Gerard Lovett on Ireland’s Special Branch: the inside story of their battle with the IRA, 1922-1947
While the government had originally planned to abolish the Special Branch completely, the failure of de Valera’s conciliatory approach and the increasing militancy of a resurgent IRA soon led to a change of heart. This led to the swift injection of over 300 former pro-Treaty IRA men into Special Branch, who were quickly christened “The Broy Harriers” .
In December 1938, the IRA Army Council proclaimed themselves the legitimate government of Ireland with the right to wage war in the name of the Republic and presented the British with an ultimatum to withdraw their forces from Ireland. When this was ignored, the ill-fated bombing campaign in UK cities began. Back at home, the government introduced draconian legislation which provided the legal framework for ruthlessly suppressing the IRA.
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