless killers in Northern Ireland, their motivations and the bizarre crimes they committed. Their individual stories are told in gripping, unflinching detail. Dillon also exposes the ideology of the cult of the gunmen and the greed combined with hatred that motivated the assassins in their killing sprees. He presents penetrating insights into the mindset of terrorist Godfathers and their triggermen like the infamous Protestant assassin Billy Wright, the INLA leader
Dominic McGlinchey Dominic "Mad Dog" McGlinchey (1954 – 10 February 1994) was an Irish republican paramilitary leader, who moved from the Provisional IRA to become head of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) paramilitary group in the early 1980s. McGlinch ...
, "Mad Dog"
Johnny Adair John Adair (born 27 October 1963), better known as Johnny Adair or Mad Dog Adair, is an Ulster loyalist and the former leader of the "C Company", 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). This was a ...
, the UDA hitman, Michael Stone, and British terrorist agent, Brian Nelson. Dillon co-authored with Rt. Hon.
Roy Bradford Roy Hamilton Bradford (7 July 1921 – 2 September 1998) was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland and a government minister in both the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly. Born in Ligoniel in Belfast, B ...
'' Rogue Warrior of the SAS': A Biography of Col. "Paddy" Blair Mayne'', 1987. Lt. Col. "Paddy"
Blair Mayne Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne, (11 January 1915 – 14 December 1955) was a British Army officer from Newtownards, capped for Ireland and the British Lions at rugby union, lawyer, amateur boxer, and a founding member of the ...
is regarded as one of the greatest soldiers in the history of military special operations. He is the most decorated fighting soldier of WWII, receiving four DSOs, the
Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
, and the
Legion d’Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
. He was one of the six founder members of the SAS and pioneered tactics used today by
Special Forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
units across the globe. His exploits against
Rommel Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel () (15 November 1891 – 14 October 1944) was a German field marshal during World War II. Popularly known as the Desert Fox (, ), he served in the ''Wehrmacht'' (armed forces) of Nazi Germany, as well as servi ...
's Desert forces and against the Nazis in Italy, France and Germany were legendary. His courage, initiative and wildness made him a giant among his men. He was, however, denied the ultimate accolade of the
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
because of his unorthodox rules of war and his resentment of authority. In 2002, Dillon updated the new, revised edition ''Rogue Warrior of the SAS - the Blair Mayne Legend'', 2003 for
Mainstream publishing Mainstream Publishing was a publishing company in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1978, it ceased trading in December 2013.Charlotte WilliamsMainstream to cease publishing 1 March 2013, The Bookseller.com' (Retrieved 30 December 2016) It was ass ...
. Dillon added a postscript with new facts about Mayne's conflicted personal life, in particular, his sexuality, which was a topic purposely omitted in the first edition of the book. Drawing on Mayne's personal letters and family papers, SAS secret records (now declassified), his own war diaries and eyewitness accounts from many who served with him, Dillon presents a compelling and perceptive portrait of a very special warrior. ''The Assassination of Robert Maxwell': Israel’s Superspy'', 2002, (co-authored with Gordon Thomas) is a biography of media mogul,
Robert Maxwell Ian Robert Maxwell (born Ján Ludvík Hyman Binyamin Hoch; 10 June 1923 – 5 November 1991) was a Czechoslovak-born British media proprietor, member of parliament (MP), suspected spy, and fraudster. Early in his life, Maxwell escaped from N ...
, who played a crucial role for Israel's
Mossad Mossad ( , ), ; ar, الموساد, al-Mōsād, ; , short for ( he, המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים, links=no), meaning 'Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations'. is the national intelligence agency ...
spy agency. The authors unveil explosive revelations about Maxwell’s links to global organized crime, and his schemes to access White House,
10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along wi ...
, and the
Kremlin The Kremlin ( rus, Московский Кремль, r=Moskovskiy Kreml', p=ˈmɐˈskofskʲɪj krʲemlʲ, t=Moscow Kremlin) is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow founded by the Rurik dynasty, Rurik dynasty. It is the best known of th ...
, in order to obtain knowledge of highly guarded secrets for Israel. Drawing on private interviews with senior intelligence officers and other integral players, Dillon and Thomas examine the clues, contradictions and cover-up surrounding Maxwell's sudden and suspicious death. Dillon, using his sources within East European intelligence agencies and the
FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...
, charts Maxwell's secret activities in Eastern Europe, especially his personal ties to
KGB The KGB (russian: links=no, lit=Committee for State Security, Комитет государственной безопасности (КГБ), a=ru-KGB.ogg, p=kəmʲɪˈtʲet ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)əj bʲɪzɐˈpasnəsʲtʲɪ, Komitet gosud ...
bosses during the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
. In his 2017 memoir '' Crossing the Line-My Life on the Edge'', Dillon, according to the ''
Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
'' "details a life that's involved many incredible moments: witnessing the horrors of the Troubles; encounters with major political figures and paramilitaries; rubbing shoulders with Irish literary greats; a successful broadcasting career, but one where he butted heads with BBC management; and having to leave Northern Ireland because of death threats. Dillon’s book is replete with such colourful stories involving the politicians, terrorists, artists and writers he met while covering the conflict in Northern Ireland". ''The Squad'', 1976, is one of the first plays about the Troubles. It was produced on BBC Radio3 and
BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...
TV by Ronald Mason, the Head of BBC Radio 3 Drama department. "He has that unique knack of combining forensic historical fact-based research with the art of thriller-like writing. His books have accurately chartered the terror and the horror of recent Northern Irish history but always in a tone of compassion for the innocent victims caught up in conflict. Works like his 'The Shankill Butchers' and 'The Dirty War' stand the test of time and will be essential reading for generations to come for those trying to make sense out of the madness that was 'The Troubles'" ( Henry McDonald; author, journalist and Ireland correspondent for ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''.)


Personal life

As a journalist and writer Dillon’s life has been intertwined with the history of the Troubles and its darkest days. Because of his investigative work in Northern Ireland, Dillon received numerous death threats. In 1988, he left the British Isles with his family and settled in France where he continued to write about the Irish conflict and publish bestselling books. After his divorce from his wife, Katherine Dillon (2000), from whom he has a daughter Nadia Katherine Dillon, born in 1988, he visited New York at the invitation of his publisher, and while there, he decided to make New York his home. He went on to write and broadcast for news outlets in the U.S. and Canada, appearing on CNN, ABC, NPR and NBC as a guest and a global expert on terrorism and organized crime. In 2003, he married, Violeta Kumurdjieva, a Bulgarian journalist and translator. In 2014, they moved from New York City to San Francisco Bay area, California, where Dillon continues to work on his journalism, television and book projects.


Bibliography


Non-fiction

* ''Political Murder in Northern Ireland'' (co-authored with Denis Lehane), 1973 * ''Rogue Warrior of the SAS'': ''A biography of Col. "Paddy" Blair Mayne'' (co-authored with Roy Bradford), 1987 * ''Rogue Warrior of the SAS: The Blair Mayne Legend, with late Roy Bradford, 2003'', revised edition, updated by Dillon * ''The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder'' (1989) * ''The Dirty War'' (1990) * ''Stone Cold: True Story of Michael Stone and the Milltown Massacre'' (1992) * ''Killer in Clowntown: Joe Doherty, the IRA and the Special Relationship'' (1992) * ''The Enemy Within'' (1994) * ''25 Years of Terror: The IRA's War Against the British'' (1996; revised edition of ''The Enemy Within'') * ''God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism'' (1997) * ''The Assassination of Robert Maxwell: Israel's Superspy'' (co-authored with Gordon Thomas; 2002) * ''Robert Maxwell, Israel's Superspy: The Life and Murder of a Media Mogul, 2002 (American edition)'' * ''The Trigger Men'' (2003) * ''Shankill Butchers/The Dirty War/Stone Cold—Three Books in One'' (2006) * ''Crossing the Line: My Life on the Edge'' (2017)


Fiction

*''The Serpent's Tail'', 1995


Plays

* ''The Squad'', 1976 (BBC Radio Three, BBC2 TV) * ''The Waiting Room'', 1976 * ''The Dog'', 1976


Screenplays

* ''The Serpent's Tail'' (1995) * ''Other Men's Flowers'' (2002)


Short stories

*Jimmy the Natural (2011; published in ''The Best Travel Writing 2011: True Stories from Around the World Anthology'', 2011) * The Last Confession (2000; published in ''Ireland: True Stories of Life on the Emerald Isle'', Travelers' Tales Anthology, 2000)


Awards

In 1995, the screenplay of the novel, ''The Serpent’s Tail'' won a European Script Fund Award.


See also

*
List of writers from Northern Ireland This is a list of writers born or who have lived in Northern Ireland. __NOTOC__ B *Tony Bailie (born 1962) *Jo Bannister (born 1951) *Colin Bateman (born 1962) * Ronan Bennett (born 1956) *Maureen Boyle (born 1961) *Kenneth Branagh (born 1960) ...


Notes


References

* * * * * * ; Head of Radio BBC NI (1977–86) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dillon, Martin, "Killer Michael Stone's Stormont Attack was inevitable, his Biographer says", ''The Irish News'', 22 November 201
Killer Michael Stone is a 'sociopath with serious mental issues,' his biographer says
* Dillon, Martin, "Killer Michael Stone should remain in Jail says Troubles writer", ''The Irish News'', 23 November 201
Killer Michael Stone should remain in jail says Troubles writer
* Dillon, Martin, "A Legacy of Hatred", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 24 May 200

* Dillon, Martin, "Cut down by Hate, but the Memories endure", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 8 September 201

* Dillon, Martin, "'I fell into the Clutches of a middle-aged Man' - Troubles Journalist reveals Childhood Abuse in tell-all Book", ''The Irish Post'', 20 October 201
'I fell into the clutches of a middle-aged man" - Troubles journalist reveals childhood abuse in tell-all book
* Dillon Martin, "No old Tricks will save the BBC’s House of Cards", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 14 November 201

* Dillon, Martin, "Irish Tendency to revert to the Gun remains a real Risk", ''The Sunday Herald'', 9 April 2018 * Ardmayle’s blog:" Martin Dillon- Crossing the Line", 5 October 2017 * Irish Writers' Festival, 2017, Los Gatos, California, "Crossing the Line: My Life on Edge", A talk by Martin Dillon * BFI Film Forever, "The Last Colony" documentary, 1994, featuring Martin Dillon, presente
The Last Colony (1994)
* NPR interview: Journalist and author Martin Dillon is considered an expert on the conflict in Northern Ireland, broadcast on 20 May 199
Journalist and author Martin Dillon is considered an expert on the conflict in Northern Ireland
* Interview on BBC Radio Ulster, Talkback: "William Crawley spends some time with a special guest", broadcast on 29 December 2016
BBC Radio Ulster - Talkback, 29 December 2016
* Interview with Pat Kenny; News talk/podcasts/ The Pat Kenny Show, broadcast on
Podcasts
* Frank Mitchell Phone-in Interview: Listen: Author and former journalist Martin Dillon on his latest book "Crossing the line: My Life on the Edge", broadcast o
Author and former journalist Martin Dillon on his latest book


External links

* Encyclopedia.com. /Loyalist Paramilitaries after 196
Loyalist Paramilitaries after 1965 , Encyclopedia.com
* Author's page at Irish Academic Pres
Crossing the Line: My Life on the Edge , Irish Academic Press
* Author's page with books and biography at Penguin Publishing, Londo
Martin Dillon
* Author's page at Thistle Publishing, Londo

* Martin Dillon author's pages at goodreads.com (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/256562.Martin_Dillon). * Martin Dillon official website (http://www.martindillon.net) * Martin Dillon official Twitter (https://twitter.com/LeRapt) * Inside Books, podcast interview featuring Martin Dillon and Woman’s Way editor and author Aine Toner
Inside Books Episode 7 Featuring Martin Dillon And Áine Toner
* "The Pat Kenny show", News talk FM radio, "Martin Dillon: My Life on the Edge", 25 September 201
Podcasts
* National Public Radio, Fresh Air, 20 May 1999
Journalist and author Martin Dillon is considered an expert on the conflict in Northern Ireland
* Penguin Publishing House, Martin Dillon's author pag
Martin Dillon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillon, Martin Journalists from Northern Ireland Living people Writers from Belfast 1949 births Male novelists from Northern Ireland 21st-century writers from Northern Ireland