INVASION PLOT

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27739, 17 August 1955, Page 11

INVASION PLOT

I.R.A. Plans Uncovered

(N.Z. Press Association^—Copyright) (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 18. Scotland Yard’s special branch detectives have uncovered an Irish Republican Army plot to seize a town in Ulster and proclaim a “United Irish Republic,” according to the “News Chronicle.”

The Government is studying details of the secret plans. The “News Chronicle” Said the I.R.A. planned to occupy Enniskillen, just over the Eire border. From there men were to be sent forward to take over Omagh, which was the scene of an earlier arms raid oh the British barracksi At the same time it was planned to overpower the staff in a Dublin broadcasting studio and broadcast calls for an uprising against Britain. The “Daily Mirror" said it was learned from the chiefs of MIS and Scotland Yard’s special branch and from the Inspector-General of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Sir Richard Pim) that the I.R.A- plans were in five phases: A three-year plan, now in its last year, to get modern arms from British units. Training of the 1.R.A., now believed to number 6000. The overthrow of the Eire Government in 1957, after persuading thp Eire Army, numbering 16,000, to join them. Invade and conquer one of Ulster’s six counties.

Bargaining with the British Government to set up a United Ireland Government. The "Daily Express” says that the Scotland Yard report emphasises these points: The I.R.A. has lately received money from sympathisers in the United States. The I.R.A. intends to use its arms for a campaign on the Ulster border, npt in England. More and more German immigrants in Eire are being recruited. It is still within the Home Secretary’s powei to issue expulsion orders against Irishmen making inflammatory and seditious speeches in England. Warning by Ulster Northern Ireland’s Minister of Home Affairs (Mr George Hanna) said in Belfast tonight that if the Irish Republican Army crossed the border from Eire the people of Ulster would be armed to defend themselves. Mr Hanna, who was speaking about the two raids on British military camps, added: “If you (the 1.R.A.) come into our territory you will be met not only by 13,000 police and special police, but by the loyal people of Ulster. I promise they will be armed to defend themselves." He called on the Eire Government to “take charge of these people. If you let them come in here armed with intent to do harm you will let them come to their fate.”