Page 6, 3rd December 1993
Page 6
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The Volunteer: A former IRA Man's Story by Shane O'Doherty, Fount £4.99 N0 BETTER EXPLANATION of why ordinary people turn to terrorism has ever been written. O'Doherty's compelling story is a brilliant, first-hand account of how the boy next door became a bomber.
Born into a middle class, Catholic family in Derry, 0' Doherty traces his early involvement with the IRA with disarming honesty and humour (prepared to plant bombs to kill people, he was embarrassed about buying the condoms needed to make them).
At 21 he masterminded the 1973 IRA letter bomb campaign which left 12 people maimed or injured. He received 30 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 1976.
Most riveting, however, is the story of his disillusion with the romance of republicanism and his complete renunciation of violence.
O'Doherty apologised to those attacked by letter bombs and left the IRA. The British Government, for their part, released him from jail.
Unfortunately, O'Doherty's experience remains an exceptional one, but The Volunteer is an excellent study of civilian turned terrorist turned civilian.
BRIAN DOOLEY
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