Kenneth Littlejohn

Kenneth Littlejohn (a.k.a. Kenneth Austen; born c. 1941) is a convicted armed robber and gaol-breaker who claimed to be a Secret Intelligence Service/Official IRA double agent. The Littlejohn affair concerned allegations of British espionage and use of agent provocateurs in the Republic of Ireland during the Troubles.

Littlejohn had been dishonourably discharged from the Parachute Regiment. He served three years for robbery before being released from prison in 1968 from which time he worked as a car dealer. In 1970 the Midland Motor Cylinder Company in Smethwick, Birmingham was robbed of £38,000. The wages clerk, Brian Perks, claimed to have been overpowered by an Indian man who then took the money. Perks was Littlejohn's brother-in-law and the police suspected a staged incident involving the two men.

Littlejohn claims he went on the run, first to London, where he made contact with a police officer who showed him his arrest warrant and advised him to move to Dublin. In December 1970, in Dublin, he set up a company, Whizz Kids (Ireland) Ltd. He moved to Cahersiveen seeking a potential development site for a factory. As a flash potential investor who bought drinks for all in the local pubs, he became well known and popular in the area. In Kerry Littlejohn claimed he was shown a Kalashnikov supposedly smuggled in by Russian sailors. Littlejohn turned down several potential development sites and left unpaid debts when he returned to Dublin.

Pamela, Lady Onslow was an aristocratic divorcee who occupied part of her time with the ex-Borstal organisation "Teamwork Associates" in London. Littlejohn's brother, Keith, had spent time in Borstal and was known to Lady Onslow through the organisation. Lady Onslow was made aware of information in Littlejohn's possession and contacted her friend, Lord Carrington. On 22 November 1971, a meeting was arranged at Onslow's London flat between Littlejohn and British minister Geoffrey Johnson Smith. It was at this time that the official Wanted status in respect of the Smethwick robbery was downgraded to Desired to Interview.

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