The sound that signalled death for IRA ‘informers’

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the IRA used a chilling tactic to signal the impending death of those considered ‘informers’ within their ranks.

Known as the ‘sound of silence’, this tactic involved a long, eerie silence on the phone line before a single word was uttered – the codeword for execution.

For those on the receiving end of this terrifying signal, it meant that their fate was sealed and there was no turning back.

This article explores the use of this tactic by the IRA and the impact it had on both their targets and the wider community in Northern Ireland.