SAS Veteran On Working Undercover With MI5 And The Det

Mick Hawkes, former 22 SAS, shares some of his experiences from working undercover with MI5 and in Northern Ireland with 14 Intelligence Company, otherwise known as 'The Det'.

[gregggreasley]

Undoubtedly a terrific asset to the regiment. I do salute you, "If that makes sense"

[kevinhitchmough]

Mick brilliant bloke very professional guy and treats everyone the same

[gingashednomad]

I think we can all agree this guy makes sense 😮

[charliebrown]

I am from Belfast, family on both "sides", grew up through the "troubles"; - some very bad times - I joined Royal Marines at 17.

[gregchapman]

Really interesting. I had mates in 14 Int nobody really understands just how dangerous the work was. The selection was extremely difficult and the job was incredibly important.

[thesaint]

As someone from Belfast, this is all fascinating.

Can't believe an SAS guy with an English accent just dandered about Republican areas and casually tapped on the door of a senior IRA leader.

[zookeeper]

Born and bred in Belfast 74, so I did the full tour through The Troubles. I love hearing English tell us how it was.
I could quote Batman, “I was born in it and didn’t know peace till 94”, but that would be lost on most here.

[eapc]

Most of my friends in the special forces wont speak about any operational tasks they have been in or will just keep it a secret so it doesnt put other operators at risk
When doing covert ops
But with the media wanting to learn more it should be kept a close door i feel
Good luck sir

[mohammadcheema]

That’s a new covert technique right there. Knock on the door with a clipboard and speak using your natural accent. Why make things harder than they need to be? Love it.

[GJ]

I remember “Rab “ . Such a great guy died a month out of the army on a motorbike.

[daveboon]

Many Tradesmen were in NI during that period. 😳

[gtd]

I served in the same unit and battery that Mick was originally part of.
Back in 1987, our BC (a Major and previously SAS) called us into the bar and said he had some good news.
He said, "well guys, you were going to be in Sardinia for 6 months but I've managed to pull some strings and we're off to Northern Ireland, instead".
Some of the lads were excited but I just though FFS!
NI was a bit of an eye opener, things were much more active than the news reports would suggest.
It's also one of the reasons I do not take anything that's reported in the MSM. at face value.
I had a bit of laugh, when Shankhill Road was mentioned in the video, because in my experience the loyalist areas were the most friendly, supportive, parts of Belfast that I served in.
In many of the Republican areas, the majority of people were actually very decent but you did elevate your awareness levels significantly.
What I found interesting was that we had books cataloguing the "known players" of the time. It seemed that any threat could easily have been removed, if the plan had been to remove it.
One of the biggest ironies, was back when I thought about joining the Army, I used to speak to an older Irish chap, quite regularly, about all and sundry and he suggested that joining up would be a great experience.
After I'd left the Army, he told me that he was part of the IRA.
Might be complete bullshit of course.

[Unity-vf]

The Det must have been desperate for volunteers in the 90's as they visited my RAF base to drum up some business! It seemed an insane role. Brave doesn't even come close to the expectations. I take my hat off to anybody who joined.

[thomasshepard]

My mates brother was with the det he was a Royal Marine 1976 from Glasgow he is dead now died from alcoholism

[elliottg.]

The sneaky beakies in N.I. were ordinary people doing extraordinary stuff. For young men and women in their twenties it was all very dangerous work. The general public has no idea, and from memory, they couldn't have cared less at the time.

[derektomlinson]

What I cant fathom is how many service people do not understand is who they really serve.

[taffdavies]

I drove Q cars in Derry and Belfast in the late 70's, hillman hunters and austin maxi where the big fast cars and mini's where liason or padre cars.

[shecksthesheckler]

As a scouser I was installing some cable and the locals just thought i popped over on the boat working, they were clueless that I was a squaddie, one even said watch out for the patrols they can be assholes lol, then when I was installing TV aerials in mill street even the squaddies thought i was a civvy

[williamgordon]

I was a guest in palace barracks nick for a weekend, (long story) while in I noticed another guest in a cell across from me was getting visits from guys in civvie suits, and seemed to be getting special treatment. I didnt have a clue till one of the RPs told me he was sas and had been nicked for supplying weapons to the loyalists. Whether that is true or not I dont know, maybe someone would know more about it. I just think myself that it would be a big thing and something would be in the news, but never saw or heard anything about it. Either it was kept well quiet or it was bull from the RP. who knows, but it kept me entertained for the weekend lol.

[NedLawrence]

I’m a 2434 from 74 - 98. I went to Ashford to the Int Centre in 92 for pre selection for 14 Int and Sy. 48 of us started the five day course; 8 finished, I was not one of them …..😂