I.R.A. Members Convicted

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 99, 30 April 1935, Page 9

I.R.A. Members Convicted

TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. DUBLlN,'April'26. Tho Military Tribunal sentenced Con. Lchane, a solicitor who was one of the Republicans arrested by tho Dublin police on March 26, to eighteen months’ imprisonment on a charge of sedition. The prosecution cited Lohanc’s speech in which he urged his hearers to join the Republican Army, "If not immediately, owing to tho presence of police ‘thugs/ then later, as lighting will be dono soon. ‘'Recruits must be proficient in the use of arms in order to capturo, and, if necessary, kill their opponents,” ho addod. ‘‘They must not rest.until they have driven out the British Dree State soldiers from Ireland.” Five others, including Donal O’Donoghuc, editor of the Republican newspaper “lAnphoblacht,” 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 tho early hours and continuing all day. About eighty people were arrested, including Peter O’Donnell, author, and member of tho Republican Congress, in addition to O’Donoghue and Lebane. The police visited the house of Maurice Twomey, Chief of Staff of the Republican Army, who was absent, also the house of Mrs Dcspard, seeking Sean McCride, a member of the staff of the Republican Army. Numerous parties of detectives wero employed and they stated that they were searching for amis 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.