Supergrass (informer)
Encyclopedia
Supergrass is a slang term for an informer
, which originated in London
. Informers had been referred to as "grasses" since the late-1930s, and the "super" prefix was coined by journalists in the early 1970s to describe those informers from the city's underworld
who testified against former associates
in a series of high-profile mass trials at the time. One of the first police informers to receive the 'supergrass' nickname was Bertie Smalls
.
, the term "supergrass" especially refers to arrested paramilitaries who divulged the identities of their compatriots to the Royal Ulster Constabulary
, possibly in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Sir John Hermon
did not deny reports that inducements were paid but denied figures as high as £50,000 were involved. The use of the term in Northern Ireland began with the arrest of Christopher Black in 1981. After securing assurances that he would have protection from prosecution, Black gave statements which led to 38 arrests. On 5 August 1983, 22 members of the Provisional IRA were sentenced to a total of more than 4,000 cumulative years in prison, based on Black's testimonies alone (eighteen of these convictions were overturned on appeal on 17 July 1986).
By the end of 1982, 25 more 'supergrasses' had surfaced contributing to the arrests of over six hundred people from paramilitary
organizations, such as the Provisional IRA, the Irish National Liberation Army
(INLA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
On 11 April 1983, members of the loyalist
Ulster Volunteer Force were jailed on the evidence of supergrass Joseph Bennett. These convictions were all overturned on 24 December 1984. In October 1983, seven people were convicted on the evidence provided by supergrass Kevin McGrady
although the trial judge Lord Chief Justice Robert Lowry had described McGrady's evidence as "bizarre, incredible and contradictory". The last supergrass trial finished on 18 December 1985, when 25 members of the INLA were jailed on the evidence of Harry Kirkpatrick
. 24 of these convictions were later overturned on 23 December 1986.
Many convictions based on supergrass testimony were later overturned, and the supergrass system was discontinued in 1985 until recently in 2011. The first supergrass trial in 26 years began on the 8th of September 2011 for the murder of UDA member Tommy English.
links testifying at the trials for seven British men conspiring to cause explosions between 1 January 2003 and 31 March 2004, and again on 2 July 2007 in an article in the Daily Mail
describing a search for informants in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
.
The term has also been used by The Royal Gazette, a daily newspaper in Bermuda, a British dependent territory. An article in the paper uses the term to describe a Transport Control Department worker convicted of selling driver's licenses to Portuguese applicants lacking the necessary English skills to pass the multiple choice exam. The worker was granted a conditional discharge in exchange for information on other Transport Control Department employees abusing the public trust.
One of the most prolific supergrasses in recent British history was Michael Michael
whose evidence in 2001 led to 32 criminals being convicted, including his own mother, and the disruption of a £132milllion drugs ring.
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
, which originated in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Informers had been referred to as "grasses" since the late-1930s, and the "super" prefix was coined by journalists in the early 1970s to describe those informers from the city's underworld
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
who testified against former associates
Turn state's evidence
To turn state's evidence is when an accused or convicted criminal testifies as a witness for the state against his associates or accomplices. Turning state's evidence is occasionally a result of a change of heart or feelings of guilt, but more often is done in response to a generous offer from the...
in a series of high-profile mass trials at the time. One of the first police informers to receive the 'supergrass' nickname was Bertie Smalls
Bertie Smalls
Derek Creighton "Bertie" Smalls is considered by many as Britain's first supergrass. Although there have been informers throughout history - the Kray twins were partly convicted two years before Smalls on evidence given by Leslie Payne - the Smalls case was significant for three reasons: the...
.
Usage in Northern Ireland
In Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the term "supergrass" especially refers to arrested paramilitaries who divulged the identities of their compatriots to the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, possibly in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Sir John Hermon
John Hermon
Sir John Hermon, OBE, QPM was the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1980-89.John Charles "Jack" Hermon, was born in Castletown, Islandmagee, County Antrim. He had a grammar school education and gave up an early career in accountancy to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1950...
did not deny reports that inducements were paid but denied figures as high as £50,000 were involved. The use of the term in Northern Ireland began with the arrest of Christopher Black in 1981. After securing assurances that he would have protection from prosecution, Black gave statements which led to 38 arrests. On 5 August 1983, 22 members of the Provisional IRA were sentenced to a total of more than 4,000 cumulative years in prison, based on Black's testimonies alone (eighteen of these convictions were overturned on appeal on 17 July 1986).
By the end of 1982, 25 more 'supergrasses' had surfaced contributing to the arrests of over six hundred people from paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organizations, such as the Provisional IRA, the Irish National Liberation Army
Irish National Liberation Army
The Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
(INLA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
On 11 April 1983, members of the loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
Ulster Volunteer Force were jailed on the evidence of supergrass Joseph Bennett. These convictions were all overturned on 24 December 1984. In October 1983, seven people were convicted on the evidence provided by supergrass Kevin McGrady
Kevin McGrady
Kevin McGrady is a former Provisional IRA member who became an informer in 1982 following his conversion to Born again Christianity...
although the trial judge Lord Chief Justice Robert Lowry had described McGrady's evidence as "bizarre, incredible and contradictory". The last supergrass trial finished on 18 December 1985, when 25 members of the INLA were jailed on the evidence of Harry Kirkpatrick
Harry Kirkpatrick
Henry 'Harry' Kirkpatrick is a former Irish National Liberation Army member turned informer against other members of the INLA. In February 1983 Kirkpatrick was arrested on multiple charges including the murder of two policemen, two UDR soldiers, and Hugh McGinn, a Catholic member of the...
. 24 of these convictions were later overturned on 23 December 1986.
Many convictions based on supergrass testimony were later overturned, and the supergrass system was discontinued in 1985 until recently in 2011. The first supergrass trial in 26 years began on the 8th of September 2011 for the murder of UDA member Tommy English.
Other usages
The term has been used more recently to describe an informant with al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
links testifying at the trials for seven British men conspiring to cause explosions between 1 January 2003 and 31 March 2004, and again on 2 July 2007 in an article in the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
describing a search for informants in the 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
2007 Glasgow International Airport attack
The 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack was a terrorist attack which occurred on Saturday 30 June 2007, at 15:11 BST, when a dark green Jeep Cherokee loaded with propane canisters was driven into the glass doors of the Glasgow International Airport terminal and set ablaze...
.
The term has also been used by The Royal Gazette, a daily newspaper in Bermuda, a British dependent territory. An article in the paper uses the term to describe a Transport Control Department worker convicted of selling driver's licenses to Portuguese applicants lacking the necessary English skills to pass the multiple choice exam. The worker was granted a conditional discharge in exchange for information on other Transport Control Department employees abusing the public trust.
One of the most prolific supergrasses in recent British history was Michael Michael
Michael Michael
Michael Michael was a British supergrass, or police informer, whose evidence led to 34 people being jailed for 170 years, and the dismantling of 26 different drug syndicates. He was born Constantine Michael Michael to Greek Cypriot parents in Birmingham on November 12, 1957...
whose evidence in 2001 led to 32 criminals being convicted, including his own mother, and the disruption of a £132milllion drugs ring.
Sources
- Supergrasses: The Use of Accomplice Evidence in Northern Ireland; Tony GiffordAnthony Maurice Gifford, 6th Baron GiffordAnthony Maurice Gifford, 6th Baron Gifford, QC is a British hereditary peer and senior barrister.He inherited the title of 6th Lord Gifford on the death of his father, the 5th Lord Gifford, in April 1961...
ISBN 0900137215 - The Crowned Harp: Policing Northern Ireland — by Graham Ellison and Jim Smyth (2000)
- Supergrass tells of terror fight — BBC News article
- Kevin Morrison Liverpool
- Kevin Morrison Police informant jailed for life Liverpool