Russian arms in Ireland

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 17

Russian arms in Ireland

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright ’ LONDON, December 10. The “Sunday Telegraph" said today that Russian arms were being smuggled into the Irish Republic from Cyprus.

- The newspaper said that the Royal Navy had intensified its watch on shipping after a recent increase in the use of rocket launchers by guerrillas in Northern Ireland.

During questioning by the Navy, the masters of some merchant ships disclosed that approaches had been made to them recently in Cyprus to take small consignments to destinations in the Irish Rei public, the “Sunday Telegraph” said. i A Defence Department I spokesman said that his min- [ istry received information [ “from various sources” on | the supply of arms to the 1.R.A., but he could disclose no details. He added that there had been no intensification of the routine anti-gunrunning patrol of Naval minesweepers which worked strictly within Northern Ireland territorial waters. The patrol could intercept any ship suspected of carrying arms, the spokes-; man said.

Tlie newspaper added that Western diplomats in Cyprus i suspected secret links in recent years between the Irish Republican Army (1.R.A.) and the Cypriot underground movement. E.O.K.A.

I The “News of the World”

said in a front-page splash story that Russia was directly involved in the supply of rocket launchers and other arms to the I.R.A. The newspaper said that evidence included mystery landings .by men in the republic from a submarine, sighting of a Soviet tanker and submarine close to the coast in suspicious circumstances and a visit in Octoiber to Dublin by a notorious ! Kremlin agent. The “News of the World” also said that Soviet involve;ment in the arms traffic “at Government level” was ! the spur that made the Irish Prime Minister (Mr Jack Lynch) launch his new moves against terrorism.