Armed patrols seek to intercept arms shipments

No arrests of public office holders involved in Ulster gun running

Augustine Birrell, the Chief Secretary of Ireland, told the House of Commons in London yesterday that amongst the men and women who were involved with the gunrunning by the Ulster Volunteers were justices of the peace, county lieutenants and deputy lieutenants and others who hold public office.

Mr. Birrell was responding to questions from the Liberal MP, James Hogge, and he was also asked whether indictments had been drawn against any of those involved in the gun running. He answered: ‘The reply is in the negative.’

Amidst the fallout from the gun running, loyalists are continuing to distribute the rifles and ammunition across Ulster. Elaborate plans have been implemented to ensure the distribution of weapons to units of the Ulster Volunteers in certain areas of Antrim, Down and Tyrone.

'Warships at Belfast'. Destroyers looking out for more gun-runners. (Image: Irish Life, May 1914. Full collection of Irish Life available in the National Library of Ireland)

In South Derry, three heavily-laden motor lorries arrived from Belfast at 4am and guns were transferred to more than a dozen cars before being conveyed to various local centres.

Evidence of the heightened state of alert amongst the authorities across the country emerged when a steamer was boarded and searched at Wicklow. The Bonahaven was searched for arms and ammunition after an error was found in the captain’s sheet. The cargo on board was simply 30 cases of machinery bound for a local trader.

A letter detailing the roles of individuals in the Larne gun running. Click on the image to view the letter in full. (Image: National Archives of Ireland, CSO RP 1914 7273)

Further down the east coast at Waterford, coastguards have been on the lookout for a gun running expedition for several days. Armed patrols of the coast have so far not resulted in any definitive finds.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, customs officers have impounded twenty cases of firearms that were brought ashore the steamer Lord Charlemont, from Baltimore in the United States. The cases contained more than 200 sporting rifles and were intended for an address in Dublin. It is not yet clear who, precisely, the intended recipients of the shipment were, although it is rumoured to be for a Dublin guns firm.