• 2019
Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History

Summary Northern Ireland's descent into late 1960s violence, the British Government's response, the rise of the Provisional IRA, alleged security force-loyalist paramilitary collusion, and the arduous journey to peace after almost 3,000 deaths. View more details

  • 2019

Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History

Directed : Unknown

Written : Unknown

Stars : Darragh MacIntyre Jennifer O'Leary Mandy McAuley John Chilcot

All cast & crew

8.6

Details

Genres : Documentary

Release date : Sep 9, 2019

Countries of origin : United Kingdom

Official sites : tv programme

Language : English

Production companies : BBC TV

Summary Northern Ireland's descent into late 1960s violence, the British Government's response, the rise of the Provisional IRA, alleged security force-loyalist paramilitary collusion, and the arduous journey to peace after almost 3,000 deaths. View more details

Details

Genres : Documentary

Release date : Sep 9, 2019

Countries of origin : United Kingdom

Official sites : tv programme

Language : English

Production companies : BBC TV

Photos

Ian Paisley and Darragh MacIntyre in Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History (2019) Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History (2019)

Episodes

View All Seasons
Episode 1 • Sep 09, 2019
Episode 1
The Spotlight team traces how, in the 1960s, suspicion led to unrest between unionists and nationalists, undermining Northern Ireland's government. The arrival of the British Army in August 1969 brought a break in the conflict, and the soldiers were greeted as protectors by many nationalists. That relationship was spoiled by fatal errors and calculated acts of violence. New information about Martin McGuinness's role at that time is brought to light. Ending with the breaking up of the Northern Ireland government, when IRA members believed they were about to force the British Army out of Northern Ireland.
Episode 2 • Sep 16, 2019
Episode 2
The IRA anticipated that 1972 would be their 'year of victory', only to be countered by a massive British military response in the midst of what became the bloodiest period of the conflict.
Episode 3 • Sep 23, 2019
Episode 3
When Margaret Thatcher entered Downing Street in 1979, she was confronted by an IRA prepared to conduct a long war of attrition against Britain.
Episode 4 • Sep 30, 2019
Episode 4
At the end of the Seventies, the IRA built its own internal security system to root out informers. But British intelligence found a fatal flaw that unlocked many of the IRA's secrets.
Episode 5 • Oct 07, 2019
Episode #1.5
Traces how unionist anger grew as IRA attacks on the security forces killed members of their community. When Margaret Thatcher signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, giving the Republic of Ireland political influence in the North, the anger spilled over into talk of insurrection. The programme reveals how loyalist groups rearmed and used intelligence leaks from soldiers and police to boost their campaign of killing, including new information about MI5 agents operating inside the largest loyalist group, the Ulster Defence Association.
Episode 6 • Oct 14, 2019
Episode #1.6
Loyalists killed more people than the IRA in the closing years of the Troubles. Through an insider in one of the most notorious killer gangs, Mandy McAuley discovers that not only was the Ulster Volunteer Force carrying out more attacks, it was also deliberately targeting families of Irish republicans. Revelations about the murders of two young brothers lead to calls for the investigation into the killings to be reopened.
Episode 7 • Oct 21, 2019
Episode 7
How the UK government policy changed, from seeking to destroy the IRA to bringing it to peace. And how secret talks, doublespeak and smart tactical maneuvering ensured that Gerry Adams was able to persuade the IRA to go with the deal. In this final episode of the series, reporter Darragh MacIntyre hears the inside story of the peace process from within the IRA and the British government. He discovers new information about the internal battle for control of the IRA during the most delicate days of the peace process and learns about the scale of secrecy that still surrounds the conflict.
Comments
Welcome to juqing comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Login to display more comments

This week's popular movies

Beautiful Things

6.8
Generally favorable

Michael and Helga

4
Mixed or average

Speed & Angels

7.7
Generally favorable

States of Grace

8.9
Generally favorable

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

0
No rating

The Gardener

6
Generally favorable

Last Days of Jesus

6.5
Generally favorable

The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story

6.5
Generally favorable

The Prince Story: Icon, Genius... Slave

7.6
Generally favorable

The Dark Ages

7.1
Generally favorable

This week's popular TV shows

In Search of Adventure

0
No rating

Firma list en bedrog

0
No rating

Exploring Science

0
No rating

Akolouthontas ti grammi paragogis

0
No rating

Communicate!

0
No rating

Cross-Roads

0
No rating

Search for the World's Most Secret Animals

0
No rating

Docu-This

0
No rating

Cris Pelo Mundo Descobrindo a Suíça

0
No rating

Ook Zoiets

0
No rating

Edit Focus

This Is L.A.P.D.

This Is L.A.P.D.

hosting "This is LAPD", a police show showing the inner workings of the LAPD's activities for the citizens of the City of L.A. The television show "This is LAPD", was a program informing the public of the various inter-workings of the LAPD; and received numerous letters of commendations from the citizens and high ratings from his supervisors,

  • TV Shows
Imagining BioShock

Imagining BioShock

  • TV Shows
That's Family Life

That's Family Life

  • TV Shows
I Love Audrey

I Love Audrey

  • TV Shows
Døve mennesker før oss

Døve mennesker før oss

  • TV Shows
Tidsandan

Tidsandan

The Zeitgeist was a six-part series dealing with philosophical issues like childhood, good and evil, maturity, civil courage and much more.

  • TV Shows
All Filters