I.R.A. MEMBERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 9

I.R.A. MEMBERS

CONVICTION IN DUBLIN

TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT

(Received April 27, 1.30 p.m.) ' DUBLIN, April 26. The Military Tribunal sentenced Con. Lehane, a solicitor who was one of the Republicans arrested by the Dublin police on March 26, to eighteen months' imprisonment on a charge of sedition. The prosecution cited Lehane's speech in which he urged his hearers to join the Republican Army, "If not immediately, owing to the presence of police 'thugs,' then later, as fighting will be done soon. . "Recruits must be proficient in the use of arms in order'to capture, and, if necessary, kill their opponents," he added. "They must not rest until they have driven out the British Free State soldiers from Ireland." Five others, including Donal O'Donoghue, editor of the Republican newspaper "Anphoblacht," were sentenced to six months' imprisonment for contempt of court and being members of an unlawful association. All the prisoners refused, to recognise the Court. Thomas Barry, Republican Army leader at Cork, who was sentenced to six months for membership of the Republican Army, declared: "There are 29,000 Republican Army members in Ireland." ' ■•■.■.. On March 26 the Dublin police raided and searched many houses of Republicans, beginning in the early hours and continuing all day. About eighty people were arrested," including Peter O'Donnell, author, and member of the Republican Congress,, in addition to O'Donoghue and Lehane.. The police visited the house of Maurice Twomey, Chief of Staff of the Republican' Army, who was absent, also the house of Mrs. Despard, seeking Scan McCride, a member of the staff of the Republican Army. Numerous parties of detectives were employed and they stated that they were searching for arms and treasonable documents. According to another message on the same day O'Donnell was released and addressed a meeting of Republicans in O'Connell Street.