Description
My previous research using Omand and Phythian’s Just Intelligence framework found that intelligence activities during the conflict in Northern Ireland were occasionally unethical. Whilst it emerged that most intelligence activities conduced were predominantly ethical, the unethical activities had major impact on the conflict and the state’s legitimacy. But why was intelligence occasionally unethical? Was it that there were simply ‘bad apples’ within the intelligence communities? Or was it more complex? Were there more institutional and structural reasons why intelligence during these two conflicts were unethical? This paper argues that there were common themes regarding why unethical intelligence sometimes occurs: different visions within the state of what success entailed; lack of communication of aims by government; lack of guidelines; lack of cooperation. Some of these lessons were learnt during the conflict, with most of its unethical activities occurring in the initial years of the Troubles. However, not all lessons were learnt. Knowing why some intelligence activities were unethical is important because Northern Ireland is used internationally as a case study regarding how to tackle terrorism and initiate peace processes. With the UK acting as one of the global leaders in teaching other states intelligence techniques, it is imperative that these intelligence techniques are indeed ethical.
