Vicious Circle is a single British television crime drama film, written by former Tomorrow's World presenter Kieran Prendiville, that first broadcast on BBC1 on 9 February 1999.

[2] When questioned about the film's similarities to The General and Ordinary Decent Criminal, producer Sue Austen emphasised; "Ours isn't just the Martin Cahill story.

It's a story about a Dublin gangster coming up against an IRA operative and a policeman, both of whom we've invented, and the three of them constantly circling each other.

"[3] James Rampton from The Independent gave the film a positive review, writing; "Ken Stott has just the right screen presence for the role of Cahill.

He makes Cahill a man who cares deeply for his pigeons and at the same time is capable of cold-bloodedly nailing a traitor's hands to the floor.