Supergrass (informant)
Supergrass is a British
Etymology
The first known use of "grass" in that context is Arthur Gardner's
An alternative claim is made for the term originating from rhyming slang, whereby "grasshopper" is defined as "copper", meaning "policeman".[5] The rhyming slang version was supported in 1950 by lexicographer Paul Tempest, who wrote[6]
Grasser. One who gives information. A "squealer" or "squeaker". The origin derives from rhyming slang: grasshopper – copper; a "grass" or "grasser" tells the "copper" or policeman.
Usage in Northern Ireland
In
By the end of 1982, 25 more "supergrasses" had surfaced contributing to the arrests of over six hundred people from
Many convictions based on supergrass testimony were later overturned, and the supergrass system was discontinued in 1985 until reintroduction in 2011. The first supergrass trial in 26 years began on 8 September 2011 for the murder of
Other usages
The term has also been used by The Royal Gazette, a daily newspaper in Bermuda, a British dependent territory. An article in the paper uses the term to describe a Transport Control Department worker convicted of selling driver's licenses to Portuguese applicants lacking the necessary English skills to pass the multiple choice exam. The worker was granted a conditional discharge in exchange for information on other Transport Control Department employees abusing the public trust.[11]
One of the most prolific supergrasses in recent British history was Michael Michael whose evidence in 2001 led to 32 criminals being convicted, including his own mother, and the disruption of a £132 million drug ring.[12]
The term was used to describe Girolamo Bruzzese after his brother Marcello was assassinated by the 'Ndrangheta on Christmas Day 2018 in revenge for Girolamo's serving as a witness in court against the 'Ndrangheta.[13]
See also
- Informant
- Pentito
- Supergrass, an English alternative rock band
- The Supergrass, a 1985 English comedy film
References
- ^ Durham, Duke Law 210 Science Drive Box 90362; Office613-7006, NC 27708. "Journals | Duke University School of Law". law.duke.edu.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Gardner, Arthur. Tinker's Kitchen; R. L. Allan; 1932; ASIN B000S66R7Q
- ^ See McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs, The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2002
- ^ "grass up" (v.), Gary Martin, PhraseFinder online
- ^ Farmer, John Stephen & William Ernest Henley Dictionary of Slang; 1893
- ^ Tempest, Paul Lag's lexicon: A comprehensive dictionary and encyclopaedia of the English prison to-day; Routledge & K.Paul; 1950; ASIN: B0000CHSO0
- ^ Informers crippling IRA...; The Times; 25 Mar 1982; pg1 col E
- ^ "1983: IRA members jailed for 4,000 years". BBC. 5 August 1983. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ Fortnight: An Independent Review For Northern Ireland, p.5, 2–15 June 1986 edition
- ^ "Barra McGrory, Paddy McGrory And Supergrasses". The Broken Elbow. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "TCD worker gave exam passes to Portuguese drivers for bribes. 6 October 2009". Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ "Britain's biggest supergrass". Evening Standard. 18 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ Willan, Philip (27 December 2018). "Mafia hitman kill brother of supergrass". The Times. London.
Sources
- Supergrasses: The Use of Accomplice Evidence in Northern Ireland; ISBN 0-900137-21-5
- The Crowned Harp: Policing Northern Ireland — by Graham Ellison and Jim Smyth (2000)
- Supergrass tells of terror fight — BBC News article
- Kevin Morrison Liverpool
- Kevin Morrison Police informant jailed for life Liverpool