Big Boys' Rules
The SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA
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Big Boys' Rules
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Narrated by:
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Mark Urban
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By:
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Mark Urban
About this listen
In 2007, after almost 40 years of operations, the SAS ceased operations in Northern Ireland and ended the longest operational commitment in the unit's history. It had been a brutal and ruthless conflict on both sides with the SAS famously describing its attitude to the use of lethal force as 'Big Boys' Rules'. Anyone suspect caught with a gun or bomb could expect to be shot without question.
Starting in 1969, Mark Urban reveals the extraordinary history of the special forces' operations in Northern Ireland and the unenviable dilemmas faced by intelligence chiefs engaged in a daily struggle against one of the world's most sophisticated terrorist organisations.
'This is a book that needed to be written and which fulfils the essentials of any Ulster story; it expands understanding beyond fragmented jingoism and newspaper headlines.' Sunday Times
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What listeners say about Big Boys' Rules
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazonjuan Customer
- 28-01-25
Clarity and content of book
Narration was excellent book was great well researched and very well written. Although not a lot of detail about early three years of troubles still very enjoyable
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 27-03-25
Stolid and old hat
Urban is a much better TV journalist than he is a writer. This is a a dry and factual account which gets bogged down with the detail of the hierarchy of the intelligence services. While it may be accurate it lacks in analysis of the broader context. And one gets the impression that he shoehorned the SAS into title just to drum up interest.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- shane vearer
- 03-03-25
the sas, we're 2 soft on then
the story was very good, but even sas said they were 2 soft on then
but a good little read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 23-02-25
Detailed account of the Troubles in NI
Mark's books are very detailed and has trusted sources, this book goes into the detail of the struggles on both sides of the divide in including the lack of collaboration between the Security Forces.
Highly recommended!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mike
- 23-02-25
Worth listening to
I was hoping to gain a better understanding of the Army and IRA in NI . I certainly feel educated but . the press , judiciary , RUC , intelligence , informers , politicians , police , SAS , shoot to kill, rules of engagement make it so complex . The fact that terrorists were treated as criminals when they were in fact enemy soldiers fighting a gorilla war and 1000 + members of the security services were killed is very revealing .
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- mark
- 31-03-25
Nothing
The story is boring and mundane and lacks interest just seems like a list of facts
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