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IRA (IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY)

NCJ Number
63554
Author(s)
T P COOGAN
Date Published
1970
Length
383 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY IS PRESENTED BY AN IRISH JOURNALIST WHO INVESTIGATES THE IRA'S ORIGINS, THE DILEMMAS FACED IN IRELAND WITH THE USE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, AND THE IRA'S FOREIGN CONNECTIONS.
Abstract
THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH OVER 500 PERSONS EITHER MEMBERS OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE IRA, AND THROUGH ACCESS TO REPUBLICAN PUBLICATONS AND LETTERS, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL DISORDERS THAT HAVE PLAGUED IRELAND FOR GENRATIONS. REBELLIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE SEIZURE OF CATHOLIC-OWNED PROPERTY BY BRITISH PROTESTANTS DURING THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES. ACTIONS BY THE PROTESTANTS TO PREVENT HOME RULE BY THE IRISH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF THE ULSTER VOLUNTEERS, THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, AND THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE 1916 REBELLION. THE IRA GOALS OF IRISH INDEPENDENCE SEEM TO REQUIRE THE PROMISED USE OF FORCE THAT WILL HELP RECRUIT ADVENTUROUS NEW MEMBERS; HOWEVER THE IRA'S ACTUAL VIOLENCE SEPARATES IRA MEMBERS FROM THE REPUBLICAN SOCIALISTS WHO SUPPORT CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. ALTHOUGH THE IRA HAD LIMITED CONTACTS WITH THE SOVIET UNION AND NAZI GERMANY, A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF WEAPONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY SUPPORTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. TERROR AND BOMBING CAMPAIGNS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE IRA DURING THE 1920'S AND 1930'S. REACTION TO THESE ATTACKS INCLUDED PASSAGE OF THE 1939 OFFENSES AGAINST THE STATE ACT PERMITTING IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT A TRIAL. THIS ACT WAS USED ALSO TO DECLARE THE IRA AN UNLAWFUL ORGANIZATION. THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS AND THE BORDER CAMPAIGN OF THE IRA AGAINST THE ULSTER ROYAL CONSTABULARY AND THE 'B-SPECIALS' ARE DESCRIBED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE VIOLENCE AND BIGOTRY. REFERENCES ARE LISTED IN THE EPILOGUE. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)