Policewomen Trapped Irish Terrorists

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 9

Policewomen Trapped Irish Terrorists

Sentences totalling 115 years' penal servitude were passed at Old Bailey early in July on seven men found guilty of acts in connection with I.R.A. terrorism in London. It was to the credit of two policewomen, whose names, for obvious reasons have been kept secret, that some of the men have been removed from the public danger, and the Common Sergeant, Mr. Cecil Whiteley, K.C., warmly complimented them on their vigilance. Scenes similar to those at the close of other terrorism trials followed the sentences. Fighting the warders who had guarded them in the dock, one of the men fell down the steps leading to the cells. Another went headlong through the dock gate, and women screaming in the gallery were led out of Court. The sentences were:—Twenty years: Patrick Dower, 21, porter; Patrick Joseph Mc-Aleer, 27, waiter; Timothy Murray, 1'), porter; Gerald Bradford, 24, waiter; and Gerald Lyons, 20, labourer. Ten years: John Joseph Keane, 37, salesman. Five years: Joseph Malone, 22, kitchen porter. Dower and Murray were found guilty of causing explosions in Euston Koad, and attempting to cause explosions in Tottenham Court Road. McAleer was found guilty of possessing explosives, and Bradford and Lyons were convicted for causing an explosion in High Holborn and an attempted explosion in Kingsway. Lyons was also found guilty of possessing explosive substances in Trafalgar Road, Moseley,

Quick-Change Wardrobe In Scotland Yard Car

Birmingham, with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage to property. Keane and Malone were found guilty of possessing explosives. Apart from the pluck of two policewomen, "Miss A" and "Miss B," there is in the trapping of the five men who have gone for 20 years' imprisonment the story of a great police search for a hidden arsenal and the training school in Eire which is turning out the terrorists. Attractive brunettes, the two policewomen were one day called to headquarters, taken off their ordinary duty at the express request of the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, and put to work under the direction of DetectiveInspector Bridges. Xot even the other officers who were engaged on the same investigation knew of their existence. Scotland Yard received the hint that five men were planning explosions in the central London area for the night of May 3. The two policewomen, with a number of changes of clothing, set out from the "Yard" with careful instructions what to do, and for eight hours, on foot, they followed the five I.R.A. men, never losing eight of their quarry. At times it was necessary for the women to part ; company. i Nearly a mile behind a private car i containing Special Branch Officers was I creeping up. In it was a miniature ) wardrobe of women's hats and coats. ■ From time to time the driver acceler- , ated, drew level with the two

policewomen, who. after making quick changes of clothing, continued the watch. Xo effort at actual disguise was made apart from the changes of hats and coats, but the changes were so complete that never at any moment did the terrorists suspect that they were being shadowed. The policewomen saw the men go from sliopfronts to letter boxes, and they were able to prevent a number of explosions. It was after the revelation in Court that Lyons had gone through a special instructional course in explosives in Ireland and then came to England to work with the terrorists, that Scotland Yard communicated with the authorities in Eire and the hunt has been intensified in the hope of smashing up the training school. Here is the "Who's Who" of the sentenced men:— Lyons.—Born in Belfast, -worked in Ulster till 1953, then came to Birmingham. He returned to Belfast in 1937, joined I.R.A. Arrested in Belfast in 193T for possessing illegal documents relating to Fianna na L'Eireann, youth organisation of the 1.R.A., and received three months. Secretly trained in explosives in Ireland. McAleer. —Came to England la6t year and obtained employment as a waiter ■ in the West End. Has been receiving treatment for tuberculosis. According to Royal Ulster Constabulary he has been engaged in traffic of arms on the ' border.

Dower.—Closely associated with the leaders of the I.R.A. in London, including some of those already convicted. He was a section commander of the 1.R.A., and was reported to be a trusted soldier of that organisation. Bradford.—Born in Belfast; regarded as a bomb-maker for the I.R.A. Has had course of bombing in Ireland; has been making bombs in England and "placing" them. Murray.—Native of Waterford. Has been in England three years, part of which he has been drawing the dole. Malone.—Native of Belfast, came to London last February, and found employment as sorter at the G.P.O. Was formerly a sorter and telegraphist in Belfast. Was actively associated with known members of the I.R.A. in England and Ulster. Keane.—Was once sentenced to death, but commuted. The Common Sergeant, at the end of the trial, expressed the hope that his tribute to the two policewomen would be brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Police.