John Stalker
Deputy Chief Constable
BORN APRIL 14, 1939 DIED FEBRUARY 15, 2019, AGED 79
JOHN Stalker found himself caught in the eye of a media storm in 1986 when he headed an investigation into the controversial “shoot to kill” policy operated by the RUC against IRA terror suspects.
Commissioned to investigate whether, after the deaths of six IRA men over five weeks, any crimes had been committed by police officers, the deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police found that every lead was met with resistance from the RUC.
He was eventually suspended and removed from the inquiry after false allegations linked him to a “corrupt” millionaire businessman.
However, evidence suggests that his removal was a cover-up, as Stalker had unearthed some potentially embarrassing truths.
Born in Manchester, Stalker was the son of Jack, an aircraft engineer, and his wife Theresa. After leaving Chadderton Grammar School at the age of 16, Stalker aspired to become a journalist but instead took a job in insurance. Within a year, he gave up that career to the police, becoming a cadet in May 1956.
Rising through the ranks, by the mid-1970s Stalker was part of the Special Branch, investigating a spate of IRA bombings and shootings in the city.
After being appointed Greater Manchester’s deputy chief constable, he was sent to Belfast to start work on the “shoot to kill” inquiry.
However, after being suspended he resigned from the force in 1987, turning to a career in journalism and appeared on shows such as Question Time.
Stalker is survived by his two daughters.
His wife, Stella whom he married in 1962, predeceased him 2017.