TREASON TRIAL AT BELFAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 27 November 1942, Page 2

TREASON TRIAL AT BELFAST

FOUR MEN C HARGED Belfast, Nov. 25. During the trial of four men for treason and felony, the AttorneyGeneral, Mr J. C. McDermott, told a Belfast city commission that police discovered plans by th e I.R.A. for a new campaign of “stark and callous violence.” Mr McDermott said that one man was arrested on August 10 at his work place, after which the police raided ihs house but were met with gunfire. Nevertheless they l'oi’ced their way in and arrested two more men. The was being used as the headquarters of the I.R.A. northern Command. The police discoveied a quantity of arm* and ammunition and also a speciallyconstructed chamber under the floor of an upper room in wihch there was a large number of documents con-

taining incitements in revolt. A fourth man was arrested two months later. Documents seized instructed that police should be singled out and shot down and the public service disrupted.—P.A.

j PENAL SERVITUDE FOR LEADERS : SENTENCE PASSED IN BELFAST

(Rcc. 11.15 a.m.) Belfast, Nov. 26. When those convicted in the tieason trial appeared lor sentence. Hugh MeAtteer, described as chief of staff of the 1.R.A., was sentenced to 15 years’ penal servitude. The judge said: "You are the ringleader of this movement and the man responsible in Northern Ireland for a great deal of evil work that has been done.” David Fleming, bricklayer. of Belfast, who is a native of County Tipperary, John Graham, post office assistant, of Belfast, wei'e both sentenced to 12 years’ penal servitude. John Dynan. radiographer, of Belfast, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. He stated that he had severed his connection with the I.R.A.

After passing sentences, the judge remarked: “You are leaders of this movement and have brought into it boys who have no sense but to follow where they are led.” —P.A.