Martin 'Marty' McGartland (AKA Agent Carol) was born in Belfast on 30th January 1970. He grew up on the Ballymurphy estate. Over the years he witnessed the dreadful violence and intimidation used by the IRA towards their own people and community. Most of the people in the local community lived in fear from the IRA bully-boys. Martin took a stand against the IRA from a very young age.
In 1987, at 17 years of age, Martin was recruted by the Security Services.
In 1989, age 19, he was persuaded by the Security Services to infiltrate the IRA in Belfast.
For more than four years, Martin McGartland lived the astonishing life of a secret agent. To the IRA, he was a trusted Intelligence Office and an integral member of an active service unit. To the British Government however, he was known only as Agent Carol. Martin McGartland is credited by British Intelligence with saving the lives of at least 50 people. Every time he tipped off the authorities, he risked detection and yet, heroically and fearlessly, he continued to pass on life-saving information. Finally, his cover was blown. Martin was taken from Sinn Fein headquarters in Belfast to an IRA safehouse for questioning and almost certain execution. Though guarded by 3 armed terrorist, in a desperate bid for freedom, he dived head first from a third floor window.
In June 1999 the IRA shot Martin 6 times outside his safehouse in the North of England. However, the IRA gunman got more than he bargained for - once again Martin McGartland showed incredible courage by hurling himself at the terrorist even as the 9mm bullets were smashing into his body. The IRA terrorist panicked and fled. The IRA had only tracked Martin down after Northumbria Police and the CPS had read out Martin's name and home address in open court. To this day - Northumbria Police, MI5 and the British State continue to cover up IRA involvement in Martin's attempted murder and also his 1991 kidnapping.
McGartland - whose first best-selling book, Fifty Dead Men Walking, tells the remarkable true story of how he infiltrated the IRA and saved more than 50 people from certain death. Martin is accepted by many to be one of MI5's best spies in Northern Ireland during the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Martin's second Book, Dead Man Running, is also available on Amazon. It tells the true story of a secret agent's escape from the IRA and MI5. Read more om Martin's website; www.martinmcgartland.co.uk - catch up with Martin on Facebook.
There has also been a Film (Fifty Dead Men Walking), however, Martin disowned it - he refused to be involved with the making of the film. "The film is as near to the truth as earth is to pluto. It is 99% fiction. It is IRA, terrorist propaganda film. It was even made with the help of the IRA members." Says Martin; http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article5982263.ece
Fifty Dead Men Walking Song -Trailer and Video, Jim Sturgess Playing Martin McGartland (Well Sort Of, The Film Is Fiction, Book is True Life Story); - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hwGvPgzqlY&feature=share
