One of the projects I've been working on for several years is a documentary about Fred Holroyd. Fred served as a military intelligence officer in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He was featured in my documentary "The Man Who Knew Too Much." Fred specialized in Human Intelligence; he was actively engaged with informants, often working undercover. He worked with the RUC, Military Intelligence, and MI6. He also travelled south across the border to the Republic of Ireland and cooperated with the Irish police. His tour of duty coincided with the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and he offers insights into these events. His story provides a unique perspective on how MI6 and Military Intelligence recruited and managed informants.
Fred Holroyd's perception of the role of the British security services in Northern Ireland shifted when he discovered that his own side were involved in collusion, bombings, and unlawful killings.
Fred was forcefully relocated from Northern Ireland to the Netley Psychiatric Hospital near Southampton. After a month he was returned to his regiment in the UK and told he would not be allowed to return to Northern Ireland. Since then, Fred Holroyd has sought his medical records from the MOD, who have consistently denied his requests. After leaving the army, Fred continued to attempt to challenge the army. But in this new world, he was no longer the one in control and his access to information and resources were limited.
I conducted audio recordings with Fred from 2018 to 2023, accumulating over 100 hours of content. I've edited this down to an 80-minute narrative, which has been professionally edited and mastered. My goal is to create a documentary that pairs Fred Holroyd's voice with animated visuals. To realize this, I need to find an animator and funding. I had previously showcased the project at the Galway Fleadh film market. While there was some interest, it unfortunately didn't lead to any funding offers. I'm currently exploring potential collaborations with NGOs. If you're reading this and have suggestions on potential contacts or leads, please reach out. I've attached a short audio sample below. The script contains a wealth of really interesting information all narrated in Fred Holroyd's own voice.