I.R.A. PLANS

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1940, Page 4

I.R.A. PLANS

FOR COUPS IN EIRE AND ULSTER. DUBLIN, January 3. The Eire Minister of Lands (Mr Boland),' speaking during the Dan Eireann during an emergency session, said that the terrorism against wnich the Government was seeking powers, amounted to a threat of rebellion. He disclosed that the police seized packets of American dollars, consigned to the 1.R.A., which is highly organised and is in possession of large quantities of arms. Some time, he said, .the I.R.A. intended to raid Northern Ireland, and intended a coup in Dublin. He added that 1,084,000 rounds of ammunition were taken from the Phoenix Park fort, and 23,000 rounds had not been recovered. The terrorists held classes for teaching the manufacture of explosives. A total of 150 men participated in the Phoenix Park raid.

The Opposition Leader, Mi- Cosgrave, alleged that the Government had failed in its duty regarding I.R.A. activities in England and Eire. “The Government does not appear likely to last,” he said.. “If it had, any sense of responsibility or a spark of patriotism it would not only resign as me Government, but would retire from public life. Ministers know well that some years ago, when they themselves were seeking ammunition, they did not dare to enter a fort.” Mr. De Valera’was reaping the.harvest of the I seeds sown in 1923, when he sabotaged: the Army and paralysed' the police, after assuming office. , . The Eire Government has made representations' to Britain regarding the LILA. members sentenced to deatn, following Eirean public bodies demands for intervention,