Supergrass is a Britishslang term for aninformant whoturns King's evidence, often in return for protection andimmunity from prosecution. In the British criminal world, police informants have been called "grasses" since the late 1930s, and the "super" prefix was coined by journalists in the early 1970s to describe those who gave evidence against fellow criminals in a series of high-profile mass trials at the time.[1]
The term "grass" in this context is used in Arthur Gardner'scrime novelTinker's Kitchen, published in 1932, in which a "grass" is defined as "an informer".[2] The etymology of "grass" being used as signifying a traitor, a person who informs on people he or she knows intimately, ostensibly can be traced to the expression "snake in the grass", which has a similar meaning.[3] The phrase derives from the writings ofVirgil (inLatin,latet anguis in herba) and has been known in the English language, meaning "traitor", since the late 17th century.[4]
An alternative claim is made for the term originating fromrhyming 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.
InNorthern Ireland, the term "supergrass" especially refers to arrested paramilitaries who divulged the identities of their compatriots to theRoyal Ulster Constabulary, possibly in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SirJohn Hermon, former Chief Constable of theRoyal Ulster Constabulary, did not deny reports that inducements were paid but denied figures as high as £50,000 were involved.[7] The use of the term in Northern Ireland began with the arrest of Christopher Black in 1981. After securing assurances that he would have protection from prosecution, Black gave statements which led to 38 arrests. On 5 August 1983, 22 members of theProvisional IRA were sentenced to a total of more than 4,000 cumulative years in prison, based on Black's testimony alone (eighteen of these convictions were overturned on appeal on 17 July 1986).[8]
By the end of 1982, 25 more "supergrasses" had surfaced contributing to the arrests of over six hundred people fromparamilitary organizations, such as the Provisional IRA, theIrish National Liberation Army (INLA) and theUlster Volunteer Force. On 11 April 1983, members of theloyalist Ulster Volunteer Force were jailed on the evidence of supergrass Joseph Bennett. These convictions were all overturned on 24 December 1984. In October 1983, seven people were convicted on the evidence provided by supergrassKevin McGrady although the trial judge Lord Chief Justice Robert Lowry had described McGrady's evidence as "bizarre, incredible and contradictory".[9] The last supergrass trial finished on 18 December 1985, when 25 members of the INLA were jailed on the evidence ofHarry Kirkpatrick. Twenty-four of these convictions were later overturned on 23 December 1986.
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 ofUlster Defence Association (UDA) memberTommy English. In Northern Ireland the term "tout" is a popular alternative to "grass". ThePolice Service of Northern Ireland have refused to use this term and prefer the termassisting offender, based on the legislation that enables the use of such evidence.[10]
The term has also been used byThe Royal Gazette, a daily newspaper in Bermuda, a British overseas territory. An article in the paper used 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 wasMichael 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]
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