Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1972 > Committee of Public Accounts > Final Report - Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure

APPENDIX 10

“Pink Book” documents

These documents are those published in January 1971 in a booklet entitled “Documents produced to or sent to the Committee” and referred to in the Minutes of Evidence as the “Pink Book”. For ease of reference, the documents are reproduced in this Appendix in the same format as in the Pink Book. The original “Pink Book” page numbers are printed at the top centre of each page.

The following is a list of the contents:—

1

NORTHERN IRELAND RELIEF EXPENDITURE.

(Grant-in-Aid 1969-70)

Submission (9th December, 1970) by Department of Finance to the

Committee of Public Accounts.

NOTES.

(i) In this submission, persons who live outside the State are referred to, not by name, but as “A”, “B” etc. A separate note is available of the individuals concerned.*

(ii) The submission was prepared on the basis of information available to the Department at or about the end of November, 1970, whether derived from its own records or from reports received from the Gardaí authorities. Since a Garda report, received on 2nd December, 1970, is concerned only with the views of a handwriting expert on some of the documents relating to the Clones and Baggot Street accounts, the submission does not draw on the material in that report.

(iii) As is indicated in the submission, Departmental inquiries are continuing. If they produce any relevant information, this will be brought to the notice of the Committee immediately.

(iv) Unless otherwise indicated, all payments referred to were made from the Grant-in-Aid.

(v) Summaries of the Clones and Baggot Street Bank Accounts, and a consolidated bank account, are contained in Appendices I to V.

(vi) A note on the payments made by Irish Red Cross Society for Northern Ireland relief is contained in Appendix VI.

21. The Government at a meeting on 16th August, 1969, decided, inter alia, that “a sum of money—the amount and the channel of the disbursement of which would be determined by the Minister for Finance—should be made available from the Exchequer to provide aid for the victims of the current unrest in the Six Counties.”

2. On the same date the Government Information Bureau announced that

“the Minister for Finance will make funds available for the relief of victims of the disturbances in the Six Counties and he will have early consultations with the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.”

3. In an announcement on 21st August, 1969, the Government Information Bureau stated that the funds which the Government was making available for the relief of victims of the disturbances in the Six Counties would be administered mainly by the Irish Red Cross Society and would be sufficient to cater for any eventuality which would be likely to arise.

4. A fund was set up, technically a Departmental Suspense Account, until the Dáil voted the necessary sum. A sum of £100,000 in the form of a Grant-in-Aid of Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure was voted by the Dáil on 18th March, 1970.

5. On 20th August, 1969, on the recommendation of the former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, a payment of £1,000 was made to Mr. A. It emerged that he did not require these funds immediately and they were left in a Suspense Account in a Northern Ireland bank in order to be available when required. It has been established that the funds left in the Suspense Account were withdrawn in full as well as a second £1,000 paid to Mr. A in January, 1970 (please see paragraph 28). Mr. A has furnished some particulars of the purposes on which the £2,000 was spent, and further inquiries are proceeding.

6. The Accountant’s records show that a payment of £5,000 was made on 20th August, 1969, to Mr. B, and an acknowledgment dated 22nd September, 1969, was received for what was described as the “North of Ireland Relief Fund”. Mr. B has furnished, on request, particulars of the purposes for which the money was spent. These include housing, food and clothes for refugees as well as return fares to Belfast.

7. On the recommendation of the former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, payments of £500 were made on 26th August, 1969, to Messrs. C and D for the purpose of aiding victims of disturbances in their area. The only Departmental record, apart from the returned cashed payable orders, shows the names of the individuals together with the names of their banks. Both individuals have, on request, given particulars of the purposes for which the money advanced to them was spent. In the case of Mr. C, these were the provision of food, clothing and accommodation to displaced families. In the case of Mr. D, the money was spent on direct cash grants to such families.

8. On 9th September, 1969, a payment of £100 was made to Colonel M. J. Hefferon, Director of Intelligence of the Defence Forces, for Northern Ireland relief. This payment was made as a result of representations by Colonel Hefferon to the Department that an office in Monaghan town which had been actively involved in work relating to refugees in Northern Ireland was running out of funds to meet running costs such as lighting and heating. This office was a valuable source of the information required in connection with the administration of the Army’s plans for Northern Ireland refugees. A specific part of the work of the Intelligence Branch at this period was the 3taking of statements from refugees. Colonel Hefferon has stated that the payable order for the £100 was cashed by him and the cash was passed on to this office. Further details can be supplied if required.

9. Departmental records contain a receipt for £166.12.0. “for Northern Ireland relief” signed by Mr. R. Murnane on some unspecified date in September, 1969. Mr. Fagan, a Principal Officer of the Department (who was directly concerned with the Grant-in-Aid, each payment being made in accordance with the specific directions, oral or written, of the then Minister for Finance) states that this payment was made to Mr. Murnane following the receipt of an Aer Lingus account for return air fares for passengers to London. The account was made out in the name of C. J. Haughey with his home address on it. Mr. Fagan understood from the then Minister that the account was in respect of air journeys made by a number of people whom the Minister had asked to go to London to meet Irish bodies and organisations there with a view to co-ordinating aid for Northern Ireland. Mr. Murnane has been requested to state precisely the purposes for which the money advanced to him was used.

10. Departmental records contain a receipt dated 3rd October, 1969 for a further £500 paid to Colonel Hefferon on 3rd October, 1969, for “Northern Ireland relief”. The relevant cashed payable order contains the signatures “M. Hefferon” on the front and “James J. Kelly” on the back. Colonel Hefferon has stated (November 1970) that he was asked to attend at Mr. Haughey’s house. Captain James Kelly was also present on the occasion. Captain Kelly made an oral requisition on the Minister for £500 and Mr. Haughey agreed to make this amount available. Colonel Hefferon, on receiving the payable order, passed it on to Captain Kelly. He has stated that he understood that the payment related to a meeting or meetings to be held soon afterwards which would be attended by representatives from Northern Defence Committees. A photostat copy of a receipt from Captain Kelly for the £500 has been forwarded by Colonel Hefferon to this Department.

11. By written direction of the then Minister a sum of £1,000 was paid on 7th October, 1969, to Mr. E for the purpose of providing accommodation for refugees from Northern Ireland. This individual has confirmed that this money was spent on Northern Ireland Aid mainly on the rehousing of refugees.

12. Departmental records contain a manuscript note showing “£5,000” in Mr. Haughey’s writing and, under the heading of “Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” the words “Bank of Ireland, Clones” and the names of Messrs. F, G and H. Mr. Fagan states that about 8th October, 1969, the then Minister told him that he had previously arranged, with either Mrs. de Barra or Miss M. B. Murphy of the Irish Red Cross Society to get that Society to transfer £5,000 from its own funds to a fund in the Bank of Ireland in Clones called “The Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” in the joint names of Messrs. F, G and H. Garda inquiries have confirmed that such an account* was opened on 9th October, 1969. This particular payment did not come from the Grant-in-Aid but the method then adopted of transferring funds to the North of Ireland was used later. Paragraphs 15 and 16 refer to payments from the Grant-in-Aid into the Clones account and paragraph 17 contains information supplied by the Gardaí regarding payments out of this account.

13. About this time a deputation from a Belfast refugee committee met the then Minister, as a result of which he gave a written direction (undated) to pay them £20,000 to be lodged to a Belfast bank. The procedure used was to pay this sum on 9th October, 1969, to the Irish Red Cross Society who then arranged the transfer to the Committee. This Committee, which was also assisted directly by the Irish Red Cross Society, has sent to this Department two detailed reports of its disbursement on 164 cases.

14. A further £500 was paid to Colonel Hefferon on 15th October, 1969, for “Northern Ireland Relief”. Colonel Hefferon has stated (November, 1970) that this 4was required to purchase equipment which was needed for the Monaghan Office referred to in paragraph 8; that the £500 was lodged in his own name in a bank other than his own bank; and that only £150 was spent leaving a balance of £350. This balance has been refunded to the Department by Colonel Hefferon. The factors, outlined in paragraph 8, relating to the payment of £100 also applied to this payment.

15. On 20th October, 1969, a sum of £5,000 “for Northern Ireland Relief” was paid into the Irish Red Cross Society No. 2 Account with the Bank of Ireland, College Green. This payment was made in the following circumstances. Mr. Fagan states that the then Minister asked him to request the Irish Red Cross Society to repeat the operation outlined in paragraph 12 i.e. to pay a further £5,000 from its own funds into the Clones account. The then Minister in Mr. Fagan’s presence wrote “£5,000” on the document and handed it to him. Following telephone conversations between Mr. Fagan and Miss M. B. Murphy, General Secretary of the Irish Red Cross Society, he reported to the Minister that the Red Cross regretted that they could not meet the request because they were rather low in funds at the time. The then Minister instructed Mr. Fagan to pay £5,000 from the Grant-in-Aid to the Red Cross with a request to transfer it in turn to the Clones account. This was the first payment which adopted the method of transferring sums from the Grant-in-Aid to the “Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” via the Irish Red Cross.

16. On 29th October, 1969, Mr. Fagan informed the then Minister in writing that “Jim Kelly’s friends are looking for another £5,000 (Clones). Kelly will talk to you if necessary.”

By written Ministerial direction a sum of £5,000 was paid to the account of the Irish Red Cross Society in the Bank of Ireland on 29th October, 1969. The Irish Red Cross Society reported that this amount had been transferred to the joint account in the names of Messrs. F, G, and H.

17. Garda inquiries have confirmed the three lodgments to the account in the Bank of Ireland, Clones, as recorded in this Department’s files. They have also established that endorsements on cheques drawn on this Account show that on 10th October, 1969, Mr. I drew out the sum of £2,000; on 17th October, 1969, Mr. F drew out the sum of £2,000; on 24th October, 1969, Mr. I again drew the sum of £2,000 and on 5th November, 1969, Mr. J drew the sum of £2,000; two further cheques drawn on the account have not been endorsed and there is nothing to indicate who drew the cash on them—one is for the sum of £2,500 and is dated 10th November, 1969, while the second is for the sum of £4,450 and is dated 18th November, 1969. Details of the operation of this account are shown in Appendix II to this Report [i.e. this Submission].

18. The Gardaí report that they have been unable so far to establish the identity of Mr. I; the Department of Finance understand that he is a resident of Northern Ireland. The identities of Messrs. F and J are known. Garda inquiries are continuing.

19. On 10th November, 1969, a sum of £7,500 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society with a written request that it should be transferred to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin, the cheque to be made payable to the bank and covering note addressed to the Deputy Manager. The “Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” was not mentioned in the correspondence. Mr. Fagan states that the change from the Clones account to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, was made because Captain Kelly had explained that Clones was too inconvenient and that he wished to have the bank account transferred to a Dublin bank. Captain Kelly confirmed that it was the same account and in the same names as the Clones account. Mr. Fagan, who did not consider it necessary to consult the then Minister, arranged by telephone with the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, an appointment for Captain Kelly as a person known to the Minister. The pattern now set for this payment was followed in subsequent payments to the “Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress”. Paragraphs 23 to 26 and 29 to 33 refer to these payments. Paragraph 34 relates to payments out of the account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

20. Garda inquiries have confirmed that on 11th November, 1969, an account was opened in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Lower Baggot Street, under the title 5“Relief Committee of Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” in the names of John White, John Loughran and Roger Murphy, with an address in Belfast. The Gardaí state that they have not yet established who opened this account. Their inquiries have revealed, however, that the names “John White, John Loughran and Roger Murphy” are fictitious and that no persons by those names reside at the address in Belfast. They have also established that the Ledger Card relating to the account has the following instruction typed thereon: “Do not send out statement, no correspondence to be sent out, all enquiries to A. J. Fagan”. A bank official who recorded this instruction told the Gardaí that, while he was not certain who gave him the instruction he was positive that it was not Mr. Fagan. Mr. Fagan states that he never heard of “John White”, “John Loughran” or “Roger Murphy” and that he did not authorise Captain Kelly, the Munster and Leinster Bank or anybody else to have inquiries relating to the account addressed to him. He never received any such inquiries, bank statements, returned cheques or information of any kind concerning this account from the Bank.

21. Garda inquiries have also established the existence of two other accounts at the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, in the names of “George Dixon” and “Ann O’Brien”. Both these accounts were opened on 14th November, 1969. An analysis of all the bank accounts would suggest that funds lodged to these two accounts came from the White/Loughran/Murphy account and from the Clones account. This aspect is commented on later in this submission in paragraphs 34 to 36.

22. A conflict of evidence arises at this point. An official of the Munster and Leinster Bank, formerly in the Baggot Street Branch but now serving elswhere, has stated that some days after the opening of the White/Loughran/Murphy account he received a second telephone call from Mr. Fagan who said that, for easier withdrawal or disbursement of moneys in the joint account which required two signatures at all times, it was intended to open separate accounts in individual names and that a Mr. Kelly would call and introduce himself and make the necessary arrangements. Later on the same date, Captain James Kelly called at the bank and made arrangements for opening two separate accounts which were in the names of “George Dixon” and “Ann O’Brien”. Mr. Fagan, on the other hand, denies emphatically that he raised this matter in any way with any Munster and Leinster Bank official. He is positive that the only telephone call he made regarding the opening of an account was that referred to in paragraph 19. He states that it was only about April, 1970, that he gathered from a conversation with the manager of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, and that he inferred from a conversation with Captain Kelly, that the latter operated an account other than the main account in the bank. Mr. Fagan also states that, until June, 1970, he never heard of either “George Dixon” or “Ann O’Brien” or of bank accounts in those two names at the Baggot Street Branch of the Munster and Leinster Bank and that he never received any enquiries, bank statements, returned cheques or information of any kind concerning those two accounts.

23. On 19th November, 1969, a minute from Mr. Fagan to the then Minister stated that—

“Kelly’s people would like £2,000 more. Is this O.K. through Red Cross please?”

Following on the then Minister’s written approval, a payment of £2,000 was made on 20th November, 1969 to the Irish Red Cross Society for transfer to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street and the manager of the bank was notified accordingly.

24. On 27th November, 1969 a minute from Mr. Fagan to the then Minister stated that—

“Kelly wants another £3,500 for the bank account in the usual way. Is this O.K. please?”

Following a written Ministerial direction, a sum of £3,500 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society for transfer to the “Belfast Aid Account”, Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street. On 23rd December, 1969, the Society acknowledged receipt of £3,500 which they had re-transferred to the Baggot Street account.

25. The Irish Red Cross Society acknowledgment of 23rd December, 1969, also 6covered a sum of £5,000 which they reported they had transferred on 18th December to the “Belfast Aid Account”, Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

26. On 31st December, 1969, the Irish Red Cross Society acknowledged receipt of £10,000 which they reported they had re-transferred to the “Belfast Aid Account”, Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

27. On 7th January, 1970, a letter of acknowledgement was issued by the then Minister in respect of a cheque for $12,000 received from the Irish Institute, New York, for Northern Ireland relief. The Department’s records also contain a bank lodgment counterfoil for 12,000 U.S. dollars shown as credited to the account of the “Committee of Belfast Fund for Relief of Distress” with the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin. Mr. Fagan states that he had lodged the $12,000 to the “Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” in the Baggot Street account on the Minister’s direction.

28. On 30th January, 1970, a letter from the Manager of the Munster and Leinster Bank, Dame Street, to Mr. Fagan confirmed that instructions given orally had now been carried out and the sum of £1,000 had been lodged to the account of Mr. A at a branch of the Bank in Northern Ireland (see also paragraph 5). This payment was made on the recommendation of the then Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. As indicated in paragraph 5, further enquiries are proceeding regarding the purposes for which the money was spent.

29. On 4th February, 1970, a sum of £3,000 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society for re-transfer to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street. The Red Cross confirmed that the transfer had been made—“for Six County relief”.

30. On 13th February, 1970, a sum of £12,000 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society to be transferred to the “usual Belfast Aid Account” in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

31. On 4th March, 1970, a sum of £4,000 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society for re-transfer to the “usual Belfast Aid Account” in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

32. On 25th March, 1970, a sum of £12,732.17.0 was paid to the Irish Red Cross Society. This odd amount was a balancing item so as to exhaust the total of £100,000 in the Grant-in-Aid which had been approved by the Dáil on 18th March. The Irish Red Cross Society were asked on 25th March to transfer £7,000 out of the latest payment of £12,732.17.0 to the “usual Belfast Aid Account” in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street.

33. On 9th April, 1970, the Irish Red Cross Society were requested to transfer £5,000, out of the £5,732.17.0 remaining, to the “usual Belfast Aid Account” in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street. The Irish Red Cross Society confirmed on 15th April that this had been done.

34. Garda enquiries have established that all withdrawals from the joint account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, were recorded as cash transactions with the exception of five. The exceptions were as follows:—

On 5th December, 1969, the sum of £2,000 was paid to J. J. Kelly.

On 6th January, 1970, the sum of £13,000 was paid to the “George Dixon” account.

On 20th February, 1970, the sum of £12,000 was paid to the “George Dixon” account.

On 13th March, 1970, the sum of £4,000 was paid to the “George Dixon” account.

On 25th March, 1970, the sum of £4,000 was paid to the “George Dixon” account. (An analysis of this payment shows that the amount was paid to Mr. F who lodged £1,000 to each of the “George Dixon” and “Ann O’Brien” accounts).

Details of the operation of this account are shown in Appendix III to this Report [i.e. this Submission].

735. With regard to the “George Dixon” account, Garda enquiries have established that lodgments totalled £41,450 and withdrawals £41,250, including cash withdrawals of £38,249.13.9. Garda enquiries have shown that lodgments to the “Ann O’Brien” account totalled £6,500 and withdrawals £6,450.6.3., including cash withdrawals of £4,550. Details of the operation of these two accounts are shown in Appendix IV and Appendix V to this Report [i.e. this Submission].

36. The “Ann O’Brien” account shows three cheques to a total value of £1,900 issued to S. Brady on 11th December, 1969, 2nd January, 1970 and 16th January, 1970. Mr. Séamus J. Brady of St. Anthony, Nashville Road, Howth, Co. Dublin, in reply to a recent letter from the Department, confirmed that he is the person involved in these cheque payments. He states “I am not aware, however, that public funds are involved in these payments”. He states further that he was informed at the time that these payments were made by Northern Defence Committees as subsidy towards the cost of producing the newspaper The Voice of the North and were fully expended for that purpose. This information was given to him, he says, by members of the Committee and has since been confirmed by them to him. Further enquiries are continuing.

37. It will be seen that a variety of terms was used to refer to the accounts in the Bank of Ireland, Clones and the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, and the holders thereof. It is necessary, first of all, to emphasise that the holders of these accounts were quite distinct from the Belfast refugee committee (referred to in paragraph 13) which received £20,000 via the Irish Red Cross Society. The following table lists the various references in this submission to the accounts in the Bank of Ireland, Clones and the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street or their holders:—

See also footnote on Page 3.

38. To summarise the position with regard to the Grant-in-Aid generally, 22 payments in all were made from it. These can be grouped together as follows:—

The balance of the Grant-in-Aid (11/-) was accounted for by bank charges.

839. As regards the payments listed in paragraph 38 acknowledgments were received in all cases with the exception of the payments to Messrs. C and D. In all cases the returned payable orders are available and have been seen by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

40. In only seven cases is a written Ministerial direction recorded in Departmental papers. Four of these relate to payments to the Irish Red Cross Society including the payment of £20,000 for the Belfast refugee committee. Mr. Fagan has stated that in all cases there was a specific direction, either oral or written from the then Minister for Finance.

41. So far as payments to the Red Cross (£89,732.17.0.) are concerned the first payment of £20,000, as already indicated, went to a Belfast refugee committee. Of the remaining eleven payments totalling £69,732.17.0 two, of £5,000 each, went to the Clones account, and the other nine went (in full, as to eight payments, and in part, as to the ninth) to the account at the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin. A total of £69,000 went to the Clones and Baggot Street accounts via the Grant-in-Aid. In addition, £5,000 (paragraph 12) went to the Clones account from the Irish Red Cross Society’s own resources, and $12,000 or £4,993.10.0. (paragraph 27) from the Irish Institute, New York, went to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, account. The total amount paid into the two accounts was, therefore, £78,993.10.0. The consolidated statement of these accounts and of the two “subsidiary” accounts, in Baggot Street, show a net expenditure of £75,851.7.1. and a balance of £3,142.2.11. Enquiries are continuing regarding the recovery of this balance.

42. The balance of £732.17.0. (from the final payment from the Grant-in-Aid of £12,732.17.0.) which was left in the Red Cross No. 2 Account with the Bank of Ireland, College Green, has been refunded following a request to the Irish Red Cross Society.

43. As stated at the outset, enquiries are continuing. In particular, all identifiable individuals who received payments directly or indirectly from the Grant-in-Aid are being asked to state the purposes for which the payments were used. The three individuals in whose names the Clones account was held (paragraph 12) have volunteered information (towards the end of November, 1970) about the payments received by them. They have stated that:

(i) All the moneys they received were used for relief purposes in Northern Ireland, and none was used for other purposes.

(ii) Two of them (in conjunction with other N.I. residents) also operated the Baggot Street account; the third had no connection with that account.

(iii) Although their records were destroyed for security purposes, their recollection is that, from the beginning of October, 1969, to about the end of March, 1970, the Relief Committee for which they acted received in all about £74,000, from the Clones and Baggot Street accounts.

(iv) They will provide a statement of how approximately the £74,000 was spent on Northern Ireland Relief. This statement has not yet been received.

It will be noted that the £74,000 referred to at (iii) above corresponds approximately to the net expenditure of £75,851.7.1 from the bank accounts (paragraph 41). On the other hand it was stated during the recent Arms Trial, that payments for arms were made from the Baggot Street accounts. Further enquiries are continuing with particular reference to this discrepancy.

Department of Finance

9th December, 1970.

9APPENDIX I

Bank Accounts in Bank of Ireland, Clones, and Munster and Leinster Bank, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

Consolidated Accounts

APPENDIX II

Account in Bank of Ireland, Clones

Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distressed

Note—There is nothing to identify who drew the cash on Nov. 10 and 18. It has been assumed that these withdrawals were made for the purpose of opening the Dixon and O’Brien accounts at Munster and Leinster Bank even though the withdrawal of £4,450 was made on 18 November, 1969 and the Dixon account was opened on 14 November.

10APPENDIX III

Account in Munster and Leinster Bank, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

Belfast Fund for Relief of Distress

Note—Where the accounts show only cheque numbers, in respect of debits it has been assumed that the amount was drawn in cash.

11APPENDIX IV

Account in Munster and Leinster Bank, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

George Dixon

APPENDIX V

Account in Munster and Leinster Bank, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

Ann O’Brien

12APPENDIX VI.

Irish Red Cross Society and Relief for Victims of Unrest in the Six Counties.

1. Section 2 of the Red Cross Act, 1938, provides as follows:—

“The Minister for Finance may, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, afford assistance to the Society by way of grant or loan on such terms and conditions as he shall think proper”.

In practice the Department of Defence administers an annual Grant-in-Aid to the Society, provision for which is made in the Vote for Defence each year. The Grant-in-Aid is designed to assist in meeting the cost of normal activities of the Society and of activities undertaken at the request of the Government, e.g. emergency relief for victims of disasters such as earthquakes.

2. The Tenth International Red Cross Conference, Geneva, 1921, prescribed by Resolution that no Red Cross Society should operate in an area outside its own area of responsibility without the consent of the Central Committee of the Society responsible for the second area. Because of this Resolution, the Chairman and Secretary of the Irish Society met officers of the British Society on 20th August, 1969, and suggested that combined teams of Irish and British personnel should operate in Belfast and Derry. The reply (received a week later) was that the British Society had sufficient supplies and personnel to meet the situation.

3. Early in October, 1969, the then Minister for Finance arranged with the Secretary of the Society to transfer £5,000 from the Society’s own funds to open an account in the Bank of Ireland Branch at Clones called “The Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress” in the joint names of Messrs. F. G., and H. The Society has intimated that the £5,000 in question came from the Society’s Emergency Relief Fund (see Note after paragraph 6).

4. The public subscriptions received by the Society for such relief in the period August, 1969 to 31st March, 1970 totalled £85,469. In the same period the Society spent £26,395 on relief. (Details are: (i) Cash Payments £15,750; (ii) Pocket Money £2,851; (iii) Travel Warrants £1,682; (iv) Hospital Expenses £1,029; and (v) Clothing, Footwear, etc., £5,083). Further public subscriptions totalling £402 were received in the period 1st April, 1970 to 30th November, 1970. Payments made in this period totalled £5025. On 30th November, 1970, the Society had an unspent balance of £54,469.

5. The Society also received £47,847.18.10 from the Trustees of “Cunamh” (G.A.A., Conradh na Gaeilge and Comhaltas Ceolteoirí na hÉireann). Payments for relief purposes were made on the instructions of the Trustees.

6. The Society received sums totalling £89,732.17.0 from the Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure (Grant-in-Aid). Payments made by the Society from this source are detailed in the main memorandum. The balance of £732.17.0 was refunded by the Society on 11th November, 1970, to the Department of Finance.

NOTE

The Society’s Emergency Relief Fund, which was established several years ago, is fed from the Department of Defence’s Grant-in-Aid, public subscriptions, donations, bequests, funds raised by the Society itself (e.g. Branch functions), etc. Payments are made from the Fund towards relief in various countries, as the need arises

The last payment into the Emergency Relief Fund from the Department of Defence’s Grant-in-Aid prior to October, 1969, was £6,300 on 28th March, 1969. The only Grant-in-Aid payments from the Department of Defence for Emergency Relief in the financial year 1969-70 were £7,000 on 22nd January, 1970 and £20,000 on 26th March, 1970— both for Nigeria/Biafra relief.

132

MINUTE OF DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF 23 DECEMBER 1970

Cléireach an Choiste

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí

I am directed by the Minister for Finance to refer to your letter of 18th December regarding the Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure 1969-70 and to enclose herewith 16 copies of

(i) a further submission (23rd December, 1970) containing information which has become available to the Department since the original submission of 9th December, 1970, was made to the Committee;

(ii) an addendum to the original submission of 9th December, 1970;

(iii) the documents by reference to which the original and further submissions were prepared.

As regards (iii) the documents in question do not include these which, in the words of your minute, are considered “to put persons at risk”. This term is interpreted as relating to persons who live outside the State and who, in the original submission were referred to as “A”, “B” etc. Copies of the documents relating to these persons will be made available to the Committee at its meeting on 7th January, 1971; as in the original submission, names or addresses will not be given.

C. H. Murray.

(i)

Further Submission (23rd December, 1970) by Department of Finance to the Committee of Public Accounts

1. This further submission deals with information relating to the Grant-in-Aid which has become available to the Department subsequent to the original submission of 9th December, 1970, to the Committee of Public Accounts.

2. Paragraph 36 of the original submission relates to payments of £1,900 to Mr. Séamus J. Brady and to Mr. Brady’s statement “that he was informed at the time that these payments were made by Northern Defence Committees as subsidy towards the cost of producing the newspaper ‘The Voice of the North’ and were fully expended for that purpose”.

3. Mr. Brady had also stated that “The publication was launched at the request of the Committees in late September, 1969, and was promised financial support by the Government Information Bureau as part of the then propaganda campaign but this was afterwards withdrawn”.

4. The Department of the Taoiseach has stated that the Director of the Government Information Bureau has described as “completely false” the allegation that he had supported the proposal for the initiation of “The Voice of the North” but had subsequently withdrawn his support. The Director of the Bureau has stated that the Bureau had no advance information of the proposed activities of Mr. Brady in the period subsequent to his resignation from the Bureau (on 21st September, 1969) and that consequently the question of support, financial or otherwise, for any of his activities did not arise. [Mr. Brady wrote to the then Minister for Finance on 6th October, 1969, in connexion with utilising the part-time services of a person—not a 14civil servant—to assist in editing the publication in question.] Mr. Haughey’s personal correspondence included a letter of 4th November, 1969, in which Mr. Brady indicated the total expenditure to date on the publication. The correspondence does not show what action, if any, was taken on this letter.

5. Paragraph 43 of the original submission refers to information volunteered by the three individuals in whose name the Clones account was held. A further discussion was held with two of these individuals on 12 December, 1970. They furnished a statement of how, approximately, the £74,000 (referred to in the original submission) was spent on Northern Ireland Relief; copies of this statement will be made available, if required, at the meeting of the Committee on 7th January, 1971. They also furnished further information regarding the discrepancy referred to in paragraph 43 of the original submission; this additional information has not clarified the position, and further inquiries are proceeding.

6. A letter dated 18th December, 1970, has been received from Captain J. J. Kelly in response to an invitation to make available to the Accounting Officer of the Department any information which he might have regarding payments from the Clones and Baggot Street accounts. Copies of this letter are being made available to the Committee. As regards the discrepancy referred to in paragraph 43 of the original submission, it will be noted that in his letter Captain Kelly states that “....I continued to assist these persons from the North in operating further the bank account in the Munster and Leinster Bank and, in particular, arranged for them the withdrawal of some moneys from it for the purpose of paying on account or on deposit for these arms, which moneys, I understood, were bein (sic) reimbursed from another source”. It is proposed to ask Captain Kelly to call to the Department to clarify some points in his letter, and he has been informed to this effect.

7. At the request of the Department, Mr. J (referred to in paragraph 17 of the original submission) called to the Department on 21st December and made available information regarding his part in connection with payments relating to the Clones and Baggot Street accounts. This information related, inter alia, to the discrepancy referred to in paragraph 43 of the original submission but, as in the case of the additional information obtained from two of the Clones account-holders, was not sufficient to clarify the matter.

(ii)

ADDENDUM TO

Submission (9th December, 1970) by Department of Finance to the Committee of Public Accounts.

1. Further to paragraph 40 of the submission of 9th December, 1970, it is desired to give some additional information in regard to the method by which payments from the Grant-in-Aid to the Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress in the two banks were authorised.

2. All payments from the Grant-in-Aid to the Red Cross Society, for transmission to the Clones and Baggot Street account, were with the exception of the first (see paragraph 15) made on the basis of requests from Captain James Kelly.

3. Mr. Fagan states that Captain Kelly would normally either telephone him or call on him to ask him to request the then Minister to pay a specific sum into the bank accounts (once only to Clones and the other occasions to Baggot Street following the transfer of the account there). Captain Kelly never gave any specific reason on any occasion as to the reason for the request (other than it was for Northern Ireland aid) nor did he ever indicate why the amount varied as between one occasion and another. He did, however, tell Mr. Fagan occasionally that he would be prepared to see the then Minister personally to explain the basis of his request (e.g. paragraph 16 of submission of 9th December, 1970).

4. Following Captain Kelly’s requests, Mr. Fagan would put each such request to 15the Minister, three times in writing (paragraphs 16, 23 and 24 of submission of 9th December, 1970) and verbally on each other occasion. There was no significance in the fact that some of these items were covered by written submissions and others by oral submissions; the particular approach adopted would depend on the availability of the Minister.

5. Mr. Fagan, in a statement to the Gardaí on 14th May, 1970, said that the then Minister did not always readily authorise payment. He recalls that on at least three occasions he did not immediately authorise payment, and asked to see Captain Kelly on two of these occasions before he told Mr. Fagan subsequently that payment could be made. On a third occasion Captain Kelly called on the Minister after Mr. Fagan had informed him that Mr. Haughey did not seem happy about the amount sought; following Captain Kelly’s call the Minister instructed Mr. Fagan to pay.

NOTE:

(1) As regards paragraph 15 of the submission, the sum of £5,000 “for Northern Ireland Relief” was issued on 15th October, 1969, not 20th October, 1969.

(2) As regards Appendix VI of the submission, the unspent balance, at 30th November, 1970, in the hands of the Irish Red Cross Society in respect of public subscriptions for Northern Ireland relief was £54,451 and not £54,469 as shown in paragraph 4.

(iii)

Documents related to Department of Finance Submission to Committee of Public Accounts dated 9th December, 1970 (“List A”)

9 September, 1969.

Personal and Confidential

Col. M. J. Heffernan,

Director of Intelligence,

Red House,

G.H.Q.,

Parkgate,

Dublin 8.

Dear Col. Heffernan,

As arranged, I enclose a cheque for £100 for Northern Ireland Relief.

I would be glad if you would send me a receipt for this in due course.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) A.J.F.

A. J. Fagan.

17Telephone

CONFIDENTIAL.

Department of Defence,

Parkgate,

Dublin 7.

10th September, 1969.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

Herewith receipt for cheque as requested. The amount will be forwarded by agent to the appropriate committee today.

Yours sincerely,

M.J.Hefferon.

(M. J. Hefferon.)

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin 2.

Encl: 1.

Handed in by Col. Hefferon, on 4/12/70.

(Initials not capable of reproduction)

67 Ballytore Road,

Rathfarnham.

Dublin 14.

3 December, 1970.

An Rúnaí,

An Roinn Airgeadais,

Sraid Muirbtheann.

A dhuine uasail,

Your letter of the 19 Nov. and our subsequent conversation refers.

The sums of 100 pounds and 500 pounds referred to by you as received by me on the 9th Sept. 1969, and the 15th Oct. 1969, were used by me to further the interests of refugees from Northern Ireland, then availing of the hospitality of the camps set up by the Army on Government instructions.

In this connection, I would also refer to the instruction from Government to the then Minister for Defence, Mr. Gibbons, that the Intelligence Branch was responsible for the taking of statements from individual refugees dealing with their experiences during the reign of terror in Belfast and other Northern centres during mid August.

You will note that of this sum of six hundred pounds, a total sum of two hundred and fifty pounds was spent for this purpose. The balance of three hundred and fifty pounds was unspent and a cheque for this amount is attached,* in favour of the Exchequer.

18As regards the sum of five hundred pounds advanced by your Department on the 3 October, 1969, this payment was authorised by the then Minister for Finance Mr. Haughey, to be paid to Capt. James Kelly for the purpose of organising a meeting of the representatives of Northern Defence Committees in Bailieboro, on the weekend of the 4/5 October, 1969, and any follow-ups that would be necessary as a result of that meeting. I passed the payable order directly to Captain Kelly having first endorsed it and obtained a receipt from—copy of which is attached.

In my understanding the meeting was convened to get some proper understanding of the problem then facing the minority in Northern Ireland, from authoritative sources. It will be recalled that at this time, certain areas in both Derry and Belfast were sealed off behind barricades.

Is mise,

M.J.Hefferon.

M. J. Hefferon,

P.S. Correspondence with your Department in re the first two sums mentioned also refers. Formal certificate for expenditure attached.

M.J.H.

67 Ballytore Road,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 14.

I certify that the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds advanced to me by An t-Aire Airgeadais was properly expended for the purposes of Northern Ireland Relief.

M. J. Hefferon,

Col. (Retired),

3 Dec., 1970.

19

20RECEIPT

Received £166. 12. 0. for Northern

Ireland Relief.

RECEIVED for Northern Ireland

Relief Fund the sum of

Five Hundred Pounds.

(Signed) M. Hefferon.

(Date) 3rd Oct, 1969.

15 October 1969

Col. M. J. Heffernon

Director of Intelligence

Red House

G.H.Q.

Parkgate

Dublin 8

Dear Col. Heffernon

As arranged, I enclose Payable Order for £500 for Northern Ireland Relief

Perhaps you would return receipt to me in due course.

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

2120 October 1969

Miss M Murphy

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy,

In connection with the transfer to the Irish Red Cross Society’s No. 2 a/c of a sum of £5,000 for Northern Ireland Relief on 16th October perhaps you would sign the enclosed receipt and return it to me.

Yours sincerely,

A. J. F.

A. J. Fagan.

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

I send you herewith a signed receipt for the sum of £5,000. transferred to our No. 2 Account on 16th October for Northern Ireland Relief.

Yours sincerely,

Mary B. Murphy,

(Mary B. Murphy),

General Secretary.

MBM/PD.

2210 November, 1969.

Miss M. Murphy,

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square,

Dublin 2.

Dear Miss Murphy,

The Minister would appreciate if you would transfer a sum of £7,500 to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin to-day, if possible.

The cheque should be made payable to the Bank and the covering note addressed to Mr. William Walsh, Deputy Manager.

At your convenience please, perhaps you would complete and return the attached receipt to me.

Kind regards.

Your sincerely,

A. J. Fagan.

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 10th instant I wish to inform you that, as requested by the Minister, we have arranged for the transfer of £7,500 to the Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

I attach herewith the receipt for the lodgment of this amount to our Number 2 Account.

Your sincerely,

Mary B. Murphy,

(Mary B. Murphy),

General Secretary.

PD.

23

20 November 1969

Miss M Murphy

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

The Minister would appreciate if you would transfer a sum of £2,000 to the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin.

Cheque might be made payable to the Bank and sent to Mr. H. T. Deacon, Manager.

Perhaps you would send the enclosed receipt back to me at your convenience please.

The Minister is very grateful for your kind co-operation in this matter.

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

2420 November 1969

H T Deacon Esq

Manager

Munster & Leinster Bank

2 Lower Baggot Street

Dublin 2

Dear Bertie

I have arranged with the Irish Red Cross to-day to transfer a sum of £2,000 to the a/c in the bank for the Belfast Refugee Aid Fund.

The Red Cross cheque will be made payable to the Bank.

Many thanks,

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 20th instant I wish to inform you that, as requested by the Minister, we have arranged for the transfer of £2,000 to the Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

I attach herewith the receipt for the lodgment of this amount to our Number 2 Account.

Yours sincerely,

Mary B. Murphy.

Mary B. Murphy,

General Secretary.

Receipt reqd.

26COPY

(Manuscripted)

OIFIG AN AIRE AIRGEADAIS

(Office of the Minister for Finance)

BAILE ATHA CLIATH 2

(Dublin 2)

19th December, 1969.

Dear Miss Murphy,

This is to confirm my telephone call to say that I transferred £5,000 to your No. 2 a/c to-day and I would appreciate if this sum in turn could be transferred to the Belfast Relief Fund at the M. & L. Bank, Baggot St.

I enclose receipt and also a receipt for the £3,500, which I transferred to the No. 2 a/c on 28th Nov. I dealt with this latter one verbally and I omitted to send a receipt form to you.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Signed: A.J. Fagan.

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 19th instant I send you herewith receipts for £3,500 and £5,000 which we transferred on 28th November and 18th December respectively to the Belfast Aid Account, Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, and which you have lodged to our Number 2 Account.

Yours sincerely,

Mary B. Murphy,

(Mary B. Murphy)

General Secretary.

/PD.

P.S. A very happy Christmas.

27COPY

(Manuscripted)

OIFIG AN AIRE AIRGEADAIS

(Office of the Minister for Finance)

BAILE ATHA CIATH 2.

(Dublin 2)

23rd December.

Dear Miss Murphy,

I have arranged to transfer £10,000 to your No. 2 a/c in the Bank of Ireland.

Perhaps you would arrange to transfer it in turn to the a/c in the Munster & Leinster Bank in Baggot St. in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Signed: A. J. Fagan.

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 23rd instant I wish to inform you that we have arranged to transfer a sum of £10,000. from our No. 2 Account to the Belfast Aid Account. Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

This transfer was made yesterday as we only received your letter then.

I return herewith completed receipt for the £10,000 which you transferred to our Number 2 Account.

Yours sincerely,

/PD.

28RECEIPT

Received £10,000 in respect of Northern Ireland Relief.

IRISH RED CROSS SOCIETY

Signed Mary Brigid Murphy Secretary

Date 31/12/1969

M38/288

7 January 1970

Mr Frank Durcan

50 Broad Street

New York 10004

NY USA

Dear Mr Durcan,

It was a great pleasure to meet you during your recent visit to Dublin.

I have handed over to the Committee of the Belfast Fund for the Relief of Distress the cheque for $12,000 which you presented to me on behalf of the Irish Institute, New York.

Please convey to the President and the members of the Institute my grateful thanks for their very generous gesture towards the relief of hardship in Northern Ireland.

The Committee for the Belfast Fund have asked me in turn to thank the Institute for this fine donation to the fund.

With kindest regards.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) C. J. Haughey.

Charles J. Haughey.

294 February

Miss M Murphy

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

We lodged a sum of £3,000 to the No. 2 Account of the Irish Red Cross Society, Bank of Ireland, College Green, on Monday last.

The Minister would appreciate it if you could transfer this sum to the Munster & Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin 2. The cheque might be made payable to the Bank and sent to Mr. H. T. Deacon, Manager.

Perhaps you would send the enclosed receipt back to me at your convenience please.

Kind regards.

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

4th February, 1970.

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 4th instant I wish to inform you that, as requested, I have arranged to transfer £3,000 to the Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, for Six County Relief.

I return herewith completed receipt for the £3,000 which you transferred to our Number 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green.

Yours sincerely,

Mary B. Murphy,

(Mary B. Murphy)

General Secretary.

MBM/PD

3012 February 1970

Miss Mary B Murphy

General Secretary

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

I have arranged to transfer £12,000 to your No. 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green today.

I would be very grateful if this sum were transferred to the usual Belfast Aid account in the Munster & Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin, as soon as convenient please.

With many thanks.

Kind regards.

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 12th instant I wish to inform you that a sum of £12,000 has been transferred from our Number 2 Account to the Munster and Leinster Bank Ltd., Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, for the attention of Mr. H. T. Deacon.

I return herewith completed receipt for the £12,000 which has been transferred to our Number 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green.

Yours sincerely,

3114 March 1970

Miss Mary B Murphy

General Secretary

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

I have arranged to transfer £4,000 to your No. 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, today yesterday.

I would be very grateful if this sum were transferred to the usual Belfast Aid account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin as soon as convenient please.

With many thanks and kind regards.

Yours sincerely

A. J. FAGAN

A J Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

I wish to thank you for your letter of 4th instant informing me that you have transferred £4,000. to our No. 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green.

I have arranged for the transfer of this amount to the Belfast Aid Account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

May I point out that the usual receipt form was not enclosed in your letter.

Yours sincerely,

3225 March 1970

Miss Mary B Murphy

General Secretary

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

I have arranged to transfer £12,732.17.0. to your No. 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green today.

I would be very grateful if as already arranged with you £7,000 could be transferred to the usual Belfast Aid account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin as soon as convenient please.

With many thanks and kind regards.

Yours sincerely

A. J. FAGAN.

A J Fagan

BANK OF IRELAND.

DUBLIN 26 Mar 1970

RECEIVED FOR A/C OF Irish Red Cross Society

Twelve thousand, Seven hundred and thirty two pds. 17/-

..............................................................................

...............................................................................

FOR WHICH I PROMISE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE

£12,732-17-0

V.A. CARROLL, pro AGENT.

Received the sum of £12,732.17. 0. for Northern Ireland relief.

IRISH RED CROSS SOCIETY

Mary B Murphy Secretary

Date: 26/3/1970

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

DUBLIN, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

I attach herewith receipt for the sum of £12,732.17. 0d. which you arranged to have transferred to our Number 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, on 25th March.

As requested, we transferred, on 25th ult., £7,000. 0. 0. from this amount to the Belfast Aid Account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

Yours sincerely,

/PD.

9 April 1970

Miss Mary B Murphy

General Secretary

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

I would be very grateful if as already arranged with you £5,000 could be transferred to the usual Belfast Aid account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, Baggot Street, Dublin, as soon as convenient please.

With many thanks and kind regards.

Yours sincerely

A J FAGAN.

A J Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 9th instant I wish to inform you that on 7th April we arranged for the transfer of £5,000. from our Number 2 Account to the Belfast Aid Account, Munster and Leinster Bank, 2 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

Yours sincerely,

/PD.

Personal

St. Anthony,

Nashville Road,

Howth, Co. Dublin.

C. H. Murray, Esq.,

Secretary,

Department of Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin 2.

1st December, 1970.

Dear Sir,

In reply to your letter of November 26th, I wish to state that I am the person referred to in the cheque payments in question. I am not aware, however, that public funds are involved in these payments.

I was informed at the time that these payments were made by the Northern Defence Committees as subsidy towards the costs of producing the newspaper, The Voice of the North, and were fully expended for this purpose. This information was given me by members of the Committee and has since been confirmed by them.

The publication was launced at the request of the Committees in late September, 1969, and was promised financial support by the Government Information Bureau as part of the then propaganda campaign, but this was afterwards withdrawn. The costs of this publication have been met, apart from subsidy from the Committees, by subscriptions and donations.

Yours faithfully,

Seamus J Brady

Seamus J. Brady.

SB/ab.

Dear Murray

I have looked into the matter mentioned in your letter of the 4th instant and enclosures, concerning the reference made by Mr. Seamus J. Brady to the Government Information Bureau in relation to the publication The Voice of the North. The position is that Mr. Brady resigned (copy letter of resignation is attached) from his position with the Bureau on the 21st September, 1969. His resignation was given effect to as from the 25th September, 1969. The first issue of The Voice of the North was dated the 12th October, 1969. Furthermore, the Director of the Bureau states that the Bureau had no advance information of the proposed activities of Mr. Brady in the period subsequent to his resignation and that, consequently, the question of support, financial or otherwise, for any of his subsequent activities did not arise.

I enclose a photo-copy of a cutting from the Sunday Independent of the 10th May, 1970, in which the Director is reported as having described as “completely false” an allegation that he had supported the proposal for the initiation of the publication but had subsequently withdrawn his support.

Yours sincerely

N. S. Ó Nualláin.

C. H. Murray, Esq.,

Rúnaí,

An Roinn Airgeadais.

Press Associates of Ireland Ltd.,

21 Upper Mount Street,

Dublin 2.

Personal

September 21st., 1969

Eoin Neeson, Esq.,

Director,

Government Information Bureau,

Government Buildings,

Merrion Street,

Dublin.

Dear Eoin,

I am sorry to have to tell you that I wish to tender my resignation from the Government Information Bureau temporary publicity unit since I feel I can no longer contribute usefully to the exercise as presently operated.

I have arranged to pick up material in Belfast and Derry from the Defence Committees in both areas and am travelling Northwards early tomorrow for that purpose. This will complete the work I have in hands for the Bureau.

Yours sincerely,

Seamus J. Brady

Seamus Brady

36SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

10 May, 1970.

FitzGerald, Neeson deny Brady’s claim

Dublin publicist, Seamus Brady, associate of Neil Blaney and defender of Capt. J. J. Kelly, was the subject of two scathing attacks last night—one from Mr. Garret FitzGerald in the Dáil and the second from the Director of the Government Information Bureau.

Mr. FitzGerald referred to “the curious character, Seamus Brady, who contrived to give three news conferences on Friday with the aim of blacking Mr. Gibbons’ name to get him out of the Government and bring down the Government in the debate.

He had been Blaney’s P.R.O., and Blaney thought, said Mr. FitzGerald, that Gibbons had been working with Haughey and himself, but all the time he was informing the Taoiseach.

Within minutes, the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr. Eoin Neeson issued a denial of evening newspapers’ statements by Mr. Brady that he “helped to found the publication, Voice of the North, with the initial support of the G.I.B., under its Director, Mr. Eoin Neeson.”

Mr. Brady was quoted as saying that Mr. Neeson supported the idea, but withdrew after a week or so—on orders from the Taoiseach, he believed.

Mr. Neeson said the statement was completely false. The Government Information Bureau had no knowledge of the publication beforehand. Therefore the questions of giving consent and giving or withdrawing support had never arisen.

Mr. C.H.Murray,

Accounting Officer,

Dept. of Finance,

Dublin 2.

Dear Sir,

With reference to your letter of November 13th and others, the following is the position.

In the Autumn of 1969, as a serving officer in the Military Intelligence Section of the Defence Forces, I was, by the Director of Intelligence, especially allotted to duties in relation to the situation in Northern Ireland, and in particular, as part of my duty, was carrying out tasks in the nature of liaison tasks between various persons from the North of Ireland, who were in contact with, or seeking assistance from the Government.

37As a result of the carrying out of those duties, I was aware in October, 1969, of the decision of the Government to create a fund for the relief of the distressed in Northern Ireland, and I was aware then that the fund was originated by the opening of a bank account which I understood was entitled the Fund for the Relief of Distress in Northern Ireland, which I believe was opened in the Bank of Ireland in Clones. I understand that money was then transferred by the Government to that account and that there were three named persons in the North of Ireland entitled to draw on that account. I had no direct knowledge of, or did I take any part in the operation of that account, but I understand that it ceased to be operated after approximately a month or so, though whether it was actually closed or nor, I do not know.

Subsequently, I am aware that a bank account was opened again in the name of the Fund for the Relief of Distress in Northern Ireland in the Munster and Leinster Bank in Baggot st., Dublin. This account was opened to be operated by three named persons, but my information was that the names were fictitious, the persons from Northern Ireland being afraid to operate it in their own names for reasons of security in Northern Ireland. There were also subsequently two subsidiary accounts opened in the same branch of the same bank in two further fictitious names.

Subsequently, from time to time, I, as liaison officer between the persons in the North of Ireland operating this account and the authorities here, made requisitions to the Department of Finance for the payment of money by the Government into this account, and also, from time to time, arranged for the withdrawal of money from it. All these requests I carried out in accordance with my duties as an Intelligence Officer and at the request of the people entitled to operate the account.

I became aware that it was intended to use some of the monies collected in the North for the purchase of arms. To begin with, the idea or plan of such persons xxxxxxxxxx was to purchase arms and import them into the North of Ireland. Subsequently, when that had proved impossible, the proposal was, that these persons from the North, would provide the money for the purchase of the arms, but that they would be brought into the Republic under the custody and control of the Defence Forces in the Republic, and would only be delivered and released to persons in the North, if and when, the Government in the Republic decided that this should be done. Having informed the Director of Intelligence and the Minister for Defence of this proposal and having received approval, I continued to assist these persons from the North in operating further the bank account in the Munster and Leinster Bank, and, in particular, arranged for them the withdrawal of some monies from it for the purpose of paying on account or on deposit for these arms, which monies, I understood, were been reimbursed from another source. I have not got any record of the amounts which were withdrawn for these purposes nor the dates upon which they were withdrawn.

I remember upon one occasion being told to draw in cash such a sum of money which I believe was £10,000 and of bringing that with me on one of the visits which I paid to the Continent in connection with the proposed purchase of arms. This sum was paid to the arms supplier. I believe that the occasion of that was a visit I paid to the Continent in February, 1969.

Any monies drawn on this account were drawn on cheques signed by the Trustees.

Except insofar as the cost of my travelling to the Continent in connection with the duties I was carrying out as an Intelligence Officer, were provided out of this account, no part of the money from that account was used by me or by anyone else for me, for any personal reason, nor did I, nor to my knowledge did any other person derive any personal profit or gain from it.

Yours sincerely,

38

3

MINUTE OF DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF 6 JANUARY 1971

6 Eanáir 1971

Cléireach an Choiste

An Coiste Um Chuntais Phoiblí

I am directed by the Minister for Finance to refer to your minute of 18 December in relation to the Northern Ireland Relief Expenditure (Grant-in-Aid) 1969/70 and to transmit herewith 16 copies of the documents relating to persons living outside the State, by reference to which the original and subsequent Finance submissions to the Committee were prepared. As in the original submission, these people are referred to as “A”, “B”, etc.

There is one point to which I wish to draw attention in connexion with these documents. It relates to the problem which might arise for some of the people concerned if their identities became known. The Committee has already shown its awareness of this problem by providing, in the statement of its procedure, that “A request by a witness for good reason that his name be not published will be favourably considered.”

The reason I am mentioning this matter is that the documentation which the Department is making available to the Committee will (in conjunction with the key) indicate for the first time, in some cases at least, the identities of the people concerned. Furthermore, because of the inquiries which it is conducting, the Department has come in touch with some of these people and they have repeatedly impressed on the Department the possible repercussions of publication, not so much as far as they themselves are concerned (although this is of particular importance in at least one case) as for those who might be thought to be associated with them. As the Department has, in some cases, been their first and only contact, so far, with this investigation, they have asked me to convey their apprehensions to the Committee.

What is said above does not, of course, imply any reservation or unwillingness on the part of the Department about making available copies of the documentation to the Committee.

C. H. MURRAY

Documents relating to Department of Finance submission to Committee of Public Accounts dated 9 December 1970: these documents refer to persons who live outside the State but the persons are referred to not by name but as “Mr. A”, “Mr.B”, etc. (“List B”)

20, August 1969

The Manager

Munster and Leinster Bank

Dame Street

Dublin 2

A Dhuine Uasail

I am directed by the Minister for Finance to refer to a telephone discussion with Mr. C. V. Reilly about arranging to make a sum of £1,000 available to Mr A

for the relief of

victims of the disturbances in Northern Ireland. I attach a payable order for £1,000 and ask you to be good enough to instruct your Branch in — to advise Mr A that the sum is available for him to draw. Thanking you for your kind co-operation.

Mise le meas

M. Breathnach.

40THE MUNSTER & LEINSTER BANK LIMITED,

(G.P.O. Box 96.)

DAME STREET, DUBLIN 2

Telegraphic address:

“Munlin, Dublin”

Telex Dublin 5110

All communications to be

addressed to the manager

FPD/TB

21st August, 1969

M. Breathnach, Esq.,

Department of Finance,

Upper Merrion Street,

Dublin 2.

Dear Sir,

With reference to your letter of the 20th instant, we desire to say that we have arranged with our — Office to make the sum of £1,000 available to Mr A for the relief of victims of the disturbances in Northern Ireland.

We have asked our Manager to obtain a receipt from Mr A for this amount and we have instructed him to retain it on his files for the present. You may, however, regard this letter as a firm acknowledgment that the payment has been made to Mr. A on the instructions of the Minister for Finance.

Yours faithfully,

41

4225 November 1970

Personal

Mr B

Dear Mr B

On 16 August, 1969, the Government decided that a sum of money should be made available from the Exchequer to provide aid for the victims of unrest in the Six Counties. Out of this money, a payment of £5,000 was made to you.

As Accounting Officer for the Department of Finance it is my duty to account for all public funds expended by the Department, including the £5,000 paid to you. I would, therefore, be obliged if you would indicate briefly the purposes for which the money was expended in giving aid to the victims of the unrest.

I regret having to trouble you.

Yours sincerely

C. H. MURRAY

28th November 1970

Mr. C. H. Murray,

Secretary,

Department of Finance,

Dublin, 2.

Re: £5,000 Aid to Six Counties Relief.

Dear Mr Murray,

In reply to your letter of November 25th, re the allocation of the Government allocation of £5,000 for Northern Relief made to me, may I give the following facts.

I was then in charge in London and both London and Birmingham took the major part of the Refugees. The Irish Government Grant did not cover half the cost of the entire operation. We had Church door collections, Socials, Donations etc etc. The entire amount went to the wives and children who had fled the upheaval in the North. At the time, I sent a List of the people and the needs to your Department. You must have the names and addresses in your files. We paid ‘Key-Money’ for one or two room flats (£100 in some cases). This was in contravention of the English rent Act, but this was the only way to get accommodation in a hurry. The Borough Councils refused in the early days to do business with us and would not regard these people as homeless. They were mostly women and children. Some we persuaded to return to Belfast but invariably we had to pay the fares. I would say that most of the money went in Housing, Return Fares, Food and Clothes and Rent during the longer periods of residence. In very few cases was there a man (or breadwinner) with the families.

If you need more details, I could go to London as I must have quite an amount of information in the files there. You can let me know if this is necessary.

4325 November 1970

Personal

Mr C

Dear Mr C

On 16 August, 1969, the Government decided that a sum of money should be made available from the Exchequer to provide aid for the victims of unrest in the Six Counties. Out of this money, a payment of £500 was made to you.

As Accounting Officer for the Department of Finance it is my duty to account for all public funds expended by the Department, including the £500 paid to you. I would, therefore, be obliged if you would indicate briefly the purposes for which the money was expended in giving aid to the victims of the unrest.

I regret having to trouble you.

Yours sincerely

C. H. MURRAY

25 November 1970

Personal

Mr D

Dear Mr D

On 16 August, 1969, the Government decided that a sum of money should be made available from the Exchequer to provide aid for the victims of unrest in the Six Counties. Out of this money, a payment of £500 was made to you.

As Accounting Officer for the Department of Finance it is my duty to account for all public funds expended by the Department, including the £500 paid to you. I would, therefore, be obliged if you would indicate briefly the purposes for which the money was expended in giving aid to the victims of the unrest.

I regret having to trouble you.

Yours sincerely

C. H. MURRAY

4428th November, 1970.

Dear Mr. Murray,

Thank you for your letter regarding the disposition of £500 made available to me in August, 1969.

From 13th-16th August, 1969, in this parish, forty-six families were made homeless by the destruction of their homes on Crumlin Road and in Brookfield Street, and many others who had to leave their homes through intimidation. Most of these were accommodated in Holy Cross Boys’ School, Butler Street, until adequate accommodation could be provided for them.

At this time, I was in charge of the Relief operations and know that this money was expended in providing food, clothing and accommodation for these families, as also giving relief to those families who had suffered damage to their homes during the riots.

I hope that this information is sufficient for your purpose and with kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

27/11/70

Dear Mr Murray,

last year, a

sum of £40 was paid to each of (approx) 60 families who were burned out of their homes, your £500 helped us to achieve this

Slán agus beannacht,

P.P. Mr D

4525/9/69.

On 18th August 3 families arrived at the Irish Centre from the North of Ireland. Since then a total of 45 families came here. Some of them were being catered for by relatives, others had no one at all — — to help them, and appealed to us to try to find accommodation. Some we convinced to return to the North, others were too frightened. Some were very genuine refugees and were satisfied with anything we could do, others were on the make.

We started a relief fund to help us deal with these families. We received to date £1260-4-0. Most of this is now spent, and it is doubtful if we will have sufficient to deal with them all.

We now have 17 families which we are dealing with. Seven of these are in very bad temporary accommodation. The other 9 are in unfurnished flats, which we had to furnish. Some of these flats are not very good, but they are livable. One other family have got a complete new house because the husband got a job in Daventry and the Council gave them the new house. Again this has to be furnished.

At present then we have seven families in need of housing. We have been offered 2 houses next to each other. If we could buy them we could accommodate at least six of these seven. We need approx. £700 as a deposit on these houses. We have lots of voluntary helpers who have worked very hard for the past month. They are really overdoing it, but would be prepared to decorate these houses, if we could buy them, because at least they would be permanent places. So far they have tried to make unlivable places sufficiently good to house these families temporarily. Incidentally three of the families are at present in an old school, but these will be a death trap in a couple of weeks when the winter starts.

We have had a couple of threatening phone calls from an organiastion here who have disagreed with us helping these people. They destroyed all our windows one night, and promised a bomb on another occasion, this latter did not materialise.

We have had a couple of threatening phone calls from an organisation here who have had a Protestant family from Shankill living in the same place, and sharing the kitchen with a Catholic family from Ardoyne.

Our appeal to you, now, is—could you give us sufficient money to make a deposit on these houses, and also to renovate and decorate them. This would be about £1000. We at the Irish Centre would take the responsibility of seeing that this money was used properly, and that the houses would be run as they should be, with all paying a suitable rent etc.

I am also enclosing a list* of the names of the families we have dealt with. We did not take their home address, as things were rather frantic when they started to arrive.

477 October 1969

Mr E

Dear Mr E

I have arranged for the transfer of the sum you require for the Centre.

In due course, I would be glad if you would return the attached receipt to me.

God bless the good work!

Kindest regards,

Yours sincerely

A J Fagan

488th October, 1969

Charles J. Haughey Esq.

“Abbeyville”,

Kinsaley,

Malahide,

Dublin.

Dear Mr. Haughey,

Further to our telephone conversation on 6th instant. I write to inform you that, with the approval of this Committee was formed, under the Chairmanship of a clergyman

Over eight thousand people have been rendered homeless as a result of the recent violence in Belfast and the re-establishment of these innocent victims is a most urgent and compelling task, which requires a massive fund.

We are writing to various organisations which have been raising money for relief, asking them to direct any funds which may be in their hands to our Committee.

Yours sincerely,

Secretary.

499 October 1969

Miss M Murphy

Irish Red Cross Society

16 Merrion Square

Dublin 2

Dear Miss Murphy

In connection with to-day’s lodgement to the Red Cross of £20,000 for Northern Ireland relief, perhaps you would sign the enclosed receipt and return it to me.

Yours sincerely

A. J. Fagan

CUMANN CROISE DEIRGE NA hÉIREANN

The Irish Red Cross Society

11th October, 1969.

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

DUBLIN, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

In reply to your letter of 9th instant I attach herewith the receipt for the lodgment of £20,000 for Northern Ireland relief.

As requested, this amount was transferred to the account of The Belfast Refugee Re-establishment Committee at the Munster and Leinster Bank, High Street, Belfast, on Thursday, 9th instant.

MBM/PD.

5021st January 1970.

Charles Haughey Esq.,

Dear Mr. Haughey,

I enclose a copy of an Interim Report of this Committee which gives details of the cases helped since the inception of the work in early November.

It would not have been possible to launch on the scale that we did had it not been for the substantial assistance received from the Irish Red Cross through your good offices. No doubt you will be gratified to know that we have used the funds well and the work is continuing. We have funds in hand and I am not sending the report as a gentle hint. I have no doubt that if we do really need to call upon you we can do so.

With good wishes from everyone associated with the work.

Encl.

INTERIM REPORT OF COMMITTEE AS AT 15th JANUARY 1970.

The Committee commenced operations on the 13th November 1969. To date it has given grant aid in total of 74 cases at a total cost of £19,596. 7. 5d.

At present there are pending for consideration 15 applications and from preliminary information available it is expected that all will be approved to involve further expenditure of approximately £4,964. 2. 9d.

Included in this Interim Report is an analysis* of the 74 cases mentioned giving particulars of the applicant in each case, his previous home and very brief reference to the circumstances giving rise to displacement. There are also particulars of the applicant’s dependants, occupation, his solicitors (Attorney) the new home acquired and the cost of same. The actual amount of grant in each case is also given.

From information received by the Committee there is no doubt that a large number of applications will continue to be made, and such funds as are made available will be fully utilised.

51Dear

[re:

I enclose two copies of report giving an analysis of the Committee’s work from the 13th November last to the 26th March.

The total grant aid for housing has involved expenditure of £43,540. 0. 0. There have been miscellaneous advances and small grants of approximately £1000. 0. 0.

In addition there is the weekly expenditure on the Publican’s Scheme of £195. 0. 0. which has been running since the 10th February.

Wishing you every success in your further efforts on behalf of the fund.

Yours sincerely,

The Committee commenced work on 13th November 1969 with the immediate primary object of assisting families who had been displaced by the troubles to purchase new homes. In properly approved cases, assistance took the form of (a) an outright Grant of the cost of legal expenses and Agent’s Commission relating to purchase; and (b) an outright Grant towards the cost of the deposit on a dwellinghouse.

The amount of the Grant varied according to the circumstances in each case, in particular the earning capacity of the applicants, the number of children or dependants &c.

To date of this report, namely, 26th March 1970, the Committee has given Grant Aid in a total of 164 cases.* This report includes an analysis on each of these cases. Donors who have generously contributed to the Committee’s funds will be interested to peruse the document and to note the high number of children and dependants who have been re-housed in owner-occupied dwellinghouses directly as a result of their generosity. The majority of the applicants—certainly from the point of view of housing—are much better off than they had previously been.

As from 10th February 1970 a Scheme for weekly assistance to Publicans was introduced involving a weekly disbursement of £195 spread over 21 cases. If the Committee continues the scheme for a full year expenditure would be £10,140 exclusive of administrative costs, i.e. postages, stationery &c. The letters of gratitude from recipients have been quite moving. The following are extracts from some of the letters:

One letter reads: “I sincerely thank you for the most wonderful news I received this morning—it just seemed like a miracle . . . due to the worry of the recent troubles my mother had a stroke, she just came from hospital yesterday and I greeted her with the news of your very generous donation; it was a great tonic for her and my father also, who is in the same state of health . . . .”

Another reads. “I am very grateful to you for helping me. As you know I lost everything I had and I am afraid to re-open. But please God one day things will get better . . . ..”

Another reads: “… It is very heart-warming to learn that you and the people of the Diocese and elsewhere are aware of what people like ourselves have endured, and to come to our assistance so generously . . . ..”

Another reads: “… My family and I have been making quite a struggle to get back to our normal way of living since the riots of last autumn . . . .”

Two further schemes of assistance are in the process of being adopted by the Committee:

1. Assistance on a weekly basis to people who are permanently deprived of work directly due to the troubles, and

2. Assistance on a weekly basis or by lump sum to business people, mainly smaller shop-keepers &c. whose businesses have been adversely affected. In many cases within this category there is evidence of real hardship and mental stress.

It will be clear that the Committee will require for an indefinite period to maintain an inflow of substantial funds. From the response to date the Committee is confident that it will be able to carry out its programme.

Mr. A. J. Fagan,

Office of the Minister for Finance,

Government Buildings,

Upper Merrion Street,

DUBLIN, 2.

Dear Mr. Fagan,

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 29th instant informing me that you have arranged for the transfer of another £5,000 to our Number 2 Account in the Bank of Ireland.

As requested, this amount has been transferred to the Joint Account in the names of Mr F, Mr G and Mr H

at the Bank of Ireland, Clones.

I attach herewith the receipt.

Yours sincerely,

MBM/PD.

THE MUNSTER AND LEINSTER BANK LIMITED,

(G.P.O. Box 96A.)

DAME STREET,

DUBLIN 2

Telegraphic address:

“Munlin, Dublin”

Telephone 56731

Telex Dublin 5110

all communications

to be addressed

to the manager

FPD/TB

30th January, 1970

Anthony J. Fagan, Esq.,

Chief Information Officer,

Department of Finance,

Government Buildings,

Merrion Street,

Dublin 2.

Dear Tony,

With reference to your telephone conversation yesterday, I confirm that your instructions have now been carried out and the sum of £1,000 was lodged to the account of Mr A at our __________ Office.

Kind regards.

Yours sincerely,

Member of Allied Irish Banks Group

54

7 comh Scr. K. M.

8/10/69 B. 515

Signed: JAMES J. KELLY.

554

COPY OF STATEMENT HANDED TO DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ON 12 DECEMBER 1970 BY REPRESENTATIVES OF FORMER BELFAST COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

The following is a résumé of the manner in which relief was distributed in the Belfast area by the Committee for the relief of distress.

As there were many committees involved in granting relief to those affected by the serious rioting in Belfast during and subsequent to August 1969, our Committee took the view that relief should be provided to those who were not apparently receiving relief from these other committees and where obvious hardship was being suffered.

Our Committee met initially on regular and frequent occasions, on average about twice a week and later at less frequent but regular intervals, say about once a fortnight.

Our Committee took the view that relief in order to be effective should be immediate and distributed by a minimum of fuss. For the most part we relied on the opinions of local C.D.C. leaders in the affected areas and in all cases had moneys distributed by these people accounted for, to us every week.

Relief in all cases was determined by the circumstances of each case. The Committee did have rough guide lines as to how moneys should be distributed but a certain amount of latitude was permitted especially when persons entered into receipt of relief for the first time. Generally such a person needed a lump sum to meet his outstanding liabilities which had piled up and was then expected to budget for normal outgoings out of the money which he received after that.

Records and vouchers were kept by the Committee relating to moneys distributed by them but have subsequently been destroyed as a result of events which have occurred in the South of Ireland. At no time did the Committee realise that they would be required to account for moneys distributed by them but now in the light of events regret that these records were not retained as we feel that the production of these would clear up a number of doubts which appear to have arisen.

Our Committee wishes to stress that at all times it was motivated entirely by the hardship and suffering caused in those areas affected by the troubles; that it is extremely grateful for the help which they received from the Givernment in Dublin and that at no time did they provide moneys for the purchase of arms or ammunition. We would, however, point out that while we are prepared to give every assistance to any inquiry into the disbursement of these funds, we urge that the greatest discretion be exercised and the greatest protection given to those who so assist you from our Committee, in view of the likelihood of reprisal, misinterpretation or misunderstanding which could possibly arise.

56Relief of Distress Fund from October 1969 to March 1970 (Estimates)

Note: The committee representatives stated that in this period, not more than £2,000 was received from sources other than Grant-in-Aid moneys.

£74,000 accountable over 25 weeks, £2,960 say £3,000 period October to March

575

LETTER TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FROM MR. R. MURNANE

Simla Lodge,

Strandville Avenue,

Clontarf,

Dublin 3.

4th January, 1971.

Recd. 7/1/71

C. H. Murray, Esq.,

Secretary, Department of Finance,

Government Buildings,

Dublin 2.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter of the 1st December, addressed to me at my former address, 94 Castle Avenue, Clontarf.

I received a cheque for £166.12.0. from Mr. Fagan of the Department of Finance in September, 1969.

At the request of the then Minister for Finance, Mr. Haughey, I had made arrangements for a group to travel to Britain to organise the raising of funds for the relief of distress in Northern Ireland.

I charged the air fare, seven return tickets, to Mr. Haughey’s Account and subsequently was told by Mr. Fagan that these represented a legitimate charge on the fund established for Northern relief. He gave me a cheque for the amount involved and I paid Aer Lingus.

All the rest of the expenses were paid by the individuals out of their own pockets.

Yours sincerely,

R. Murnane.

R. Murnane.

* This note has been made available to the Committee of Public Accounts. The Committee has decided not to publish it.

* The exact title of the Bank Account is “Belfast Committee for the Relief of Distressed”.

1 This cheque seems to have been signed by Mr. H and Mr. F. All other cheques were signed by Mr. G. and Mr. F.

1It is assumed that this amount was used to open the Dixon Account.

2£2,000 of this was used to make deposits of £1,000 each to Dixon and O’Brien Accounts.

* Given to A/cs Bch.

*Omitted from this copy.

*Analysis omitted from this copy.

* An analysis of these has been omitted from this copy.

*To 189 cases—see statement attached.