FIVE DAYS IN AN IRA TRAINING CAMP ....... From the moment a new recruit enters the Irish Republican Army he or she undergoes a rigorous and intensive training to assess the individual Volunteer's level of commitment , general ability and particular aptitudes . After the initial recruitment lectures , this period includes training in personal security and anti-interrogation , basic intelligence work , political education - and of course training in the use of weapons . In this supplied article , a Volunteer in the IRA's Belfast Brigade describes his experience of taking part in an IRA training camp . From 'IRIS' magazine , November 1983 , pages 39 , 40 , 41 , 42, 43 , 44 and 45 .
... day 4 ..
During target practice , four great shots and the last pulled an inch off centre is no good , we learn to our regular frustration . We see the point when it's explained that a one-inch miss at that range represents four inches at only 100 yards , the difference between a ' kill ' and whistling a bullet past the enemy's ear .
A Volunteer's 'grouping' is worked out by adding together the furthest distances between shots over the five groups , adding one-fifth to the total , and dividing by five . From this the IRA Training Officers can work out the probability , expressed as a percentage , of a particular Volunteer achieving a ' kill ' at a given range with a given number of shots .
Eventually the shooting's over , the shooting 'tunnel' dismantled and the hundred's of spent ammo cases (and the cigarette butts !) gathered up . Time to pack-up , and clean up the area as if we were never there .......
(MORE LATER).
THE ARMALITE AND THE BALLOT BOX ....... " The military struggle will not slow down to relate to Sinn Fein's political activity . "
Michael Farrell interviews two spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the leadership of the IRA .
From 'MAGILL' magazine , July 1983 , pages 7, 9 and 11 .
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has kidnapped the father of Raymond Gilmore , the Derry supergrass . What will happen to him ? "
IRA : " The fate of Raymond Gilmore's father rests in Raymond Gilmore's hands . It all rests with him . "
MICHAEL FARRELL : " The IRA has attacked many off-duty UDR men and RUC Reservists . You justify this because they are members of the British forces , but do you not accept that such killings alienate the Protestant communities among whom these people live and work ? "
IRA : " It is a euphemism to talk of off-duty or part-time UDR men or RUC men . They are never off-duty . They are armed all the time and if they came upon IRA Volunteers they would attack them , whether they were on duty or not . We cannot allow an armed organisation which is ranged against us to go undeterred because of the sensitivities of the loyalist population .
Do they care about the sensitivities of the nationalist population who have suffered so much ....... ? "
(MORE LATER).
FROM BELFAST PRISON . From 'The United Irishman' newspaper , Aibrean [April] 1957 , page 6.(IML. IX. UIMHIR 4 - price Tri Pingin [Three Pennies].Thanks to my late friends Christy and Theresa L. for giving me this 48-year-old newspaper ; this thread published in memory of those two old Fenians ! - John.
Belfast Prison , 17th February 1957 .
On the eve of this General Election we , the Internees in Belfast Prison , appeal to all Irish men and women to sink all petty differences and support the Sinn Fein candidates in this contest . After thirty-five years of what is termed 'self-government' it is clear beyond doubt that none of the 'major parties' has a solution for attaining freedom of our country .
The candidates of Sinn Fein are the true followers of Pearse and Connolly despite coercion and misrepresentation by those who deviated from the true Republican principles . In this grave hour when the Freedom Fighters of the North have been treacherously stabbed in the back we call on you to become alive to your serious responsibilities to the Irish Nation .
Every vote cast for Sinn Fein is a vote for freedom - political and economic . Rally to the standard-bearers of the Republican Movement .......
(MORE LATER).
