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Sunday World
30-04-2025
- Sunday World
Inside mansion where British Army's most controversial unit recruited loyalists in Murder Triangle
One of the most prolific killers of the entire Troubles – UDR soldier Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson – regularly met his intelligence bosses here This dilapidated mansion was once the secret HQ of one of the British army's most controversial uncover units during the Troubles, the Sunday World can reveal. The 21-bedroomed Castle Dillon was commandeered by the army and part of it converted into a base for the secretive 4 Field Survey Troop of the Royal Engineers, believed to be a cover name for the SAS. Sources said IRA victim Captain Robert Nairac was a frequent visitor there. And we have learned that one of the most prolific killers of the entire Troubles – UDR soldier Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson – regularly met his intelligence bosses here. Reporter Hugh Jordon stands at the entrance of the secretive Castledillon army base outside Armagh City. It is from here that the SAS and other intelligence units during the Troubles operated from. Castle Dillon is the former family home of the Molyneux family who built it at the height of the potato famine in 1845. The imposing property stands on fertile farm land overlooking a picturesque lake, just four miles from Armagh city centre. Abandoned in the 1990s, it went up for auction for £210,000 in 2012 but there were no buyers. It's understood it remains for sale today. The 4 Field Survey Troop of the Royal Engineers were a highly trained undercover unit which specialised in running agents inside loyalist paramilitary groups. And according to files seen in the National Archive at Kew in London, its military off-shoot – the Special Reconnaissance Unit – is alleged to have had foreknowledge of loyalist killings and it is even suspected of having planned some of them. Inside the secretive Castledillon army base outside Armagh City. This week the Sunday World visited Castle Dillon to retrace the ghostly footsteps of the most active loyalist killer of his generation. Jackson died of lung cancer aged 49 in his home at Donacloney, near Lurgan, on May 30 1998 aged 49. But although he hadn't been on this earth for half a century, he was personally responsible for as many as 50 terrorist murders. As 'Brigadier/Commander' of the Mid-Ulster Brigade of the Ulster Volunteer Force, Jackson had been involved in some of the worst loyalist atrocities of the Troubles. But the most shocking aspect of Jackson's time as a purveyor of terror was that he was an agent of the British state who never faced a murder charge. The secretive Castledillon army base outside Armagh City. It is from here that the SAS and other intelligence units during the Troubles operated from. Jackson was directly implicated in the 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombings, when 33 people died, and the 1975 Miami Showband Massacre, in which three members of the band lost their lives along with two UVF terrorists. The horrific incident took place at Buskhill, off the main road south. Jackson's fingerprints were found on the silencer on a pistol used in the attack, but he never faced charges. And operating in conjunction with fellow UVF gunmen, brothers John and Wesley Sommerville, Jackson was the driving force behind many more killings in what became known as the 'Murder Triangle'. Robin 'the Jackal' Jackson was a loyalist serial killer and UDR soldier. Two weeks ago, loyalists in Moygashel, Co. Tyrone, honoured Wesley Sommerville, who died in the Miami attack 50 years ago. Jackson's back was also badly burned in the same incident when a bomb Sommerville was placing in the band's minibus detonated prematurely. But this week, we retraced Jackson's steps, imagining the grandeur he enjoyed during his many visits to the mansion to meet his military masters. By all accounts, the loyalist 'Brigadier' was treated like royalty at Castle Dillon during briefing visits. And apparently his British army hosts looked forward to his arrival. British spooks were well aware Jackson enjoyed drinking, and they always made sure the best of wines and brandies were on offer anytime he called. A British army source told us: 'Robin Jackson enjoyed drinking. In fact, he only took a drink when he felt really comfortable. And it's the only time his guard came down. It was after lengthy dinners cooked by top army chefs when the serious drinking was done. 'And Jackson never missed an opportunity to seek assurances regarding his status in the event of the RUC attempting to bring a prosecution against him. 'Jackson always got the same answer. He was told he was protected. It was as simple as that,' our source added. He added: 'The Jackal was a prized possession.' These days though, the grandeur Jackson enjoyed at Castle Dillon is long gone. Although expensive carpets still cover the floors of the main rooms and corridors, at least two of the floors are in serious danger of collapse. The smart stable block where 'The Jackal' talked murder with his British army bosses is unrecognisable. All maps and military paraphernalia had been removed, leaving only bare walls. It is from here that the SAS and other intelligence units during the Troubles operated from. The only visible sign that Castle Dillon was once the hub of British Military Intelligence during its war with the IRA is the torn and tattered Union flag lying on the grass area between the stables and the main house. Brought up at Donaghmore, near Newry in 1948, Jackson developed an anti-Catholic hostility from an early age. After his plan to emigrate to Australia with his fiancée was turned down, the couple moved to the Mourneview estate off the Tandragee Road in Lurgan, where they began a family. And it was in Mourneview he first made contact with members of the mid-Ulster UVF. Robin 'the Jackal' Jackson was a loyalist serial killer and UDR soldier who was based in the secretive Castledillon base outside Armagh City. It is from here that the SAS and other intelligence units during the Troubles operated from. In order to acquire professional military training, Jackson joined the locally recruited Ulster Defence Regiment as a part-time soldier. Around the same time, he also joined the UVF. And soon – while still a serving British soldier – he took part in an armed UVF raid to steal weapons from a UDR/Territorial Army base. But Jackson also began making regular trips to the stable yard at Castle Dillon, where he met with army personnel who gave him additional military training as well as supplying him a list of targets. Observers now believe that it was in Castle Dillon that a plot was hatched to remove Jackson's UVF predecessor Billy Hanna. A decorated veteran of the Korean War, Hanna was in the pay of the RUC Special Branch. And suspecting he was about to hand over the blueprint for the Miami Showband attack, Jackson shot Hanna dead outside his home on 27 July 1975. The secretive Castledillon army base outside Armagh City. It is from here that the SAS and other intelligence units during the Troubles operated from. On October 28 1973, Jackson carried out his first murder when he claimed the life of Patrick Campbell in a shocking doorstep killing at the victim's family home in Banbridge. A trade unionist who had worked alongside Jackson in the Lotus Shoes factory in the Co Down town, Mr Campbell was the softest of targets. It was later claimed Jackson and Campbell had disagreed over loyalist industrial relations tactics during a discussion at a works social function. On the evening of Mr Campbell's murder, Jackson was due to go out on patrol as a UDR soldier. Despite being around an hour late, he gave a plausible excuse and carried on with his duties. Castle UDR soldiers who served with him say that although Jackson appeared flustered, there was nothing to suggest he had just committed murder. In his book, the SAS in Ireland, Fr Raymond Murray maintained that Jackson's accomplice on the murder mission was UVF man Wesley Sommerville. On March 4 1974, Jackson was resigned from the UDR. He then changed jobs and he soon found working as a self-employed delivery man afforded him more freedom to concentrate on UVF terrorism. And just 13 days after leaving the UDR, he used his lorry to transport UVF bombs to Dublin and Monaghan. It total 33 people lost their lives and more than 300 were injured. Jackson's activities were first exposed by former Sunday World northern editor Jim Campbell, who gave him codename 'The Jackal'. Anxious to put an end to the journalist's exposés, Jackson persuaded the UVF in Belfast to take action against the reporter. In May 1984, Mr Campbell was shot several times on the doorstep of his north Belfast home and narrowly escaped death. The secrets of Castle Dillon and how British intelligence chiefs there ensured Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson was free to roam the countryside for decades – bringing terror to the Catholic community – looks set to remain buried among its decaying carcass.
Irish Independent
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wexford bingo marks half a century – ‘Over the years, it's given me back more than I've ever put into it'
In Ireland it was the year of the Miami Showband Massacre. Eamon De Valera passed away. George Best lined out for a league of Ireland game for Cork Celtic against Drogheda and the likes of The Bay City Rollers were taking over the charts. It was also the year that the Clonard bingo was established. Five decades later, Frankie Thomas, one of the original committee members, turns the key in the lock at the community centre and gets things ready to call the numbers once again – this time marking the major milestone. 'It's just been lovely to be involved in it over the years,' he smiles. 'I would say that I've gotten back more from it than I ever put in.' It was back in 1972 the idea of the bingo first came up. With funds required to build a church in Clonard, it was decided that running a bingo could be a great way of bringing in funds. Frankie and a few others were dispatched to observe the successful bingo at the Dun Mhuire and get some advice. Little did they know that the Clonard bingo would not only outlast the one in Dun Mhuire, but it would outlast the parish hall building itself! In the early days, Frankie found himself in charge of handing out the prize money to lucky winners, while Joe Brennan and Martin Shannon did the calling and kept the large crowds entertained. Also involved since day one is Dave Ormonde, who was chairman of the first committee. "It's been a real team effort,' Frankie says. 'Over the years some great people have been involved. I count myself really lucky to have been part of it.' Nowadays, the operation is run by Frankie and Carol Goodison and they along with Denny Farrell do the calling. There's a whole team that helps in various ways, however. From Geraldine Mahoney and her team in the box office to Sophie Hendrick and Tess Duggan in the shop and Margaret Brennan in the kitchen. The committee are also grateful to those who look after the hall and are so accommodating, as well as Karen the Parish Secretary. While the numbers being called and books being marked are still the same, the age profile of those in attendance is steadily going up. The love of bingo hasn't quite caught on with new generations as it did with those who packed out parish halls across the 70s, 80s and 90s. ADVERTISEMENT "We could do with some fresh blood coming into it alright,' Frankie concedes. 'But we do have very loyal supporters who come every Wednesday. Some of them have been coming for the full 50 years. It's a great social night out and it gives a great opportunity for people to get together. It's a real community.' As well as raising money to build two churches, the Clonard bingo community also managed to raise €10,000 for the oncology unit at Wexford General Hospital in the past. "The only break we had in the whole 50 years was when Covid hit,' Frankie says. 'That was a tough time for everyone. Obviously, everything closed down. Then we were able to do it out in the car park before getting back properly. Some people were a bit worried about coming back at that stage, but thankfully we're back in full flow again now. As he gets the machine going, microphone in hand, Frankie is extremely proud of the legacy of the Clonard bingo, and hopeful that there are a few more years left in it yet. "I count myself very luck to be here,' he smiles.
