Minister's commits to review Arms Trial documents

Sean Haughey TD says the Dáil record “can only be set straight” if the State confirms that the tip-off about the flight came from Mac Stíofáin.

The Minister for Justice has committed to reviewing any fresh documents amid growing pressure on the State to re-examine the circumstances leading to events that became known as the Arms Trial.

Dublin Bay North TD Sean Haughey is a son of the late former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, one four men accused of assisting a plan to illegally import arms into the country for use by the IRA.

In the later Arms Trial, charges against Neil Blaney were dropped, and Mr Haughey and the other alleged conspirators, Captain James Kelly from Bailieborough, and Col Michael Hefferon, director of military intelligence (G2) at the time, were found not guilty.

But Messrs Haughey and Blaney were still dismissed from their as cabinet ministers in Jack Lynch's government, and now Deputy Haughey is demanding the release of State files claiming the late chief of staff of the IRA, Sean Mac Stiofáin, had tipped off the authorities about the weaponry.

Speaking on the 50 anniversary of Arms Trials, Deputy Haughey told the Dáil that in August 1969, Mac Stíofáin “convinced” the Special Branch that the army council had struck a deal with the Government, led by the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, to assist a campaign of violence in Northern Ireland. “This was untrue,” said Mr Haughey who went on to explain that in October 1969, Captain Kelly hosted a meeting of the citizen defence committees of Northern Ireland at a hotel in Bailieborough.

“It was called to discuss the defence of Catholic communities and the possibility of arms being supplied to them by the Government. The ranks of the defence committees including priests, lawyers, a former SDLP Minister, Paddy Devlin, as well as some IRA veterans. Yet, Mac Stíofáin portrayed the Bailieborough gathering as a gathering of the IRA in furtherance of Goulding's alleged links with Fianna Fáil. During November and December 1969, Mac Stíofáin told the Special Branch that Fianna Fáil was channelling funds to Goulding via Captain Kelly. This was also untrue.”

He went on to stated that in March 1970, Mac Stíofáin, discovered that G2 an arms shipment was about to land at Dublin docks. “It was destined for a monastery in County Cavan and earmarked for release to the citizens defence committees - not the official IRA - in the event of a pogrom. Even then, the guns were only to be released after a vote at Cabinet. Mac Stíofáin sent a Provisional IRA unit to hijack the weapons. In the event, the arms were not on the boat and the hijack was called off at the last minute. This demonstrates that Mac Stíofáin was not a genuine informer and that the guns were not destined for the Provisional IRA,” Deputy Haughey told the Dáil.

He went on to state that Des O'Malley, then Minister for Justice, became aware of a “tip-off” to the Special Branch about the arms flight. “Regrettably, the House was misled about how the State came to learn of the imminent arrival of the arms flight. It was told that it had been discovered by civil servants who were concerned about certain aspects of the paperwork associated with the flight.”

Crucially, he went on to state, the Dáil record “can only be set straight” if the State confirms that the tip-off about the flight came from Mac Stíofáin.

“Mac Stíofáin's tales as an informer is tantamount to endorsing and perpetuating his agenda, which was to disrupt and undermine democracy, assist the growth of the Provisional IRA, ensure that this House continued to be deceived and belittling and defaming the memory of Captain James Kelly, an honourable soldier, who should never have been put on trial. The same also applies to the late Colonel Michael Hefferon, who was director of military intelligence at the time.”

Deputy McEntee acknowledged that the repercussions of what happened at the time continue to reverberate to this day.

She noted too that the the National Archives Act provides that departmental files are subject to “consideration” before release.

“I understand that many of the records relating to the Arms Trial were released to the National Archives in 2000. While the Deputy will appreciate that some of the records could not be released because they contain sensitive Garda reports or potentially defamatory information, it should be noted that these files are subject to periodic review, including as to whether they should be released.”

She added though that any fresh insights into the Arms Trial are bound, to be not just of historical interest, but of contemporary interest also, “particularly to the family members of those involved. It is not surprising that these events have attracted considerable interest and, no doubt, they will continue to do so in the coming years. This is all the more so when it is inevitable that as further accounts come to light explanations may be provided but further questions may also be posed. At this stage, given the long passage of time, it is difficult to see how differing accounts can be validated or adjudicated on at this remove, particularly where most of those who were involved are no longer in a position to defend themselves. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I cannot speculate on matters of that time.”