Florida Four

The Florida Four refers to four people, Anthony Smyth, Conor Claxton, Martin Mullan and Siobhan Browne who were arrested for running guns from the United States to the Republic of Ireland for eventual use in Northern Ireland by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

The operation was first uncovered in 1999 and the group were convicted in 2000^[1]

The group was able to send about a 100 handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as armour-piercing ammunition. The weapons were mailed from Fort Lauderdale in packages containing toys and electronics.^[2]

Browne later said that Claxton "spent more than US$100,000 off the books on semi- and fully automatic weapons".

In August 1999, the IRA, through the Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht, denied sanctioning the plot.^[3] This contradicts Conor Claxton's testimony that he was sent to Florida by a senior IRA official and that they needed higher approval to complete the arms mission.^[4]

References

↑ "Four face 'IRA smuggling' charges", BBC News, 2002-11-20. Accessed 2007-10-05.
↑ "Six Held in N.Ireland Over IRA Florida Gun Case", Reuters. Accessed 2007-10-05.
↑ Wilson, Jamie."IRA denies sanctioning US gun plot",The Guardian, 1999-08-07. Accessed 2007-10-05.
↑ "Lies catch up with Teflon leaders", NewsHound. Accessed 2007-10-05

Provisional Irish Republican Army

General

Organisation

Attacks

Insurgency, 1969–1977	Battle of St Matthew's Scottish soldiers' killings Balmoral showroom bombing Abercorn bombing Donegall St bombing Battle at Springmartin Bloody Friday Claudy bombing Coleraine bombings M62 coach bombing Guildford pub bombings British Airways bombing attempt Birmingham pub bombings Bayardo Bar attack Drummuckavall ambush Balcombe Street siege Kingsmill massacre

Long War, 1977–1988	Jonesboro Gazelle downing La Mon restaurant bombing Warrenpoint ambush Dunmurry train explosion Lough Foyle attacks Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings Harrods bombing Brighton hotel bombing Newry mortar attack Ballygawley attack

Peace Process, 1988–1998	Corporals killings Lisburn van bombing Ballygawley bus bombing Jonesborough ambush Deal barracks bombing Derryard attack Derrygorry Gazelle downing RFA Fort Victoria bombing Proxy bombings Downing St mortar attack Mullacreevie ambush Glenanne barracks bombing Teebane bombing Cloghoge attack 1992 Manchester bombing South Armagh sniper campaign Warrington bomb attacks Cullaville occupation Bishopsgate bombing Battle of Newry Road Shankill Road bombing Crossmaglen Lynx downing Drumcree conflict Docklands bombing 1996 Manchester bombing Osnabrück mortar attack Thiepval barracks bombing Coalisland attack July 1997 riots

Chiefs of Staff

Seán Mac Stíofáin (1969–72)
Joe Cahill (1972–73)
Seamus Twomey (1973)
Éamonn O'Doherty (1973–74)
Seamus Twomey (1974–77)
Gerry Adams (1977–78)
Martin McGuinness (1978–82)
Ivor Bell (1982–83)
Kevin McKenna (1983–97)
Thomas "Slab" Murphy (1997–2005)

Personalities
(Volunteers)

Associates

Derivatives

Prominent killings

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