The Arms Crisis: A Tale of Political Intrigue in Ireland

In the tumultuous year of 1970, Ireland was rocked by a political scandal that would reverberate through its corridors of power for decades. Known as the Arms Crisis, this dramatic episode involved allegations against prominent cabinet ministers Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney, accused of conspiring to smuggle arms to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Northern Ireland. This gripping saga of political ambition and clandestine operations unfolded against the backdrop of the Troubles, a period marked by intense conflict and strife.

The Gathering Storm

The roots of the Arms Crisis lay in the Fianna Fáil government led by Jack Lynch. As the Northern Ireland riots of 1969 erupted, nationalist families were displaced, seeking refuge across the border into the Republic of Ireland. The Dublin government responded by establishing a cabinet subcommittee to coordinate emergency relief efforts. Among its members were Charles Haughey, the Minister for Finance, and Neil Blaney, the outspoken Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. Tasked with administering a government fund of £100,000, Haughey wielded substantial influence over the relief efforts.

Haughey and Blaney soon found themselves at odds with Taoiseach Lynch, whose cautious policies on Northern Ireland clashed with their more aggressive stance. Blaney, who hailed from the Donegal North-East constituency bordering Northern Ireland, had even proposed military intervention—a suggestion Lynch briefly entertained through a proposal known as Exercise Armageddon. However, this plan was deemed impractical and ultimately shelved.

Undeterred, Blaney, a vocal critic of the government's Northern Ireland policy, continued to push for a more forceful approach, famously declaring that Fianna Fáil had never ruled out the use of force if necessary. Meanwhile, Haughey, wary of being politically outmaneuvered, kept his opposition to Lynch's policies largely private.

Secret Meetings and Conspiracies

In October 1969, a clandestine meeting took place in Bailieborough, County Cavan, involving the Northern Citizen Defence Committees, a group formed to protect nationalist areas from unionist attacks. Present at this meeting was Captain James Kelly, an Irish Army intelligence officer, who assured the committees of financial support to purchase weapons for defense. Upon returning, Kelly reported to Blaney, who then took him to Haughey's residence to discuss the plan further. It was here that the seeds of a controversial plot were sown, with suggestions that the government might support the IRA, even if it meant accepting armed action as a last resort.

Blaney and Captain Kelly allegedly orchestrated plans to import weapons from continental Europe, with Haughey reportedly providing funds from his relief budget. Haughey also attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to secure customs clearance for the arms shipment.

The web of intrigue expanded with a meeting between Haughey and IRA Chief of Staff Cathal Goulding, a rendezvous reported to the Minister for Justice, Mícheál Ó Móráin, by Garda Special Branch. Haughey dismissed this encounter as a mere coincidence. In November 1969, John Kelly, a Belfast republican leader, and Haughey's brother Jock ventured to London to procure arms. However, suspicions of discovery led them to abort their mission and return to Ireland.

The Scandal Unravels

By late April 1970, the Garda Síochána Special Branch had uncovered the plot and informed Taoiseach Lynch. Yet, Lynch hesitated until opposition leader Liam Cosgrave was briefed by the Special Branch and pressured Lynch to act. On May 6, Haughey and Blaney were dismissed from their ministerial posts after refusing to resign. Their dismissal prompted Kevin Boland, the Minister for Social Welfare, to resign in protest, asserting that Lynch and key cabinet members, notably Jim Gibbons, the Minister for Defence, were aware of the arms import plan.

The legal showdown began on May 28, 1970, with Haughey and Blaney standing trial in Dublin alongside Captain James Kelly, John Kelly, and Belgian businessman Albert Luykx, who was allegedly involved in acquiring the weapons. Charges against Blaney were dropped on July 2, 1970, in the District Court, sparing him from trial. However, the main trial commenced under Justice Aindrias Ó Caoimh, only to collapse amid accusations of bias. A subsequent trial, overseen by Justice Seamus Henchy, concluded on October 23 with the acquittal of the remaining defendants.

In court, Haughey's defense hinged on his claim of ignorance regarding the shipment's contents, contradicting the testimony of Jim Gibbons and Peter Berry, who insisted Haughey was fully informed. This discrepancy led the judge to suggest that either Haughey or Gibbons was guilty of perjury.

Aftermath and Lasting Impact

The scandal left a profound impact, reshaping the Irish political landscape. The departures of Haughey and Blaney created four cabinet vacancies, prompting a significant reshuffle that elevated future political leaders like Desmond O'Malley and Gerry Collins. Fianna Fáil was left divided, with factions supporting either the ousted ministers or Lynch. The rift influenced government policy on Northern Ireland and altered political careers. Haughey, relegated to the backbenches, remained in Fianna Fáil and eventually ascended to party leadership in 1979. Boland and Blaney, however, were expelled, with Blaney founding his own party, Independent Fianna Fáil.

The Arms Crisis became a defining moment for Lynch, with supporters praising his resolve against rebellious ministers, while critics decried his indecision. As state papers from the era surfaced after 1995, questions lingered about the truthfulness of those involved. The diaries of Peter Berry, Secretary of the Department of Justice, published in Magill magazine, accused Lynch of lacking transparency. Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed state alterations to Colonel Hefferon's statements, concealing that he and Captain Kelly had kept Gibbons informed, leading Bertie Ahern, then Taoiseach, to assert Captain Kelly's innocence.

Sources

For further reading and more in-depth information, refer to the original Wikipedia article: Arms Crisis