God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism [Paperback]

Martin Dillon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415923638 | ISBN-13: 978-0415923637 | Publication Date: June 1999 | Edition: 1st

In this astonishing and at times terrifying book, acclaimed writer and political commentator Martin Dillon examines for the first time the true role of religion in the conflict in Northern Ireland. He interviewed those directly involved--terrorists like Kenny McClinton and Billy Wright and churchmen like Father Pat Buckley--finding that the terrorists were more forthcoming than the priests and ministers. Dillon charts the history of the paramilitary forces on both sides and exposes the shocking covert role of British intelligence. He finds that, ultimately, both the church and government have failed their communities, allowing men and women of violence to fill a vacuum with bigotry and violence.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Journalist Dillon covered Northern Ireland for the BBC for 18 years and published a trilogy in Ireland on "The Troubles," now being released in this country in paperback (God and the Gun; The Shankill Butchers; The Dirty War, Routledge, 1999). In God and the Gun, Dillon interviewed Protestant and Catholic terrorists to discern whether this is a religious war or one of economics and class. Aside from IRA "sources," Dillon interviewed the late Billy Wright, a.k.a. "King Rat," a notorious Protestant assassin killed by the IRA in prison in 1997. He also talked with Protestant terrorist Kenny McClinton and Father Pat Buckley, who admitted breaking the seal of the confessional to save lives on both sides. Some of Dillon's subjects answer directly, others quaver. There are many passages that make the book poignant and ironic as Dillon concludes that what should have been a civil rights struggle was manipulated into a religious war. He bogs down a bit at the end, reciting history to put his story in context, but this is still essential for all Irish history collections.ARobert C. Moore, Raytheon Electronic Sys., Sudbury, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

...facinating....
–Baltimore Sun

...several good books within its covers.
–USA Today

...likely to become the reference work on the subject.
–Washington Times

An important work, containing interviews and material as disturbing as they are significant.
–The Irish Times

Martin Dillon is the greatest living authority on Irish terrorism.
–Conor Cruise O'Brien

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1st edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415923638
• ISBN-13: 978-0415923637
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Infinite Loop, September 1, 2000

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism (Hardcover)

Mr. Martin Dillon brings the history of the Irish "Troubles" as close as he can without the reader actually participating with him in his interviews. The interviews he shares, together with the balanced personal perspective he offers, presents the reader with one of the clearer explanations of the conflict, the participants, and their motives, that I have read. This book is of manageable length, for more detailed documentation of the various political groups and their leaders; Mr. Dillon's friend Mr. Timothy Patrick Coogan is the definitive reference.

The most unusual aspect of the book were interviews he conducted with Catholic Priests, and the role they are at times forced, at gunpoint, under threat of death, to perform. There will be a knock at the door; they will then be taken to a victim who has usually been brutalized, and then given a few minutes to hear the man's final words prior to his being executed. Add to this that there are times the victims are members of the Priest's Church, and you have both a personal and an ecclesiastical torture for these Priests. Ministers of the Protestant Faith, who attempt to bring sanity to these conflicts, are relocated out of Ireland to stop their interference and protect their safety.

On the other end of the spectrum there are clergy on both sides whose conduct disqualifies them from their roles as representatives of the Church, and places them in the same column as the terrorists they support/protect.

When the results of violence are shown in the news, the tendency is often to dehumanize the individuals who perpetrate such violence. Mr. Dillon shows that on either side of the conflict there are those that are truly depraved, they are killers, and lovers of violence that would conduct themselves as they do despite their location.

He also interviews men and woman who are extremely articulate, who know exactly what they do and why. They do not just spout partisan rhetoric. It was through these interviews I gained a better understanding of the motivation of some of the people involved. The problems that face Ireland are much more complex than the news commentators would have you believe. The conflict is not just about religion, despite the slogan of "For God And Ulster". And there are not 2 groups that oppose one another, but factions within factions, often at odds with those who would appear to be on the same side. There are even groups assembled entirely of women, that I had never read of before.

One book cannot explain the incredibly complex issues that catalyze and nurture the violence in Ireland. Mr. Dillon does do are remarkably good job in a relatively brief book that gives the reader a good grounding in the issues, the combatants and their complaints. I came away from this book understanding that if nothing else, the conflict is infinitely more complex than usually portrayed, and that there are many groups portrayed as fighting on the same side, when in fact they have as much affection for one another as they do for their alleged common enemy.

The military forces are not exempt for behavior that is appalling to any true military unit's functioning, and the complicity of those that sanction their behavior is repulsive as well. The book will not answer every question you may have; it will give you a great deal of information that may lead you to further study of the topic.

A very well written investigative book, by a man who literally put his life at risk to bring this work, and others he has done to readers.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, balanced and gritty., September 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism (Hardcover)

As a television correspondent traveling to Northern Ireland just before marching season, I covered several references. I used "God and the Gun" as the primary source for my trip. Only someone as thorough a journalist as Martin Dillon could direct readers into one of the world's most lasting, if not bizarre, geopolitical campaigns of terror draped in religion. It's in straightforward, sometimes blunt language that stirs up your stomach. Because of the real fear and disturbing acts of premeditated violence on the Emerald Isle, "God and the Gun" is similar to a nightly national newscast in the U.S., except there are no pictures for the horrifying words from the interviews and accounts contained within. Much like Thomas L. Friedman's "From Beirut to Jerusalem," Martin Dillon connects historical occurrences to recent outbreaks of destruction, thuggery and wanton killings. For the casual observer, reporter or person of faith who wants a significant study of flashpoints for trouble, "God and the Gun" is a work to read. It has stories from an author who has lived amidst the day-to-day tensions for 18 years. His words will leave you wanting to tell someome else what you discovered about The Troubles. "God and the Gun" takes you where no movie has on the subject of Northern Ireland -- into the minds, hearts and deeds of clergy and lay people. This is what the Irish have known for centuries: religion and politics are a volatile combination.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb! Must buy immediately, June 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism (Hardcover)

The best book published recently on the Irish conflict. It provides not only a profound insight of the Irish political situation interwoven with religion and terrorism but is also highly readable.