At a recent meeting of the IRSP National Executive, a full report was received concerning attempts to destroy our organisation in the Belfast area.

Since the formation of our Party on the 8.12.74. a concerted campaign of intimidation has been carried out against our members and supporters in the Belfast area by members of the Official Republican Movement. During the course of this campaign the following attacks have occurred.

12.12.74.
7 members of the party were kidnapped by members of the Official I.R.A. All of them were taken to various detention centres and beaten, in some cases severely. In addition some of them were hooded in typical British Army fashion. All of them were threatened with death if they did not resign from the IRSP.

19.12.74.
One person who resigned from the Officials was beaten up and warned not to join the IRSP

5.1.75.
Two IRSP members were shot and seriously wounded by members of the Officials. One shooting occurred on the street in the Beechmount Pass area and the second incident at a house in the Twinbrook area.

12.1.75.
An Official I.R.A. murder gang called to R. Bunting's house and attempted to murder his wife and eighteen month old daughter Fiona, by firing through the front window when she refused to open the front door. I.R.A. murder gangs also called to the houses of three other IRSP members in the Belfast area on the same night. None of the intended victims were at home, all of then having received advance warning regarding the intended assassination.

Following the shooting at the Bunting home, a spokesman for the Officials denied that any of their members were involved, however the IRSP is aware of the identities of the two gunmen involved and both of them are active members of the Official I.R.A. We are also aware that they were acting with the complete approval and on the instructions of their own Command Staff. We are also aware that in the event of a successful attempt on the life of R. Bunting, the intention of the Officials was to blame his death on a Loyalist murder gang, in a callous and cynical attempt to escalate sectarian tension in Belfast.

16.1.75.
1 member was kidnapped and threatened and told to get out of the IRSP. An attempt was made to kidnap a second member.

17.1.75.
Two 16 year old members of the party were kidnapped and taken to an Official "Detention Centre". They were both hooded and severely beaten, and told to resign from the IRSP. A flat in the Turf Lodge area was raided and wrecked by members of the Officials. The flat is occupied by a member of the IRSP. During the course of the attack, his wife was assaulted.

18.1.75.
Members of the Officials entered and wrecked the house of an IRSP supporter in the Monagh Drive area. The owner of the house, his wife and 8 children were present at the time. One of the young children was receiving treatment for a nervous disorder, caused by constant British Army raids on the same house.

19.1.75.
Two cars belonging to members of the IRSP were burned by the Officials

20.1.75.
4 members of the IRSP were kidnapped in the Andersonstown and Whiterock areas. They were taken to two different "torture centres", hooded and very severely beaten. Attempts were made to break their legs by holding them on the ground and throwing heavy tables on their legs. They were all told to resign from the IRSP or they would be shot dead.

21.1.75.
An attempt was made to murder 2 IRSP members on the Springfield rd. The attempt was made by prominent members of the Officials. The shots which were fired missed and the 2 members escaped.

21.1.75.
An attempt was made to murder 3 members on the Falls RD. The attackers again were identified as members of the Officials. The shots missed their intended victims and struck a passing car which was been driven by a nun.

22.1.75.
A petrol bomb was thrown through the bedroom window of a supporter's house in the Twinbrook area. His mother and 2 younger brothers aged 7 and 5 years were present at the time.

24.1.75.
1 IRSP member was kidnapped in the Twinbrook area. He was taken to an Official torture centre, and severely beaten. He was also told to resign from the IRSP.

All of the above mentioned attacks have been carried out in pursuit of a policy decision made by the Army Council of the Officials to smash the IRSP at any cost. During the course of their present campaign of terror and attempted murder, they demonstrated once again their total irrelevance as a political force in Ireland. They have clearly shown that they are prepared to adopt the tactics of the British Army terror groups in pursuit of their goal to smash a legitimate political organisation.

Apart from the physical attacks which have been carried out, a decision was also made to portray members of the IRSP as criminals, and to portray the IRSP as a paramilitary organisation. This decision was made in the hope that the British Occupation Forces would then take action against the party and complete the task which the Officials had started. In pursuit of this black propaganda campaign Mr. Sean Kenny has been sent to Belfast by the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle with instructions to devote all of his energies to the campaign against the IRSP.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE

7 members of the party in the Belfast area have been forced to leave their jobs and are now unemployed as a result of threats made by members of the Officials.

Attempts have also been made to pressurize the families of the IRSP members who are now in Long Kesh. Money which has been contributed to Cabhair, the Republican Prisoners Dependents Fund, has been withdrawn from the dependents of prisoners who have joined the IRSP. In one particular case money was taken from a prisoner's wife on Christmas Eve in Belfast, because he joined the IRSP in Long Kesh.

The National Executive of the IRSP is aware that the vast majority of ordinary members of the Officials are in total disagreement with the campaign of terror and intimidation, which has been embarked upon by their own national leadership. We are also aware that the rank and file members have been intimidated into taking part in this campaign, in an attempt by the leadership to create bitterness and hostility between sincere Republicans and Socialists. We appeal to them to refuse to allow themselves to be manouvered into conflict with fellow Republicans. Let the armchair generals who have chosen to ignore the fact that British Imperialism is the main enemy do their own dirty work.

In conclusion, we wish to state that the IRSP is a legitimate political organisation, established to campaign for the creation of a Democratic Socialist Republic in Ireland. We intend to pursue this legitimate political objective despite harrassment from British Imperialism and her agents in Ireland, and we appeal to all genuine Republicans and Socialists to join us in this struggle.

SIGNED Seamus Costello