Flame thrower, cannon intended for I.R.A.

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 8

Flame thrower, cannon intended for I.R.A.

NZPA-Reuter New York American Federal agents have charged three men with planning to send a 20mm cannon, a flame-thrower and an arsenal of other weapons to guerrillas of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland. Patrick Mullin, aged 43. George Harrison, aged 67 and Thomas Joseph Falvey, aged 63, were arraigned at the week-end after being arrested by the Federal Bureau of; Investigation. The three New Yorkers were released after posting bail of $lOO,OOO each. Harrison and Falvey were arrested after paying an undercover agent $16,000 in cash for 44 automatic weapons and two dozen shells for the cannon, said Donald McGorty, an F. 8.1. special agent in charge of a division investigating international terrorism. The shells had been disarmed and all the weapons were recovered after the arrest. Several other weapons were confiscated after a search of the houses of both men and that of Mullin. The. cannon, flame-thrower and other weapons were at his home; Mr McGorty said the ar-

rests followed a joint investigation by the F. 8.1. and the United-States Customs Office that beghn late last year and was continuing. Weapons and ammunition • were still being taken, out of Mullin's home, another F. 8.1. spokesman said. This could take several days since each would be checked for fingerprints. ~ Mr McGorty said the three worked from a “shopping list” but were also interested in buying what was available from the undercover agent. He said they told ed in buying what was available . from the undercover agent. He said they told the agentseller the 20mm cannon was to be used “to shoot down British helicopters” in Northern Ireland where I.R.A. guerrillas, seeking a united Ireland,, are battling to oust the. British; Besides the two dozen shells: they got from the F. 8.1., the three had a quantity of armour-piercing, antitank and explosive shells for the cannon. Describing the three as “Irish sympathisers,” he said they were arms-dealing out of a sense of “social justice” for Northern Ireland, rather than for' a profit motive. They said the weapons were

intended for the I.R.A. and there were no questions about the destination. He said the seizure of the weapons was “tremendously significant". Not many weapons have found their way to the I.R.A. British officials say the number is less than 100. If those weapons would have got to the I.R.A. they would have made a tremendous difference.” It was not known whether the confiscated arms were to be part of a specific offensive. ■ /“From what we understand, the procurement of these weapons is an ongoing operation. They haven’t been able to find secure channels for shipment to Ireland.” Mr McGorty said. Mr Wilbert Nichols, regional director of the Customs Service, said all suspect cargo was carefully checked. A Customs Service dog trained to seek weapons was also used. Arms displayed at the news conference to announce the arrests included the cannon, the flame-thrower, eight Ml 6 automatic rifles, two rifles of the type used by Americans in World War 11, and an Ml carbine.