God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism

In this astonishing and at times terrifying book, acclaimed writer and political commentator Martin Dillon examines for the first time the true role of religion in the conflict in Northern Ireland. He interviewed those directly involved--terrorists like Kenny McClinton and Billy Wright and churchmen like Father Pat Buckley--finding that the terrorists were more forthcoming than the priests and ministers. God and the Gunpresents the exclusive inside story of a national tragedy. Martin Dillon probes historic religious conditioning and bigotry, widespread political violence, controversial prison conversion and the shocking personal reflections of terrorists and clergy. These accounts help to explain the role of religion in the conflict--particularly the trauma faced by priests who come into close contact with terrorists--and how the word of God has been damaged in the process. Dillon charts the history of the paramilitary forces on both sides and exposes the shocking covert role of Britishintelligence. He finds that, ultimately, both the church and government have failed their communities, allowing men and women of violence to fill a vacuum with bigotry and violence.

Martin Dillon worked for the BBC in Northern Ireland for eighteen years and has won international acclaim for his nonfiction books about Ireland, including The Shankill Butchers and The Dirty War. Dillon has also been featured in news segments on CNN, ABC News, CBC and National Public Radio, and is often called on as one of the foremost authorities on global terrorism.