Warning given to I.R.A. wing

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32976, 24 July 1972, Page 1

Warning given to I.R.A. wing

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter— Copyright?

BELFAST, July 23.

The Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army stood under a strong warning today that its activities would no longer be tolerated and its leaders would be found and imprisoned as a result of the Belfast bomb blitz on Friday that killed 11 persons.

The warning came from the Northern Ireland Administrator, Mr William Whitelaw, in his toughest statement since he took over responsibility for the British province four months ago.

In a radio and television address to the Irish people after the detention of more than 100 suspected guerrillas in a massive search and arrest operation, Mr Whitelaw condemned “those who are prepared to kill innocent men, women and children in cold blood.” “They showed by their cruel and callous action yesterday that quite without warning they are prepared to kill, maim and destroy to get their own way—that the wishes of ordinary men, women and children to live their own lives in their own way were of no consequence at all.

“All of you must realise that the British Army is here to protect ordinary people’s lives and property and must go after the killers, bombmakers and the fanatics who master-minded them,” he said.

“I have given orders to this effect,” he said. The 11 died in Belfast in an hour on Friday afternoon during which 20 bombs exploded in the centre of the city, another five people were killed during gun battles which broke out on Friday night. Mr Whitelaw’s statement yesterday was followed by a call from the militant Protestant Ulster Vanguard movement that he resign “since his policy has failed.” Tough line The extremist Protestant group which is headed by the former Home Affairs Minister, Mr William Craig, regards Mr Whitelaw’s policy toward the Catholics as appeasement and has called for a tougher line by the British Army against the I.R.A. The group said in a statement that it was prepared to mobilise its followers to defend Northern Ireland. It also called on Protestants to instigate a civil disobedience campaign begin-

ning on Monday by withholding payment of rent, property rates and charges for gas, electricity and telephone. The Army’s campaign to root out the I.R.A. took it into several staunch Catholic areas of Belfast yesterday and netted more than 100 suspected guerrillas. Some were released and

others were detained for interrogation no charges have been laid. Caches of arms and explosives were also found. The Army also moved to take down barricades erected around some “no-go” areas in Belfast. No resistance was met. Northern Ireland was comparatively quiet on Saturday. Four members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary were injured when a mine exploded under their lorry near the Irish Republic. Several bomb blasts were reported but most were harmless and only’ minor injuries resulted.