The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder. Martin Dillon

This is a deeply distressing book that succeeds in taking the reader into the heart of this particular horror. This was but one of many terrible outrages in Northern Ireland and is at times difficult to read, such is the author's ability to draw you in to the fear and atmosphere of the time. Reading the book left me with a feeling of utter sadness and despair which took a few days to lift. Very powerful writing with little light at the end of the tunnel. Dillon is the preeminent writer on 'The Troubles' and his 'Dirty War' is one I would also highly recommend. It's no exaggeration to say that he has helped me to clarify many of my thoughts on the subject. Growing up in Ireland during the storm of the Northern Ireland problem, it was difficult to find objective writings; consequently and regrettably it was common to be indoctrinated in tribal rhetoric. Writers like Dillon have given much to create a clearer understanding of what happened and who was responsible. Highly recommended but not for the faint-hearted.

I enjoyed this book immensely. That out of the way, this book is very well written on a very interesting topic (gruesome, but still interesting.) The author clearly distinguishes between recorded facts and conclusions drawn. The evidences backing his conclusions are thorough and well researched. The author also gives only a cursory background into the "political" strife and tribulations of the area and the time. This helps one gain insight on the claimed reasons for the actions recorded in this book. Just enough info, not an overload of who did snubbed who in 1253 A.D. (I know, I know, this is just an exageration). Not politically or religiously driven, but focusing of the topic named on the cover, this book is an excellent read. The only problem is that you come away knowing what one human will do to another...

Martin Dillon deserves great credit for writing this informative account of Lenny Murphy and his band of murdering thugs. It details the rise of Murphy as a school bully who`d rob classmates at knifepoint , how the Irish " Troubles " led to Murphy forming The Shankhill Butchers , the atrocities they commited , and The Butchers eventual downfall . There is nothing to admire about secterian murder in Northern Ireland and reading this book it becomes quite clear that- Unlike consuming large amounts of alcohol- politics and religion did NOT play a big part in The Butchers lives , it was only an excuse to torture , mutilate and murder people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Courage also had no place in The Butchers lives , wait till you read about hardman William Moore trying to blame his accomplances for the murders.My only complaint is that my edition is from 1990 and I`ve no idea if the author is planning to do a revised book. THE SHANKHILL BUTCHERS` possibly needs to be updated : Can the likes of Mr A , Mr B , etc now be named ? What happened to the likes of Moore after their release under the Good Friday agreement ? How are The Butchers regarded by people in Belfast nowadays ? As a footnote Robert " Basher " Bates was executed by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in the Summer of 1997

This is one of those books which one finds hard to put down, but on the other hand many time has to stop and take a deep breath, during the reading!! It is written well with a great understanding of the issues in Belfast and The North. After one is finished it leaves a memory which is hard to erase. This is a must read for anyone on either side who is interested in the Irish/Ulster question.

Based on obviously painstaking research, Martin Dillon's book is an incisive study of the psychopathology of political murder. The brutality of Lenny Murphy's savage murder campaign is placed squarely in the context of strife-torn Belfast. Each incident is described and examined in excruciating gory detail, and it is not for the squeamish, but Dillon never fails to draw a link between the attacks and the conditions that permitted them to continue. A stunning book.