ABSTRACT
The Parker Committee was mandated to consider whether the interrogation techniques should be retained or modified. In September 1971, prior to the second Calaba operation, Lord Balniel visited an interrogation training exercise at the Joint Services Intelligence Wing (JSIW) in Ashford, Kent. JSIW personnel provided interrogation training to approximately 12 Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Special Branch inspectors in Belfast between 16 and 20 April 1971. Detainee processing and interrogations were under the joint control of the ‘Senior Interrogator’ and the ‘Watch Commander.’ Interrogations were always conducted by the RUC, although not always by Special Branch officers. The Army Interrogation Support Team remained at Ballykelly for a further four weeks, on the contingency that the RUC Special Branch arrested one or more ‘top-ranking Irish Republican Army terrorists’ who merited immediate interrogation in depth. Within the JSIW, the potentially catastrophic psychological consequences of enhanced interrogation methods, even in a training scenario, were well recognised.
