British Army’s MRF Implicated in Troubles’ Catholic Murders, UK

The British army’s Military Reaction Force (MRF) has been linked to the murder of several Catholic civilians in the early years of the Troubles. Recent correspondence from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has shed light on the operations of this secretive undercover unit. Officials have confirmed that no formal records exist, but it is believed that the MRF operated between 1971 and 1973 before being disbanded. The unit, established by Brigadier Frank Kitson, was a temporary group formed by the 39th Infantry Brigade to cover the greater Belfast area. The MRF had two divisions: one dealt with informers, known as ‘Freds’, while the other carried out mobile surveillance duties. The suspects associated with the MRF were all part of the surveillance group. The unit operated in 12-hour shifts out of Palace Barracks in Holywood and followed the instructions laid out in the ‘Instructions by the Director of Operations for Opening Fire in Northern Ireland’. All operations were conducted in plain clothes. The MRF’s tasks included surveillance, searching and arrests, covert ambushes, and long-term intelligence. It is crucial to consider the historical context and the impact of such actions on the affected communities.