Guerrillas caught, released

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 8

Guerrillas caught, released

NZPA-Reuter Belfast The British Army faced a barrage of questions at the week-end on a report that it captured the entire Belfast command of the Irish Republican Army guerrillas, then let the nine men go. “I will want an explanation,” said the Protestant Northern Ireland politician, lan Paisley, a vigorous opponent of the I.R.A. campaign against British rule in the province. He said he had heard the report and would raise it today in the British Parliament in London, where he is a member. Questioned by reporters, the Army would only say that, about 14 days ago, some men were held for questioning in Belfast then freed. The Army was asked if the men were indeed the city’s top guerrillas and, if so, were they freed because the Army did not know at the time who they were or on some other grounds? “For security reasons I cannot say more,” an army spokesman told Reuters.

Mr Paisley said the men should have been handed to the civil police.