Irish Republican Army (Central Intelligence Agency)

HC Deb 24 November 1982 vol 32 cc514-5W

33. Mr. Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in the light of the acquittal by a New York Federal court of five men charged with supplying arms to the Provisional Irish Republican Army on the grounds that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in gun-running activities to them, what information he has sought from the United States Government about the alleged involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency in the supply of arms to the Irish Republican Army.

Mr. Hurd

We accept the statement made in court by the United States authorities that the CIA was not in any way involved with the defendants or in running guns to the IRA.