Provisional Irish Republican Army arms importation

The Provisional Irish Republican Army began importing large quantities of weapons and ammunition into the Republic of Ireland for use in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s. With these weapons it conducted an armed campaign against the British presence in Northern Ireland.

American arms
In the early stages of the Troubles, during the period 1969–1972, the Provisional IRA was poorly armed. They had access to weapons remaining from the IRA's failed Border Campaign between 1956 and 1962, but these weapons were outdated and unsuitable for a modern campaign.

After 1969, and the split with the Official IRA, the Provisional IRA gained control of a majority of the stockpiled weaponry still held from previous IRA campaigns. They found that the stockpiles consisted mostly of World War II small arms ranging from Lee Enfield & M1 Garand rifles, to MP40 & Thompson submachine guns (SMG), plus Bren light machine guns (LMG) and Webley revolvers. The Garands were used in IRA operations as late as the summer of 1976, when a British army patrol in South Armagh was fired on by one of these rifles loaded with armour-piercing ammunition.

To continue and escalate their armed campaign, the IRA needed to be better equipped, which meant securing modern small arms. In previous campaigns weapons had been secured before hostilities commenced via raids on British Army and even Irish Army weapons depots. In the 1969–1971 period this was no longer feasible. By 1972, the IRA had large quantities of modern small arms, particularly Armalite rifles, manufactured and purchased in the United States. The AR-18 rifle in particular was found to be very well suited to the Provisionals' purposes as its small size and folding stock meant that it was easy to conceal. Moreover, it was capable of rapid fire and fired a high velocity round which provided great "stopping power".

The IRA's main gun runner in the USA was George Harrison, an IRA veteran, resident in New York since 1938. Harrison bought guns for the IRA from a Corsican arms dealer named George de Meo, who had connections in organised crime. Joe Cahill acted as the contact between NORAID and Harrison. In 1971, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) had already seized 700 modern weapons from the IRA, including 2 tonnes of high explosive and 157,000 rounds of ammunition, most of which were US made.



Harrison spent an estimated US$1 million in the 1970s purchasing over 2,500 guns for the IRA. According to Brendan Hughes, an IRA member who later became Officer Commanding of the IRA inside Long Kesh prison, the IRA smuggled small arms from America by sea on the 'Queen Elizabeth II' from New York via Southampton, through Irish members of her crew, until the network was cracked down on by the FBI in the 1980s. These Queen Elizabeth II shipments included M16, CAR-15, AR-18 and AR-15 Armalite assault rifles, accompanied by Browning pistols and Smith & Wesson pistols and revolvers and were driven from Southampton to Belfast in small consignments.

In the late 1970s, another IRA member, Gabriel Megahey, was sent to America to acquire more arms and he was able to procure more AR-15 Armalites, plus a number of Heckler & Koch rifles and other weapons. Again, the purchase of these weapons was funded by Irish American republicans. A batch of M60 machine guns was imported in 1977.

Harrison was arrested by the FBI in 1981, but acquitted at his trial. Megahey was arrested by the FBI in 1982 after a successful "sting operation", where he was trying to purchase surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) for the IRA, and sentenced to seven years in prison.

In 1984, the FBI warned Ireland that a major IRA arms shipment was underway from the US, and that the weaponry would be transferred to an Irish fishing trawler in the Atlantic. Subsequently, Irish authorities discovered that arms ship was a vessel named Marita Ann, allegedly after a tip off Sean O'Callaghan, an IRA informant for the Garda Síochána (police of the Republic of Ireland). Three Irish Naval Service ships confronted the vessel off the coast of County Kerry, and prevented its escape by firing warning shots. A team of naval personnel and Garda officers boarded the ship, arresting the crew of five and confiscating seven tons of military equipment, as well as medications, training manuals, and communications equipment.

Libyan arms
The other source of IRA arms in the 1970s was Libya, whose leader, Muammar Gaddafi, sympathised with their campaign. Four successful shipments of arms were made between 1985 and 1986, providing large quantities of modern weaponry, including heavy weaponry such as heavy machine guns, over 1,000 rifles, several hundred handguns, rocket-propelled grenades, flamethrowers, surface-to-air missiles, and Semtex  —an odorless explosive, invisible to X-rays, and many times more powerful than fertilizer. According to British journalist Toby Harnden, from late 1986 to 2011, "virtually every bomb constructed by the Provisional IRA" and splinter groups such as the Real IRA, "has contained Semtex from a Libyan shipment unloaded at an Irish pier in 1986."

The first Libyan arms donation to the IRA occurred in 1972–1973, following visits by Joe Cahill to Libya. In early 1973, the Government of the Republic of Ireland received intelligence that the vessel Claudia was carrying a shipment of weapons, and placed the ship under surveillance on 27 March. On 28 March, three Irish Naval Service patrol vessels intercepted the Claudia in Irish territorial waters near Helvick Head, County Waterford, seizing five tonnes of Libyan arms and ammunition found on board. The weapons seized included 250 Soviet-made small arms, 240 rifles, anti-tank mines and other explosives. Cahill was found and arrested on board. It is estimated that three shipments of weapons of similar size and makeup did get through to the IRA during the same time period. Moloney reports that the early Libyan arms shipments furnished the IRA with its first RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and that Gaddafi also donated three to five million US dollars at this time. However contact with the Libyan government was broken off in 1976.

Contact with Libya was restored in the aftermath of the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike, which was said to have impressed Gadaffi. In the 1980s, the IRA secured larger quantities of weapons and explosives from Gaddafi's Libya — enough to supply at least two infantry battalions. These shipments were in retaliation for the British Government's support for the US Air Force's bombing attacks on Tripoli and Benghazi in 1986, which in turn were in retaliation for the 1986 bombing of the LaBelle discotheque in Berlin. The USAF planes involved in the bombings had taken off from British bases on 14 April 1986, and Libya reportedly suffered 60 casualties in the attack. This second major Libyan contribution to the IRA came in 1986–1987. The arms shipments included:
 * 9mm Browning, Taurus, Glock and Beretta handguns
 * AK-47 Kalashnikov and AKM assault rifles
 * MP5 submachine guns
 * RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launcher
 * Soviet made DShK heavy machine guns
 * FN MAG machine guns
 * Military flamethrowers
 * Semtex plastic explosive
 * Strela 2 man portable SAMs

However, on 1 November 1987, during transit to Ireland, one-third of the total Libyan arms consignment being carried aboard the MV Eksund was intercepted by the French Navy while the ship was in the Bay of Biscay, along with five crew members, among them Gabriel Cleary. The vessel was found to contain 120 tonnes of weapons, including HMGs, 36 RPGs, 1000 detonators, 20 SAMs, Semtex and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition. Author Ed Moloney claimed that the Eksund shipment also contained military mortars and 106 millimetre cannon, an assertion never confirmed by the Irish authorities. Despite the Eksund fiasco, the IRA was by then equipped with a quantity and quality of weaponry and explosives never available to them at any other phase of their history. Furthermore, according to Brendan O'Brien there was actually an 'over-supply', specially regarding the 600 AK-47s still in the hands of the IRA by 1992. There were four shipments before the Eksund which were not intercepted, in a huge intelligence failure of both Irish and British agencies described as 'calamitous' by author Brendan O'Brien. The previous arm supplies from Libya developed as follows:
 * The trawler Casamara took on ten tonnes of weapons in September 1985 off the Maltese island of Gozo. These weapons were landed off the Clogga Strand near Arklow by inflatable boats some weeks later. The shipment contained five hundred crates of AK-47s, pistols, hand grenades, ammunition and seven RPG-7s.
 * The Casamara (renamed Kula at this time), left Maltese waters on 6 October 1985 carrying a cache of DShK heavy machine guns.
 * In July 1986, there was a shipment of 14 tonnes, including, according to the authorities, two SAM-7s.
 * In October 1986, another shipment of 80 tonnes which included one tonne of Semtex, reportedly ten SAM-7 missiles, more RPG-7s, AK-47s and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition arrived aboard the oil-rig replenishment Villa.

It is also estimated that the Libyan government gave the IRA the equivalent of £2 million along with the 1980s shipments.

Garda Síochána (Irish police) uncovered numerous arms destined for the IRA in 1988. These included several hundred AK-47s, Russian DSHK HMGs, FN MAG machine guns and Semtex.

By 1996, Jane's Intelligence Review reported that "it is believed that the bulk of the material presently in IRA arsenals was shipped from Libya in the mid-1980s with the aid of a skipper, Adrian Hopkins, hired for the purpose by the IRA."

Compensation claims
On 31 October 2009, a cross-party delegation of Northern Irish politicians travelled to the Libyan capital Tripoli for the first face to face meeting with Libyan government ministers to discuss compensation claims for victims of IRA violence.

Other arms sources
As well as these major sources of arms, the IRA has also bought weapons on a smaller scale from various arms dealers in continental Europe. In the 1970s, some guns were purchased by Dáithí Ó Conaill in Czechoslovakia and in the 1980s, Belgian FN FNC rifles were obtained, probably smuggled through the Netherlands. There was contact between the IRA and the PLO starting from the mid-70's which included the training of IRA volunteers. At one stage the PLO offered weapons and training to the IRA, but they declined on the grounds that it was impossible to smuggle arms out of the Middle East without alerting Israeli intelligence. Tim Pat Coogan wrote that assistance from the PLO largely dried up in the mid-1980s after the PLO had forged stronger links with the government of the Republic of Ireland. AK4 rifles from Norway and Sweden were also secretly obtained.

Last arms deals
In the 1990s, the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade smuggled in a number of Barrett M82 and Barrett M90 .50 BMG rifles from the United States. These weapons were used by two South Armagh sniper teams to conduct a sniping campaign against British Army patrols operating in the area. The last British soldier killed in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, Stephen Restorick, was shot dead with a Barrett rifle in 1997. Soon after, the leader of one of the Armagh sniper squads, Michael Caraher, was arrested and a Barrett rifle recovered.

Despite their ceasefires of 1994 and 1997 the IRA continued to buy arms. They needed a new source of weapons, since the Libyan pipeline had been closed. In May 1996, the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's internal security service, publicly accused Estonia of arms smuggling, and claimed that the IRA had contacted representatives of Estonia's volunteer defense force, Kaitseliit, and some non-government groups to buy weapons. However he did not say when the contacts had taken place. In July 1999, three men, Anthony Smyth, Conor Claxton, and Martin Mullan, along with an accomplice, Siobhan Browne, were arrested by the American FBI and ATF agencies and accused of buying 44 handguns from arms dealers in Florida in the United States and posting 15 of the weapons to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Later estimates put the number of guns sent to Ireland at more than 100 pistols and machine-pistols. All three men were cleared of conspiracy to aid terrorists and to commit murder. They were later sentenced on the less serious smuggling charge. The IRA leadership denied knowledge of the arms buys.

The IRA's importation of weapons
They include at total of 70 small arms: M1 carbines, M3 Sub Machine Guns 'grease guns'; some handguns; 60,000 rounds of ammo. and 1 AK-47 -(Possibly bought from a US Military Veteran that served in Vietnam).
 * In 1969 the Provisional IRA receives it's first cache of weapons from supporters in the United States
 * In 1970 the Provisional IRA receives weapons from Basque ETA this includes around 50 Revolvers.
 * The Irish Government sends weapons for defense groups in the North for Nationalists to use to defend their area's. The Majority of them fall into the hands of the Provisional IRA. 9 mm pistols x 500 FRG, 180,000 rounds.
 * In 1971 thanks to Brendan Hughes and other senior Belfast IRA men. The IRA receives it's first consignments of Armalite rifles they include: Around 100 AR-15 and AR-180 rifles via the QE2 (New York to Southampton)
 * Later that year Gardaí recover six suitcases full of 5.56x45 Ammunition at Dublin Port arriving from a ship from the US.
 * Again in 1971, IRA leader Daithi O'Conaill arranges for weapons to be bought off Czechoslovakian Arms Company Omnipol in Prague. The Arms are Seized at Schiphol Airport.
 * In 1972, Colonel Gaddafi sends his first arms shipments to Ireland, the shipment is very small and only contains around 10 weapons and some explosives.
 * Once again in 1972, the IRA buy RPG-7 rocket launchers from unknown sources in Europe.
 * The IRA receives another batch of M16 and AR-15 rifles from supporters in the US.
 * In 1973 the IRA receives another consignment of arms from Libya but the arms are intercepted on board the Claudia by members of the Gardaí. Leading IRA man Joe Cahill and others arrested. The Shipment consisted of Czech made VZ58 rifles, Semtex and other materials possibly RPG-7's and handguns.
 * In 1974, the FBI foil and IRA attempt to buy 100 M16 rifles.
 * In 1977 the PLO (Al-Fatah) Organisation sends arms to the IRA. The are intercepted at Antwerp. An IRA man is arrested by Irish Police. The Arms are believed to have came from the Lebanon.
 * In the US, IRA supporters managed to rob a US Army base of M60 Machine Guns, M16 Assault Rifles and C-100's.
 * Between 1973-78 after IRA supporters robbed a US Marine base of 500,000 round of 5.56x45 NATO rounds. IRA supporters successfully manage to send all bullets to the IRA.
 * 1979 IRA supporters send a cargo of more than 150 guns and 60,000 rounds of ammo. Arms included: 2 M-60's, 15 M-16s, a number of M14s,
 * 1981, the FBI set up a sting capturing some of the Harrison IRA supporters group that was believed to be smuggling most of the arms in for the Provisional IRA. The group had ordered: (350 MAC-10 SMG's and 12 AK-47 rifles).
 * In 1982 US customs discover a truck at the docks of Newark, New Jersey. 4 members of an IRA cell are arrested. The Shipment contained 50 firearms and frequency switches for detonating bombs because the British Army were able to jam most IRA signals for detonating bombs.
 * Later that year Five men are a arrested for entering USA from Canada: suspect of a plot to acquire ammo for IRA. 'Shopping list' the IRA as well as 200 cases discovered by Police.
 * In 1983 the FBI foils an IRA attempt to buy explosives.
 * In 1984 An IRA arms shipment is seized on fishing boat Marita Ann by Irish Navy. Men jailed in USA and Ireland. Arms procured by the Irish Mafia in Boston. It contains Seven tons of arms (M4 Carbines, M16A2's, MAC-10's and many more unknown weapons), ammo and explosives.
 * In 1985, The FBI foils another IRA bid to buy small arms in Colorado, an Irishman is deported.
 * In 1986, 40 firearms, including: 13 FN FAL rifles, an AK-47, 2 hand grenades, drums of nitro benzene,70,000 rounds of ammunition are seized in the Netherlands by Dutch Police. Four IRA men are arrested.
 * Irish police seize 10 G3 (AK4) rifles in 1986 - part of batch of 100 stolen from Norwegian Reserve base near Oslo by a Criminal Gang and sold to the IRA.
 * The FBI set up a sting operation to catch the Harrison gang again. A well known IRA East Tyrone man on the run for killing British forces on the European Continent walks into their traps and attempts to buy Redeye SAMs, M-60 MGs, M-16 rifles, MP5SD SMGs and a 11 Level III bullet-proof vests. He later goes on the run returning to Europe before being captured in 1989 and deported to the US.
 * Between 1985-87 four shipments of arms and explosives successfully landed in Ireland by boat skipper Adrian Hopkins totaling around 150 Tons. The 5th the Eksund is intercepted by French Customs. Libya had sent a total of 300 Tons of Arms including: 150 tons of arms: Romanian AKM's, SA-7s, Semtex-H, RPG-7 rocket launchers, Taurus pistols, plus other materiel's.
 * In 1988 a total 380 gallons of nitro benzene are seized by Gardaí in a Truck. The Chemicals had originated in Holland.
 * US Customs foil bid to buy rifles from gun dealer in Alabama. Two men are jailed they attempted to buy 'High Powered Rifles'
 * Detonators for bombs, parts for an anti-aircraft missile system are seized and a number of IRA members and a NASA Scientist is arrested by FBI after a long covert spying operation that began in 1982. Group of IRA supporters jailed in Boston in 1990 for trying to smuggle a home-made missile system to Ireland.
 * 1988-90 FBI foils plot to acquire FIM-92 Stinger Missiles on black market in Miami. Several arrests are made.
 * Late 80's and Early 90's: The IRA manage to obtain half a dozen Barrett rifles and other .50 cal Sniper Rifles all destined for the South Armagh Sniper Teams.

Decommissioning of arms
Following the announcement of their cessation of violence and commitment to exclusively peaceful means, the Provisional IRA decommissioned its arms in July–September 2005. Among the weaponry estimated, (by Jane's Information Group), to have been destroyed as part of this process were:
 * 1,000 rifles
 * 2 tonnes of Semtex
 * 20–30 heavy machine guns
 * 7 surface-to-air missiles
 * 7 flame throwers
 * 1,200 detonators
 * 11 rocket-propelled grenade launchers
 * 90 hand guns
 * 100+ grenades

The panel overseeing the decommissioning of IRA weaponry and weapons stockpiles, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) headed by General de Chastelain oversaw the decommissioning process. The decommissioning process has taken place using estimates of IRA weaponry submitted by the British and Irish Governments. General de Chastelain said he had seen rifles, particularly AK-47s, machine guns, ground-to-air missiles, explosives, explosive material, mortars, flame throwers, hand guns, timer units and ballistic caps, and some weaponry that was "very old", including a Bren machine gun.

The IICD's final report was issued on 26 September 2005 and the panel stated to the press: "'We have observed and verified events to put beyond use very large quantities of arms which we believe include all the arms in the IRA's possession… Our new inventory is consistent with these estimates. We are satisfied that the arms decommissioning represents the totality of the IRA's arsenal.'" and while they could not report on the quantity or types of weapons destroyed they said: "'The experience of seeing this with our own eyes, on a minute-to-minute basis, provided us with evidence so clear and of its nature so incontrovertible that at the end of the process [IRA weapon decommissioning] it demonstrated to us — and would have demonstrated to anyone who might have been with us — that beyond any shadow of doubt, the arms of the IRA have now been decommissioned.'"

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern also stated at the time: "'The weapons of the IRA are gone, and are gone in a manner which has been verified and witnessed'"

However despite the conclusion of the IICD agreeing with the figures provided by the British security forces, unnamed sources in MI5 and the PSNI have reported to the press that not all IRA arms were destroyed during the process, a claim which so far remains unsubstantiated. These reports have since been scotched by the group overseeing the activities of paramilitaries in Northern Ireland — the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC). In its latest report, dated April 2006, the IMC points out that it has no reason to disbelieve the IRA or information to suspect that the group has not fully decommissioned. Rather, it indicated that any weaponry that had not been handed in had been retained by individuals outside the IRA's control. Excerpt from the IMC's 10th report: "Indeed, our present assessment is that such of the arms as were reported to us as having been retained, would have been withheld under local control despite the instructions of the leadership. We note that, as reported by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), the leadership claimed only to have decommissioned all the arms "under its control". The relevant points are that the amount of un-surrendered material was not significant in comparison to what was decommissioned and that these reports do not cast doubt on the declared intention of the IRA leadership to eschew terrorism and to follow the political path. We will continue to monitor the position."