Death On The Rock, SAS executions in Gibraltar, Thames Television (1988)

Thames TV lost the London ITV franchise after this film was broadcast. Death on the Rock was the title of a documentary in the current affairs series This Week, made by Thames Television and broadcast on the ITV network on 28 April 1988. The programme investigated the incident, on Sunday 6 March 1988, when three members of the IRA, sent to Gibraltar on an active service mission, were shot and killed by members of British special forces. The incident, and subsequently the programme about it, became controversial as a result of uncertainty and conflicting evidence about the manner in which the killing was carried out and the degree to which it was an "execution" with no attempted arrest. The programme interviewed witnesses who claimed to have heard no prior warning given by the SAS troops and to have seen the shooting as one carried out "in cold blood." Furthermore, the defence that the IRA team might, if allowed time, have had the capacity to trigger by remote control a car bomb in the main street, was also subject to criticism, including that from an Army bomb disposal expert.
Claiming that its transmission prior to the official inquest was an impediment to justice, the then foreign secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, attempted to stop the programme being broadcast by writing to the chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, Lord Thomson of Monifieth. Lord Thomson refused to prevent transmission noting that "the issues as we see them relate to free speech and free inquiry which underpin individual liberty in a democracy." Following transmission, there was some criticism of the programme's investigative stance in the press (e.g. "Storm at SAS Telly Trial" The Sun; "Fury over SAS 'Trial by TV'," Daily Mail; "TV Slur on the SAS," Daily Star). Subsequently, a number of papers, notably The Sunday Times and The Sun, attempted to show not only that the programme's procedures of inquiry were faulty but that the character of some of its witnesses was dubious (in one case, this latter charge resulted in a successful libel action being brought).
Such was the debate which developed around the programme, intensified by one of its witnesses subsequently repudiating his testimony in it, that an independent inquiry was conducted at the behest of Thames Television.

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[empireofbritain]

Enemies of the British people justly dealt with. It sent a message to the IRA that they committed indiscriminate murder against innocent people they would be hunted down and exterminated. They got that message and put out peace feelers to the British government a couple of years later and then finally surrendered like cowards a few years after that.

[rafflesman]

Just the media chewing the fat. Of course the SAS acted correctly

[alastarter]

i am a republican. so dont u lecture me

[jinkjack]

One of the SAS guys that carried out this mission failed SBS selection before passing SAS selection. 

[SunshineMcGillicutty]

22 SAS is the steel toe cap in the boot of British foreign policy. The message is a clear and necessary one: if you're planning something naughty enough to get the regiment sent after you, kiss your arse goodbye.

[skipgr]

@alastarter No point talking to blinkered German royal family loving, non cultured, biased, arrogant, stupid imperialist loving wankers who know fuck all about what pain they've inflicted on the world, they know only what dads army sympathisers have told them. Remember this: the empire is DEAD and soon the UK will follow suit thanks to our fellow celts - Scotland, ah remember the good old days? We were the empire, UK's dissolving, oh where did it all go wrong?? Unionists are shitting it ha ha!!

[skipgr]

You're only a terrorist if you take action against Britain, USA or Israel. Britain has been raping and pillaging the world for centuries, their flag isn't known as a butchers apron for nothing! An illegal occupation and war was waged in Iraq. But I suppose if you're the country affected by any of the above countries its all ok because they are always on the side of right and if you oppose you're a terrorist or terrorist sympathiser! Hypocrisy isn't the word...

[alastarter]

And I am not a little boy. I am a 25yo female. Do u like to think of little boys? Asshole.

[alastarter]

Thundernuts691

Why dont you say that to the Afghans and the people of Iraq where soldiers kill innocent men women and children?

[Thundernuts691]

@alastarter And would that be the two CONFLICTING witnesses ?... plus one was so far away from the station she was lucky to hear the shots for fuck sake lol...you need to understand facts wee lad, the SAS were simply taking out the trash...lots of very nice innocent people were saved death & injury because of their actions...that you cannot deny...it's hard to feel sympathy for a cause when at the same time they murder innocent women, children & babies...through that thick head yet ?