Vow to step up war

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 8

Vow to step up war

NZPA-Reuter Belfast Rioters attacked policemen and troops with more than 250 petrol-bombs yesterday in Londonderry after a graveside vow by antiBritish guerrillas to intensify the fight against British rule. The fighting erupted after the funeral of Patrick O'Hara, the fourth jailed guerrilla to starve himself to death in the last three weeks.

The police said several homemade hand-grenades were among the missiles raining down on security forces on the fringe of the city’s Bogside district, and a derelict building also was set on fire.

A police spokesman said the street fury "fizzled out'’ after midnight. An hour later two policemen on patrol were injured, one seriously with multiple

wounds and burns, when they moved a booby-trapped crate of petrol-bombs which they found beside a supermarkci. The crate exploded as it was lifted.

O'Hara belonged to the Irish National Liberation Army, a group specialising in assassination. His funeral brought together members of I.N.L.A. and the Irish Republican Army's "Provisional” wing, after their split four years ago. Coachloads of I.R.A. sympathisers from all over Ireland turned up at the funeral to swell the mourners, estimated by reporters at up to 20.000.

An unidentified I.N.L.A. officer swore at the graveside: "What we have done in the past will be bettered in the future." and he called for a "united front against Bril-

ish oppression and economic exploitation." Another guerrilla, Brendan McLaughlin, aged 29, was reported to be near death after refusing treatment for a bleeding, perforated ulcer, lie Has been on hunger strike for two weeks.

Two prominent Catholic moderate politicans said I.R.A. intimidation was driving them from their homes because they had denounced the men of violence.

Paddy Devlin, aged 56. a former Health Minister in the province and a founder of the mainly Catholic Social Democratic and Labour Party, has left his home of 17 years in the Andersonstown district. He said his 25-year-old retarded daughter had been driven into a menial institution and his 14-vear-old twin

sons attacked in the streets. Petrol bombs and stones were thrown at his house, he said, •before moving out to stay with relatives. Mr Devlin criticised the British Prime Minster (Mrs Margaret Thatcher) for not granting the “five simple reforms” sought by the hunger strikers. His colleague, the former party leader Gerry Fitt. said he also may have to move because of years of intimidation by the’ I.R.A. "Provos." Mr Fill lost his local council i seat after 23 years in the elections last ’ week that showed gains for extremists! among Protestants and Catholics.

"The middle ground has been practically wiped out in Northern Ireland. It is quite clear tribal confrontation is on the way,” Mr Devlin said.