William Stobie
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Stobie was an Ulster Defence Association
(UDA) quartermaster and Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) Special Branch
informer who was involved in the shootings of student Brian Adam Lambert in 1987 and solicitor Pat Finucane
in 1989.
His 1990 admissions, to journalist Neil Mulholland, provided new information which led, in February 1999, to British Irish Rights Watch submitting a confidential report to the British Government. This in turn would lead to the reopening of the Stevens Enquiry which uncovered state/paramilitary collusion
at a level "way beyond" what Sir John Stevens had originally reported.
, father of one of the victims. The exception to this was when Brian Adam Lambert was mistakenly targeted and shot the following day at a building site in Highfield, Belfast. He was a 19 year-old Protestant student with no criminal record or paramilitary links, but was assumed to have been a Catholic.
Stobie admitted supplying the guns for the attack and driving Stephen Harbinson in the getaway car. Both Stobie and Harbinson stated that they were sickened by the mistake and for the first time Stobie realised that the UDA was unprofessional. That same month Stobie was arrested for Lambert's murder. He was not charged but, while in custody, was recruited as an agent by the RUC Special Branch.
Harbinson was also arrested; he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following his release under the Good Friday Agreement he skipped bail on drug dealing charges in Northern Ireland. He was rearrested on the Costa Del Sol
on separate charges of drug trafficking, kidnapping and arms possession. Once more he was given bail and disappeared.
published Stobie's version of the circumstances of Finucane's death. The charges were later commuted to aiding and abetting the murder. Stobie's trial eventually collapsed because of the failure of Neil Mulholland, by now Northern Ireland Office
Press Officer, to take the witness stand.
In his overview and recommendations John Stevens stated:
(RHD) claimed responsibility.
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA) quartermaster and Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
informer who was involved in the shootings of student Brian Adam Lambert in 1987 and solicitor Pat Finucane
Pat Finucane (solicitor)
Patrick Finucane was a Catholic Belfast solicitor killed by loyalist paramilitaries on 12 February 1989. His killing was one of the most controversial during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Finucane came to prominence due to successfully challenging the British Government over several important...
in 1989.
His 1990 admissions, to journalist Neil Mulholland, provided new information which led, in February 1999, to British Irish Rights Watch submitting a confidential report to the British Government. This in turn would lead to the reopening of the Stevens Enquiry which uncovered state/paramilitary collusion
Collusion
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
at a level "way beyond" what Sir John Stevens had originally reported.
Brian Adam Lambert
On 8 November 1987, the IRA detonated a powerful bomb at the Enniskillen Remembrance Sunday ceremony killing eleven. There was no immediate direct reprisal, partially as a result of an appeal by Gordon WilsonGordon Wilson (peace campaigner)
Gordon Wilson was a draper in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. During The Troubles Wilson was injured and his daughter Marie was killed in the Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bombing on 8 November 1987....
, father of one of the victims. The exception to this was when Brian Adam Lambert was mistakenly targeted and shot the following day at a building site in Highfield, Belfast. He was a 19 year-old Protestant student with no criminal record or paramilitary links, but was assumed to have been a Catholic.
Stobie admitted supplying the guns for the attack and driving Stephen Harbinson in the getaway car. Both Stobie and Harbinson stated that they were sickened by the mistake and for the first time Stobie realised that the UDA was unprofessional. That same month Stobie was arrested for Lambert's murder. He was not charged but, while in custody, was recruited as an agent by the RUC Special Branch.
Harbinson was also arrested; he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Following his release under the Good Friday Agreement he skipped bail on drug dealing charges in Northern Ireland. He was rearrested on the Costa Del Sol
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is a region in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coastline of the Málaga province. The Costa del Sol is situated between two lesser known costas: Costa de la Luz and Costa Tropical...
on separate charges of drug trafficking, kidnapping and arms possession. Once more he was given bail and disappeared.
Pat Finucane
In April 1999, as part of the Stevens Enquiry, Stobie was arrested and charged with Finucane's murder. In June that year, as agreed, journalist Ed MoloneyEd Moloney
Ed Moloney is an Irish journalist and author best known for his coverage of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and particularly the activities of the Provisional IRA. Ed worked for the Hibernia magazine and Magill before going on to serve as Northern Ireland editor for The Irish Times and...
published Stobie's version of the circumstances of Finucane's death. The charges were later commuted to aiding and abetting the murder. Stobie's trial eventually collapsed because of the failure of Neil Mulholland, by now Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
Press Officer, to take the witness stand.
Stevens 3
Stobie was rearrested and charged with murder as a result of Stevens 3. At his trial the chief witness, Neil Mullholland, refused to take the witness stand and Stobie was released.In his overview and recommendations John Stevens stated:
- "I have uncovered enough evidence to lead me to believe that the murders of Patrick Finucane and Brian Adam Lambert could have been prevented".
Death
On 12 December 2001, Stobie was shot dead outside his home at Forthriver Road, Glencairn, Belfast. The Red Hand DefendersRed Hand Defenders
The Red Hand Defenders is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1998 by loyalists who opposed the Belfast Agreement and the loyalist ceasefires. Its members were drawn mostly from the Ulster Defence Association and Loyalist Volunteer Force...
(RHD) claimed responsibility.