BAN ON THE I.R.A.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 3

BAN ON THE I.R.A.

CELEBRATIONS PROHIBITED MEMBERS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT (United TVese Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) DUBLIN, This Day. 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 president 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 22nd June. 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 Gth June. 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.

Seventy Irish Republican Army men including Maurice Twomey, chief of staff: of the “I.R.A. Times,” were arrested throughout the country at approximately the same hour on 21st May under the Public Safety Act. This is the largest Republican roundup since Mr de Valera came into office. Twomey was taken into custody while returning from Mass.

LIVELY SCENES ATTEMPT TO RESCUE LORRY (Received 22nd June, 9.30 a.m.) DUBLIN, 21st June. There was lively scenes at College Green, Dublin, when I.R.A. followers addressed the crowd from a lorry. Police warned them that seditious speeches would not be allowed and eventually surrounded the lorry and drove it to Dublin Castle. Crowds tried to rescue the occupants, who included Mary MacSweene.y, Count and Countess Plunkett and other notables, as well as journalists The police fired, but none were injured.