Kenneth Littlejohn
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Littlejohn born c. 1941, from Birmingham, where he attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Aston
, is a convicted armed robber and gaol-breaker who claimed to be an MI6/Official IRA
double Agent. The Littlejohn affair concerned allegations of British espionage
in the Republic of Ireland
during the Troubles
.
In 1970 the Midland Motor Cylinder Company in Smethwick
, Birmingham
was robbed of £38,000. The wages clerk, Brian Perks, claimed to have been overpowered by an Indian man who then took the money. Perks was Littlejohn's brother-in-law and the police suspected a staged incident involving the two men.
Littlejohn claims he went on the run, first to London
, where he made contact with a police officer who showed him his arrest warrant and advised him to move to Dublin. In December 1970, in Dublin, he set up a company, Whizz Kids (Ireland) Ltd. He moved to Cahersiveen seeking a potential development site for a factory. As a flash potential investor who bought drinks for all in the local pubs, he became well known and popular in the area. In Kerry
Littlejohn claimed he was shown a Kalashnikov
supposedly smuggled in by Russian sailors. Littlejohn turned down several potential development sites and left unpaid debts when he returned to Dublin.
and was known to Lady Onslow through the organisation. Lady Onslow was made aware of information in Kenneth’s possession and contacted her friend, Lord Carrington. On 22 November 1971 a meeting was arranged at Onslow’s London flat between Kenneth and British minister Geoffrey Johnson Smith
. It was at this time that the official Wanted status in respect of the Smethwick robbery was downgraded to Desired to Interview.
The Littlejohn brothers moved to the Rostrevor
estate near Newry
in early 1972 and began frequenting pubs in Newry and across the border in Dundalk
where they moved in Republican circles. The Official IRA would later state that, although the brothers were known to them, they were never members. The Times
claimed that, in fact, they did join the Officials but were dismissed in August 1972 when suspected of robberies in Newry for their own personal gain.
On 18 September 1972, Edmund Woolsey, 32, was killed by booby trap attached to his car. Two of his friends were injured. The car had been stolen a week earlier. The police informed Woolsey that the car had been found abandoned
at Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen
, County Armagh
. The bomb exploded as they went to retrieve their vehicle. While not a member of the Officials, Woolsey was known to the Littlejohns and socialised in similar circles. The Official IRA decided that Woolsey had been lured to his death by the army who had set up the booby trap based on information supplied by the Littlejohns.
branch in Grafton Street, Dublin was robbed of £67,000; at the time the largest haul in Ireland. Three men had turned up at the home of the manager, who was the driven to the bank while his family was held hostage. A further three gang members locked the staff in the vault before escaping with the money. The Ulster Volunteer Force was initially reported as responsible following comments made by the robbers.
Kenneth and Keith were arrested in London the week following the issue of an extradition warrant from Dublin. Following an instruction from the Attorney General
, the extradition proceedings were held in camera
on the grounds of national security.
At the extradition proceedings the brothers tried but failed to prevent a prosecution by the Special Criminal Court
under the Offences against the State Acts 1939
. The Irish Attorney General had given assurances that they would not be charged with political offences under the Act. In Irish law there was no mechanism for a non-political case, such as robbery, to be held in camera. Thus they were tried in open court despite the British Government lobbying of the Irish Government.
Kenneth was jailed for 20 years and Keith received 15 years.
In March 1974 they both escaped from Mountjoy Prison
. Toothpaste had been used to cover up saw marks in the cream coloured bars of the cell window. Having escaped the wing the brothers got over the wall using planks being used for building work. Keith was soon apprehended after breaking his ankle jumping from the 25 foot wall, but Kenneth evaded capture for 9 months.
, and made tea when detectives came to interview Watt.
Littlejohn was recaptured, in his underpants at gunpoint, by West Midlands Police
detectives at Watts home on 11 December 1974. Watt himself was arrested later that afternoon, but claimed he was released, on Detective Superintendent Pat Cooney's orders, as he could not be prosecuted as Littlejohn's crime was committed outside of the UK.
The brothers were released early in 1981 on condition they leave Ireland.
The following year Nottingham Crown Court
jailed Kenneth for six years for his part in a £1,300 armed robbery at the Old Manor House, North Wingfield
, Chesterfield
, England
. Keith was cleared of a similar offence.
King Edward VI Aston
King Edward VI Aston School is a selective, all-boys' grammar school and specialist Sports College. The school, designed by Birmingham architect J.A. Chatwin, opened in 1883 and is still located on its original site, in the Aston area of Birmingham, England....
, is a convicted armed robber and gaol-breaker who claimed to be an MI6/Official IRA
Official IRA
The Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA is an Irish republican paramilitary group whose goal was to create a "32-county workers' republic" in Ireland. It emerged from a split in the Irish Republican Army in December 1969, shortly after the beginning of "The Troubles"...
double Agent. The Littlejohn affair concerned allegations of British espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
.
Beginnings
Littlejohn had been dishonourably discharged from the Parachute Regiment. He served three years for robbery before being released from prison in 1968 from which time he worked as a car dealer.In 1970 the Midland Motor Cylinder Company in Smethwick
Smethwick
Smethwick is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the edge of the city of Birmingham, within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
was robbed of £38,000. The wages clerk, Brian Perks, claimed to have been overpowered by an Indian man who then took the money. Perks was Littlejohn's brother-in-law and the police suspected a staged incident involving the two men.
Littlejohn claims he went on the run, first to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he made contact with a police officer who showed him his arrest warrant and advised him to move to Dublin. In December 1970, in Dublin, he set up a company, Whizz Kids (Ireland) Ltd. He moved to Cahersiveen seeking a potential development site for a factory. As a flash potential investor who bought drinks for all in the local pubs, he became well known and popular in the area. In Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
Littlejohn claimed he was shown a Kalashnikov
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
supposedly smuggled in by Russian sailors. Littlejohn turned down several potential development sites and left unpaid debts when he returned to Dublin.
The British Government and the Official IRA
Lady Onslow was an aristocratic divorcee who occupied part of her time with the ex-Borstal organisation ‘’Teamwork Associates’’ in London. Littlejohn’s brother, Keith, had spent time in BorstalBorstal
A borstal was a type of youth prison in the United Kingdom, run by the Prison Service and intended to reform seriously delinquent young people. The word is sometimes used loosely to apply to other kinds of youth institution or reformatory, such as Approved Schools and Detention Centres. The court...
and was known to Lady Onslow through the organisation. Lady Onslow was made aware of information in Kenneth’s possession and contacted her friend, Lord Carrington. On 22 November 1971 a meeting was arranged at Onslow’s London flat between Kenneth and British minister Geoffrey Johnson Smith
Geoffrey Johnson Smith
Sir Geoffrey Johnson-Smith, PC, DL was a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament from 1959 to 2001, with only a brief interruption in the 1960s....
. It was at this time that the official Wanted status in respect of the Smethwick robbery was downgraded to Desired to Interview.
The Littlejohn brothers moved to the Rostrevor
Rostrevor
Rostrevor is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. It lies at the foot of Slieve Martin on the coast of Carlingford Lough. The Kilbroney River flows through the village....
estate near Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
in early 1972 and began frequenting pubs in Newry and across the border in Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
where they moved in Republican circles. The Official IRA would later state that, although the brothers were known to them, they were never members. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
claimed that, in fact, they did join the Officials but were dismissed in August 1972 when suspected of robberies in Newry for their own personal gain.
On 18 September 1972, Edmund Woolsey, 32, was killed by booby trap attached to his car. Two of his friends were injured. The car had been stolen a week earlier. The police informed Woolsey that the car had been found abandoned
at Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen or Crosmaglen is a village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,459 people in the 2001 Census and is the largest village in south Armagh...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. The bomb exploded as they went to retrieve their vehicle. While not a member of the Officials, Woolsey was known to the Littlejohns and socialised in similar circles. The Official IRA decided that Woolsey had been lured to his death by the army who had set up the booby trap based on information supplied by the Littlejohns.
Bank Robbery and Trial
In October 1972 the Allied Irish BanksAllied Irish Banks
Allied Irish Banks p.l.c. is a major commercial bank based in Ireland.AIB is one of the so called "big four" commercial banks in the state. The bank has one of the largest branch networks in Ireland; only Bank of Ireland fully rivals it. AIB offers a full range of personal and corporate banking...
branch in Grafton Street, Dublin was robbed of £67,000; at the time the largest haul in Ireland. Three men had turned up at the home of the manager, who was the driven to the bank while his family was held hostage. A further three gang members locked the staff in the vault before escaping with the money. The Ulster Volunteer Force was initially reported as responsible following comments made by the robbers.
Kenneth and Keith were arrested in London the week following the issue of an extradition warrant from Dublin. Following an instruction from the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, the extradition proceedings were held in camera
In camera
In camera is a legal term meaning "in private". It is also sometimes termed in chambers or in curia.In camera describes court cases that the public and press are not admitted to...
on the grounds of national security.
At the extradition proceedings the brothers tried but failed to prevent a prosecution by the Special Criminal Court
Special Criminal Court
The Special Criminal Court is a juryless criminal court in the Republic of Ireland which tries terrorist and organized crime cases. Article 38 of the Constitution of Ireland empowers the Dáil to establish "special courts" with wide-ranging powers when "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure...
under the Offences against the State Acts 1939
Offences against the State Acts 1939-1998
The Offences Against the State Acts 1939–1998 form a series of laws passed by the Irish Parliament relating to the suppression of terrorism.-Offences under the Act:The Act criminalises many actions detrimental to state security...
. The Irish Attorney General had given assurances that they would not be charged with political offences under the Act. In Irish law there was no mechanism for a non-political case, such as robbery, to be held in camera. Thus they were tried in open court despite the British Government lobbying of the Irish Government.
Kenneth was jailed for 20 years and Keith received 15 years.
In March 1974 they both escaped from Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison , founded as Mountjoy Gaol, nicknamed The Joy, is a medium security prison located in Phibsboro in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. It has the largest prison population in Ireland.The current prison governor is Mr...
. Toothpaste had been used to cover up saw marks in the cream coloured bars of the cell window. Having escaped the wing the brothers got over the wall using planks being used for building work. Keith was soon apprehended after breaking his ankle jumping from the 25 foot wall, but Kenneth evaded capture for 9 months.
Thomas Watt
Kenneth Littlejohn escaped to England, where he was harboured in the Birmingham home of Thomas Watt, a future Prosecution witness in the Birmingham Six Trial. While on the run Littlejohn gave several press interviews and enrolled for touch-typing lessons to help him write his memoirs. Kenneth was staying with Watt on the night, in November 1974, of the Birmingham Pub bombingsBirmingham pub bombings
The Birmingham pub bombings occurred on 21 November 1974 in Birmingham, England. The explosions killed 21 people and injured 182. The devices were placed in two central Birmingham pubs – the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town . Although warnings were sent, the pubs were not evacuated in time...
, and made tea when detectives came to interview Watt.
Littlejohn was recaptured, in his underpants at gunpoint, by West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.Covering an area with nearly 2.6 million inhabitants, which includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and also the Black Country; the force is made up...
detectives at Watts home on 11 December 1974. Watt himself was arrested later that afternoon, but claimed he was released, on Detective Superintendent Pat Cooney's orders, as he could not be prosecuted as Littlejohn's crime was committed outside of the UK.
The brothers were released early in 1981 on condition they leave Ireland.
The following year Nottingham Crown Court
Nottingham Crown Court
Nottingham Crown Court, or more formally the High Court of Justice and Crown Court, Nottingham is a Crown Court and High Court of Justice in Nottingham, England.-Description:...
jailed Kenneth for six years for his part in a £1,300 armed robbery at the Old Manor House, North Wingfield
North Wingfield
North Wingfield is a large village in the English county of Derbyshire, located approximately 4½ miles south-east of Chesterfield, and 1 mile north-east of Clay Cross. It is in the North East Derbyshire district...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Keith was cleared of a similar offence.