Shortly before retiring from MI6 in 1991, Michael Oatley received a call in from a trusted contact in Derry asking him to attend a meeting. The invitation was from Brendan Duddy, a businessman, who for almost two decades had kept open a back channel for secret communications between the government and the Provisional IRA.
Oatley, who has died aged 90, maintained the relationship over that period despite repeated denials by prime ministers of any talks or negotiations with “terrorists”. Codenamed “Mountain Climber” – a tribute perhaps to the uphill task of attempting to end the Northern Ireland conflict – Oatley was eager to preserve the clandestine link for future use.
