I.R.A. guerrillas announce murder

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 8

I.R.A. guerrillas announce murder

NZPA-Reuter Belfast Provisional Irish Republican Army guerrillas have said that they have killed a part-time policeman and a civilian whose body was found yesterday. A statement from the Provisionals, who are fighting to end British rule in Northern Ireland, said that a police reservist, Wallace Allen, nad died after being “shot whiie resisting arrest.” Mr Allen, aged 49,’ was kidnapped last Sunday. The Provisionals’ statement did not say where his body could be found. Yesterday morning the police discovered the body of Ross Hurst, aged 60, near his burnt-out car. Mr Hurst’s ‘ daughter, Ann, was killed by the I.R.A. three years ago for being a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, an anti-guerrilla militia attached to the British army. * In the Irish Republic, an official announcement has said that the Justice Minister (Mr Gerry Collins) has given the go-ahead for the recruitment of an additional 3000 policemen, bring the Irish Republic’s police force to about 12,000. A substantial part of the police force is to receive intensive training in the use of sophisticated weapons and modern antiterrorist techniques based on methods developed in France, West Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. A Dublin magazine has quoted the Provisionals as making new threats to attack leading British fig-v ures. The I.R.A. men cited Britain’s former Secretary for Northern Ireland, Roy Mason, and the head of the British Judiciary, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hailsham, as possible targets, according to “Magill” magazine, a monthly. An unidentified person, described as a leading member of the Provisionals was quoted as praising last years’ assassination of the British Ambassador to the Hague .. (Sir .. Richard Sykes). ; , '■ . “Magill” also quoted the Provisionals’ leader as referring to last year’s killing jn Ireland of Lord Mountbatten, for which an I.R.A. man was sentenced. “The importance of these people, like British ambassadors abroad, is that they put out false propaganda. They are part of the British military machine,” the person was quoted as spying.