THREE YEARS’ JAIL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 227, 22 June 1936, Page 6

THREE YEARS’ JAIL

Irish Republican Army Member ILLEGAL ORGANISATION Dublin, June 20. A military tribunal sentenced Maurice Twomey to three years’ imprisonment on a charge of being a member of the Irish Republican Army, and also three months’ imprisonment for refusing to account for his actions and movements.

The pfesident of the court pointed out that two documents found in Twomey’s room referred to a recent murder and a man who gave evidence on another murder charge. A detective stated in evidence that Twomey refused to. answer questions relating to the death of Vice-Admiral Somerville and another murdered man, and also as to whether the I.R.A. had decreed the murders. The Free State Government has formally declared the I.R.A. an illegal organisation and prohibited its celebrations on June 22; The I.R.A. had planned a ceremony on Sunday at the graveside of the Irish patriot Wolfe Tone at Bodenstown, where Mr. de Valera participated in an official pilgrimage and military parade on June 6. Extremist Republicans, holding that they alone are entitled to commemorate the death of Wolfe Tone since the Anglo-Irish treaty have insisted on having their own demonstration in recent years. Trains have been arranged from all parts of Ireland for Sunday, and speculation has been aroused as to how the I.R.A. will take the ’rebuff. , The official statement asserts that the I.R.A. was banned because it uses arms, and also in view of recent crimes and violence. It also warns all citizens to refrain from attending the Republican demonstration.