In light of the dissolution of Stormont in 1972 , Duddy 's role as an intermediary started in January 1972 , when asked by friend and Derry 's Chief Police Office Frank Lagan to persuade the Official Irish Republican Army and the Provisional Irish Republican Army to remove their weapons from the Bogside . Both sides complied , but the Official IRA retained a few weapons for defensive purposes . After thirteen unarmed civil rights marchers were shot dead by British Parachute Regiment troops in what became known as Bloody Sunday , Duddy warned Lagan : " This is absolutely catastrophic . We 're going to have a war on our hands . " In the aftermath of the events and repercussions of Bloody Sunday , MI6 agent Michael Oatley arrived in Belfast in 1973 , seeking to understand the situation in Northern Ireland and hopefully create a communications channel between the IRA and the British Government , Duddy became the go between for the communications . and these led to the IRA ceasefire of 1975/76
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Brendan Duddy