Basil Thomson the Writer

         Angela Clifford, writing in January’s Irish Political Review, focused attention on the remarkable man who was Roger Casement’s main interrogator.  Sir Basil Thomson is well worth looking at closely.  He can never be entirely ignored by anyone telling the Casement story, but he may be—and normally is—marginalised.  He always seems to get less notice than he deserves.    It has … Continue reading Basil Thomson the Writer

Casement:  Character Assassination—By An Expert!

Review Roger Casement by Brian Inglis, Penguin Books, 2002, first published 1973. It is widely believed that Brian Inglis’s biography of Roger Casement is the standard biography from which other biographies take their cue.   Although Inglis did not receive cooperation from the Casement family, the book could also be described as an “authorised” biography.  … Continue reading Casement:  Character Assassination—By An Expert!

Book Review:  Basil Thomson:  Queer People (1922)

Angela Clifford British Intelligence And Casement Basil Thomson (1861-1939) was Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner for Crime in its Criminal Intelligence Department (CID), and of Special Branch (the Political Intelligence Unit) from 1913.  He oversaw the Directorate of Intelligence until his downfall in 1925 in a bizarre incident when he was accused of public indecency with … Continue reading Book Review:  Basil Thomson:  Queer People (1922)

Donal Mahon Kennedy, 28/12/1941- 9/10/2025

OBITUARY Donal Mahon Kennedy, 28/12/1941- 9/10/2025  Friends of Donal and readers of this magazine will be well aware of Donal’s erudition on  politics and history particularly in relation to Ireland  and also on world affairs.  This together with his passion, wit and humour made him a  most attractive personality. I first became aware of  these … Continue reading Donal Mahon Kennedy, 28/12/1941- 9/10/2025