Bobby Storey – IRA ‘brain surgeon’ and alleged Northern Bank plotter – was ‘vital to peace process’ says SF

Dead alleged IRA chief Bobby Storey, a veteran paramilitary who became a pivotal figure within Sinn Fein, had a “vital role” in cementing peace process, according to a party comrade.
By Adam Kula
Published 21st Jun 2020, 18:31 BST
Updated 7th Jul 2020, 21:31 BST
Bobby Storey was jailed for 18 years for paramilitary offences during the TroublesBobby Storey was jailed for 18 years for paramilitary offences during the Troubles
Bobby Storey was jailed for 18 years for paramilitary offences during the Troubles

Sinn Fein heaped praise upon the former prisoner whose death was announced today, with regional party leader Michelle O’Neill saying that he played “a vital role in developing the peace and political process”.

He was aged in his mid 60s and had been unwell.

An Phoblacht said in 2008 he had become chairman of Belfast Sinn Fein.

Bobby Storey (centre) pictured with Michelle O’Neill and Gerry Adams in 2018Bobby Storey (centre) pictured with Michelle O’Neill and Gerry Adams in 2018
Bobby Storey (centre) pictured with Michelle O’Neill and Gerry Adams in 2018
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It quotes him as saying he joined “the republican movement” at age 16, and was interned the following year.

It also quotes him saying that numerous efforts were made to convict him of various paramilitary acts (carrying out a shooting, aiding a jail break) but it was not until he was caught with a rifle in 1981 that he was convicted – drawing an 18-year sentence.

Following his release he was charged in 1996 with having information about the Lord Chief Justice. He was also arrested (and released without charge) over the killing of Kevin McGuigan in 2015.

Journalist Malachi O’Doherty once recounted that Storey’s nickname among police was “brain surgeon”.

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“Normally this would be a way of saying he was stupid – he is not stupid,” Mr O’Doherty wrote in 1998.

He went on to suggest the ceasefire was “dependent on people like Brain Surgeon” – and wondered if Northern Ireland itself would become “dependent on the disciplinary machinery within paramilitary groups themselves for public order”.

Fellow journalist Brian Rowan wrote in 1995: “It was also suggested to me that in the run-up to the ceasefire a ‘team’ under the control of the former republican prisoner Bobby Storey was established to deal with dissent and to ensure that fringe groups like the INLA and Republican Sinn Fein... did nothing to jeopardise the ‘peace process’.”

Mary Lou MacDonald said: “Bobby was extremely committed to the pursuit of a United Ireland with equality and social justice for all. He will be greatly missed.“

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In 2005 UUP MP David Burnside, using Parliamentary privilege (meaning he could not be sued) told the House of Commons that Storey was “head of intelligence, reporting to the army council”.

He added that the Secretary of State “knows who carried out the Northern bank robbery – it was the Provisional IRA, it was Bobby Storey”.

An Phoblacht said “no evidence exists” to support the claim he aided in the bank robbery.

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