Latest:

04:42 Portsmouth seek court adjournment
04:02 McCanns back in court over book ban
03:02 Troops poised for Taliban offensive
02:42 Haiti earthquake death toll rises
02:42 White Stripes blast 'war' advert
02:32 Playground for pensioners approved
02:12 Rise in illness among UK troops
01:22 Police 'to tempt murder witnesses'

Irish army planned to attack Belfast

Monday, 31 August 2009

Bookmark & Share

Military documents declassified by the Irish government show that the Irish army planned to launch guerrilla attacks in Belfast in 1969.

According to the details revealed in the Sunday Times, among strategic locations to be targeted were the BBC’s television studios, the docks, airport and key industries.

According to the documents declassified in 2004, the guerrilla plot, codenamed Exercise Armageddon, was designed to draw Northern Ireland security forces away from border towns, allowing Irish troops to be established there.

In a TV documentary, presenter Tom Clonan, a security analyst, says the proposed guerrilla forces would have been Irish soldiers trained for special forces operations.

The documents show that a special board set up to look at the Republic’s response to the Troubles outbreak, ruled out a conventional military operation.

The strategy was to use an unconventional plan to defend nationalists living in Northern Ireland.

The papers reveal 2,817 troops were needed for the operation, but only 2,136 were available.

Mr Clonan said the papers tell of how army strategists drew up military plans after then Taoiseach Jack Lynch said in August 1969 that the Irish government would not stand by and watch innocent people being hurt.

The historic October 1969 document noted the majority of vital installations — such as Belfast city airport, the television studios, docks and main industries — are located in the north-eastern part of the province, some distance from the border, and suggested operations should be unconventional.

Mr Clonan said the second part of the plan was about launching two infantry-company attacks, with about 120 troops, into Derry and Newry. He said, according to the document, the operation would have to be unilateral — with no declaration of war.

It would be an attack without warning.

In the document, military planners say an attack would leave the south exposed to the threat of retaliatory punitive military action by UK forces on the Republic and concluded any operations undertaken against Northern Ireland would be “militarily unsound”.

Apparently, lack of morale was a problem facing the Irish army.

Military officials also planned for soldiers being cut off in Donegal, if British forces broke through between Belleek and Ballyshannon.

However, details of the deliberations at the time reveal that planners said because of the vulnerability of the county of Donegal, plans should be prepared to provide for the continued existence there of the Republic’s units, should the area be isolated by British action.

Comments

First |
Previous
1
2
3
4
Next
| Last

76 Comments

I watched the documentary lack of morale wasn't the issue as ex Irish soldiers said morale was high. The Irish army was so underfunded and hadn't got the weapons to mount a successful offensive. The weird thing is that it seemed to have come really close

Posted by Dave | 21.09.09, 23:54 GMT

William obviously you don’t know what went on at the start of the troublws are you would ben a wee bit careful in what you write. The first people murdered in the ‘troubles’ were murdered on the Shankill Rd in 1966 by the UVF. Two were Catholics and one was a Protestant woman. The next two to be murdered were two Catholics by the RUC in July 1969. Then in the following month of August six more Catholics were murdered including nine year old Patrick Rooney, who was shot while lying in his own bed. There were also two Protestants murdered in August. The first explosions were in March 1969 carried out by the UVF on an electricity substation near Belfast. The next in April 1969 was the explosion in the Silent Valley reservoir by the UVF, and in October of that year Thomas McDowell, a member of the UVF died when a bomb he was handling exploded prematurely at a power station near Ballyshannon in County Donegal. Don't let the truth get in the way of your wee rant. Correct me if i'm wrong.

Posted by Spot_On | 01.09.09, 12:05 GMT

sean the next time you travel down south you will be tecnically a visiting guest, from the north of ireland still part of united kingdom, if this were not the case why did ira spend thirty years blowing place up, but the good news old man is if you want to move no ones stopping you,still hope you stay your presence provides a good laugh to those who acknowledge your ignorance

Posted by william | 01.09.09, 08:11 GMT

Got to agree with Jim. I reckon that most of you taking part in this discussion spent at least some time in school and were educated in the english language. If you are going to get hot under the collar (pro or contra) then at least make an attempt to write properly. It hurts my eyes to read some of this badly written drivel.

Posted by robin | 01.09.09, 08:04 GMT

Haven't laughed so much in ages.
I've got an idea......why doesn't N Ireland invade the republic??
You could all have one footbal team then.
Catch yerself on people..
..and the lead should be given to the correspondant (see previous comments) who doesn't understand the difference between GB and UK.....keep up the good work.
DFR

Posted by Dermot | 31.08.09, 22:47 GMT

They couldn't do it and they didn't do it so what are you all moaning about??

Posted by Auldoll | 31.08.09, 20:39 GMT

These are just contingency plans, not to be taken seriously.

All governments have to create them if a threat exists. The British had contingency plans for invading Russia, doesnt mean they were ever gave it serious consideration.

Posted by JD | 31.08.09, 18:51 GMT

This was an Irish Army contingency plan, something which ALL armies possess. Even Canada had a "Plan Red" discussing invasion of the U.S. in the 1930's, and probably still have a variant of it on the books. Armies plan and decide what is feasible and what isn't. In this case the plan specifically advised AGAINST invasion.

Secondly for all those misinformed people denigrating the Irish Army, you'd be well advised to check out the Irish Army's reputation amongst those in the know. It's extremely high even more so for the Irish Army Rangers who are regarded as some of the best soldiers in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Rangers

If the IARW were deployed to NI, those now seemingly baying for blood would quickly change their tune. Really the juvenility on show here from some is both saddening and shocking.

Posted by Saighdúirí | 31.08.09, 18:48 GMT

Armies come up with all sorts of contingency plans all the time. The reality of the situation was that before the British Army came into Northern Ireland, nationalist communities were at extreme risk.

I would suspect that Dublin put pressure on London to bring the situation under control. Initially one of the army's main purpose in NI was to protect the nationalist communities.

I really wouldn't get too hot under the collar about these documents.

also @realist : Irish Passport Holders do not require a visa to enter the United States. They've exactly the same arrangement as UK passport holders. However, Dublin and Shannon Airports have a special arrangement which allows passengers to pre-clear US customs and immigration at their leisure without all the queues and fuss. The aircraft then lands in the US as if it were a domestic flight. The only other country with this arrangement with the US is Canada.

Posted by David Kelly | 31.08.09, 17:37 GMT

Ted, you're absolutely right about the rangers. I guess under the assumption that Irish manoeuvre would have escalated to a complete mobilisation (which Afghanistan and other modern wars are not Ireland would absolutely not have stood a chance. Obviously it wouldn't have escalated to that degree given the obvious political UN fallout, and both sides would have been forced to sue for peace, and/or continue a subversive irregular war which they did anyway. Interesting to think of what-might-have beens, and be grateful that they stay that way.

Posted by Mark | 31.08.09, 17:29 GMT

this is propaganda , why bring this up when it didnt happen, believe it or not , the british did invade it first , the irish army would of looked more natural there anyway, all of ireland is historically united , you can never change that

Posted by zilton | 31.08.09, 17:28 GMT

The Irish aren't going anywhere? Plenty of them go to England and Scotland.

Posted by a | 31.08.09, 17:24 GMT

"never a member", I agree with your sentiments about condemnation about terrorists of any ilk.

Unfortunately the phrase is used a little to liberally these days to define "the enemy", whoever they may be. As the troubles thought us, a "government" that uses terrorist tactics, murdering children and innocent civilians who are seeking civil rights is every bit the terrorist as the ones wearing balaclavas and bombing civilians.

I guess if the UDR don't meet your definition of a terrorist then its hard to see what would.

Anyway ... moving on.

Posted by Mark | 31.08.09, 17:18 GMT

Remember Easter 1916? A small group of Irishmen laughably took on the might of the British Empire and guess what, they were crushed, as the British naturally did their worst to stamp them out. But as a result of that, less than 6 years later there was not a British jackboot was to be seen in the 26 counties....and remember Ireland has 32 counties, only 2 have a Unionist majority....

Posted by Couting the Days | 31.08.09, 17:18 GMT

what a load of rubbish. this has been a night in the bar with free guinness flowing.

this is the same as a bad meal, very hard to swallow. the republic did nothing for the nationalists then and they do the same for all 6 county people today.

if i were the republic government, i would have destroyed that document, it shows how silly they are.

up the workers

Posted by gerard devlin | 31.08.09, 16:07 GMT

John
If as you say 850,000 people are from the unionist side and 91% are not then the population of Ireland is nearly 9.5 million ??????????

Posted by Dave | 31.08.09, 15:29 GMT

Why does the Belfast Telegraph allow such bigotry amongst so few?
Why does the Belfast Telegraph even run with such a story that they know will only stir up hatred?
Why does the Belfast Telegraph run with such a story that has stirred so much hatred?
Why? Because they know what small minded people we are and they know that many will respond with hatred in their heart.
They also know that it sells newspapers. Think about that!!!!

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son.

Posted by The Lisburn Joker | 31.08.09, 14:59 GMT

colin, thanks for your reply. although I have aspirations for a united Ireland I wasn't having a go at unionist ideals. I think slowly we are all moving forward and hopefully the hatred on both sides will subside. it's all about educating the kids.

Posted by ted in Dublin | 31.08.09, 14:17 GMT

Plenty has changed in the last thirty years. And if you dont acknowledge that then you desecrate the sacrifice people on both sides made.

Posted by Éamonn | 31.08.09, 14:12 GMT

I've read a lot of posts here from people who obviously take delight in mocking and ridiculing the small army of the Irish Republic. You needn't bother. Altough small, the Irish army today is very well trained, very well equiped and a very professional outfit. Over the last 30 years the Irish army has garnered huge respect and a great reputation all around the world for its successful overseas U.N. operations ranging from the Congo, to the Lebanon, East Timor, Liberia, Chad etc. I know a hell of a lot about militaries of the world (I work in this area) and to people who like to make annoying comments about the Irish Army having one tank and aerolplane and a father Ted milk float i'd just like to mention to them the Irish Army Ranger Wing (IARW). This is without doubt one of the most potent and fearsome special forces in the world regularly beating othertop special forces in friendly competitions.

Posted by Phil | 31.08.09, 14:04 GMT