Northern campaign (Irish Republican Army) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northern campaign
Date 2 September 1942 – December 1944 Location Mainly the border area between Northern Ireland and Ireland Result British Victory
Belligerents
Northern Ireland RUC Ireland Garda Síochána	IRA
Commanders and leaders
J. M. Andrews Basil Brooke Éamon de Valera	Hugh McAteer Charlie Kerins
Strength
Unknown	~300-500 volunteers
Casualties and losses
6 killed Unknown wounded	3 killed Unknown wounded

The Northern campaign was a series of attacks by a group called the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Northern Ireland. These attacks happened between September 1942 and December 1944. The IRA's goal was to challenge the security forces in Northern Ireland.

However, the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland worked together to stop these attacks. Their actions greatly weakened the IRA. By the end of World War II, Northern Ireland was mostly free from IRA activity.

What Was the Northern Campaign?

The leader of the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland), Éamon de Valera, was concerned. He didn't like that American soldiers had arrived in Northern Ireland. These soldiers were there to help with the war effort against Nazi Germany.

The arrival of these foreign soldiers encouraged the IRA's Northern Command. Their new leader, Hugh McAteer, helped them get organized. On March 25, 1942, they decided to start a new campaign. This campaign would involve attacks against the British military and war efforts in Northern Ireland.

Early Attacks and Responses

In the first few months, the IRA carried out several attacks. They targeted the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), which was the police force in Northern Ireland. These attacks took place in towns like Strabane, Dungannon, and Belfast. Sadly, two RUC officers were killed, and two others were hurt.

During an incident in Belfast, six IRA members were arrested. One of them was Joe Cahill. They were charged in connection with the death of an RUC officer. Many people signed a petition asking for mercy for these men. Most of their sentences were changed, but one IRA member, Tom Williams, was executed on September 2, 1942. This event made the IRA intensify their attacks.

Increased Pressure on the IRA

After Tom Williams' execution, the IRA continued their attacks. They bombed an RUC station in Randalstown. They also carried out more gun attacks against the RUC in West Belfast and near the border.

Because of these actions, about 320 people suspected of being IRA members were arrested. This included their leader, Hugh McAteer. One historian noted that the remaining 50 to 60 IRA members carried out about 60 armed attacks in just three months.

Jailbreaks and Weakening of the IRA

In early 1943, some IRA members escaped from prisons. For example, 23 members, including Hugh McAteer, escaped from Crumlin Road and Derry prisons. However, these escapes did not lead to a big increase in IRA activity. Many of the escapees crossed the border into the Irish Free State. There, they were quickly recaptured by the Irish Army. The few who avoided arrest focused on staying hidden rather than continuing attacks.

Over time, the IRA units in areas like south Londonderry and south Armagh found it hard to operate. Their contact with units in other counties also became weaker. Local IRA leaders preferred to avoid arrest. Events like parades, training, and even meetings became too risky due to fear of being held in camps like Curragh.

By the end of World War II in 1945, the IRA's Northern Command was very weak. This was largely due to the strong actions taken by the Irish Free State government. Northern Ireland was almost completely free from IRA activity. The Irish Minister of Justice even said that the IRA was "dead" and that he had "killed it."

Key Events of the Campaign

1942

• Easter Sunday: A gunfight in Belfast resulted in an RUC officer's death. Six IRA members were arrested. In Dublin, Irish police tried to arrest Lasarian Mangan and Brendan Behan. Behan was later arrested and sent to prison. Another incident involved Frank Morris, who was captured after a gunfight at a border checkpoint in Strabane.
• August 15: The IRA Army Council met to plan the Northern campaign. They gathered weapons and supplies near the border.
• August 30: The IRA began moving weapons into Northern Ireland. Three tons of supplies were transported into Newry, County Down. These were stored in a barn. However, police raided the barn, and one IRA member was killed. The police seized the weapons.
• September 1: The IRA ordered aggressive actions if Tom Williams was executed.
• September 2: Tom Williams was executed. The IRA immediately began attacks. Twenty IRA members tried to attack a British Army barracks in Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
• September 3: A police barracks in Randalstown, County Antrim, was damaged by an explosion. An RUC sergeant was injured.
• September 5: Two RUC officers were killed in Clady, County Tyrone.
• September 9: Sergeant Denis O'Brien, an Irish police officer, was killed by three IRA members in County Dublin. This action went against IRA orders. A reward was offered for information about his killers.
• September 30: Patrick Dermody, an IRA member, was killed by Irish police in County Cavan during a gun battle.
• October 12: Hugh McAteer, the IRA Northern Command leader, was arrested in Northern Ireland. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Charlie Kerins took over his position.
• October 19: Maurice O'Neill was captured by Irish police in Dublin. A detective died during the raid. O'Neill was later executed by the Irish Government on November 12, 1942.
• October: An RUC officer was killed during an IRA attack on an RUC station in Belfast.

1943

• January 15: Hugh McAteer escaped from Crumlin Road prison in Belfast.
• March 21: Twenty-one IRA prisoners escaped from Magilligan prison in Derry.
• April 24: The IRA, including McAteer, took over the Broadway cinema in Belfast. They forced the audience to listen to a speech about the Easter Rising. They also warned that American troops in Northern Ireland could be targeted.
• May: Many IRA members who had escaped from Derry prison were re-arrested.
• October: Hugh McAteer was re-arrested. Charlie Kerins took command of the IRA again.

1944

• February 11: Seamus "Rocky" Burns was seriously wounded during a gunfight with the RUC in Derry city.
• June 15: Charlie Kerins was arrested in Dublin. He was found guilty of involvement in the death of detective O'Brien in 1942. He was executed on December 1, 1944.

Further Information

• The Secret Army – The IRA J Bowyer Bell 1997 3rd Edition, ISBN: 1-85371-813-0

See also

• Irish Republican Army – Abwehr collaboration in World War II