Eire Promises Action To Stem Civil War

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28153, 17 December 1956, Page 15

Eire Promises Action To Stem Civil War

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) DUBLIN, December 15. The Eire Government last night promised action against illegal organisations, which it said might cause civil war. An official statement said that the authorities, including police and troops, were determined to take such steps as the Eire Government considered necessary. The warning followed a second night of raids across the Northern Ireland border by elements of the Irish Republican Army.

In Belfast, the Northern Ireland Government also announced measures against the raiders, including emergency powers to make arrests without warrant.

There was another border incident at Clones, County Monaghan, last night. Six shots were fired from a railway embankment on the Ulster side of the border into an Eire customs post. The bullets passed about six feet in front of the customs officer, who was sitting at his desk. At Belfast police headquarters today, lists were being prepared of known I.R.A. sympathisers. Arrangements were being made at Belfast gaol to accommodate more prisoners.

Meanwhile, on the southern side of the border, Eire police were today also carrying out security measures to foil any renewed outbreaks of violence. Scores of special branch officers sent from England were on duty today along the Cavan-Fermanagh border, between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

In Monaghan, Eire, civic authorities were investigating the theft of a large quantity of explosives during the night. A company of British troops moved across Northern Ireland tonight to positions at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, near the Irish border.

An Army spokesman in Belfast said that the troops had been sent to the border area to give aid to the civil powers as required.