Redemption - Leon Uris [113]
This reversal was in keeping with Dublin Castle’s refusal to admit the existence of the IRB, which it has steadfastly done over the past three years.
Conor Larkin, now identified as the leader of the operation, is being held incommunicado while other members of the gang have been remanded to Mountjoy Prison. (See adjoining box for background of Mr. Larkin and his long association with the Weed and Hubble families of Belfast and Londonderry.)
Making a brief statement before going into seclusion, Sir Frederick Weed appeared to be livid with rage. “Using my family and myself as innocent victims of Conor Larkin’s perfidy amounts to the most venal treachery I have ever known. We were his trusting patrons and this behavior boldly illustrates the despicable character of this breed. I shall live to see him hanged and his fellow conspirators, crushed.”
While humiliated by the failure of Sir Frederick’s own considerable intelligence-gathering sources, Irish humor over the incident at Sixmilecross has resulted in a large amount of laughter from the pubs, to the salons, to the editorial pages, to the man in the street. Larkin’s cheek and daring seems to have captured that odd quirk of irony in the Irish character.
DUBLIN CASTLE ADMITS SIXMILECROSS GANG WERE
MEMBERS OF THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BROTHERHOOD
DUBLIN, AUGUST 12, REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE, EUROPA PRESS—Reversing themselves three times in three days, Dublin Castle today admitted existence of the IRB and held them directly responsible for the gunrunning scheme.
Sir Frederick Weed remains in seclusion.
Committees forming throughout the country demanded justice for Conor Larkin and the Sixmilecross Gang.
D. E. Dunkerlee, spokesman for His Majesty’s Press Office, issued the following statement at 4 p.m.:
“Further investigation into the Sixmilecross incident has brought His Majesty’s government to conclude that the Irish Republican Brotherhood has been secretly active for several months, and possibly years, and is directly responsible for the gunrunning scheme aboard Sir Frederick Weed’s Red Hand Express.
“Experts from Scotland Yard and Army Intelligence have concluded that such an operation could not be possible without a fair-sized support system.
“The rifles have been traced to Dunby Depot in Cape Town, South Africa, and had apparently been shipped in 1901 for issue to troops in the Boer War. Experts are trying to determine if they had been returned to England after the conflict, uncrated.”
“Meanwhile the country remains agog with Sixmilecross fever. Informed sources state that the IRB is being sought out for enlistment by hundreds, if not thousands, of men throughout Ireland.
“By naming the IRB as the ‘nonexistent’ entity who carried out the gun smuggling, the British have become our greatest recruiter. We could not have gotten this kind of publicity on our own in ten years and we are grateful to Dublin Castle for its cooperation,” said one high-ranking Brotherhood official on the condition of anonymity.
42
Atty recognized Shelley MacLeod the instant she stepped from the train onto the platform. Shelley seemed neither cowed nor lost as she held her hand above her forehead to shade out the sunlight. Standing as she was, Shelley seemed nearly translucent, ethereal. It was plain for Atty to see why Conor loved her so profoundly.
Atty was frustrated with a natural wont to dislike her, but it seemed impossible to dislike her. Shelley wore a purple satin ribbon around her neck to identify herself as she continued to look about.
“Hello, Shelley, I’m Atty Fitzpatrick.”
“Thanks for coming, Mrs. Fitzpatrick.”
“Please call me Atty.”
“Is there any news?”
“No, except that Conor is alive. How about yourself, how are