Florida Four: Difference between revisions

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The "Florida Four" refers to four people, Anthony Smyth, Conor Claxton, Martin Mullan and Siobhan Browne who were arrested in Florida for running weapons from the USA 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 Smyth was convicted with his associates in (2000).

The group was able to send about 100 handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as armour-piercing ammunition. The weapons were mailed from Fort Lauderdale in ([1]) packages containing toys and electronics ([2]) Siobhan Browne later said that Claxton "spent more than USD $100,000 ... on semi- and fully automatic weapons".

In August 1999, the ([3]) PIRA leadership denied sanctioning the plot, although Claxton ([4]) claimed in court that he was sent to Florida by a senior PIRA official.

Notes

Audio file interview with Siobhan Browne

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-The "[[Florida Four]]" refers to four people, '''Anthony Smyth''', '''Conor Claxton''', '''Martin Mullan''' and '''Siobhan Browne''' who we arrested for running guns from the [[USA]] to the [[Republic of Ireland]] for eventual use in [[Northern Ireland]] by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]].
+The "[[Florida Four]]" refers to four people, '''Anthony Smyth''', '''Conor Claxton''', '''Martin Mullan''' and '''Siobhan Browne''' who were arrested in [[Florida]] for running weapons from the [[USA]] 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 Smyth was convicted with his associates  in [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2522263.stm 2000]. The group was known as
+The operation was first uncovered in 1999 and Smyth was convicted with his associates in ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2522263.stm 2000]).
-The group was able to send about 100 handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as armour-piercing ammunition. The weapons were mailed from Fort Lauderdale in [http://www.ulsterflash.iofm.net/usa.htm  packages] cpontaining toys and electronics.
+The group was able to send about 100 handguns, rifles and shotguns, as well as armour-piercing ammunition. The weapons were mailed from [[Fort Lauderdale]] in ([http://www.ulsterflash.iofm.net/usa.htm]) packages containing toys and electronics ([http://www.americansforgunsafety.com/pdf/GunShowLoopholeandTerror.pdf]) Siobhan Browne later said that Claxton "spent more than USD $100,000 ... on semi- and fully automatic weapons".
+In August 1999, the ([http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,204840,00.html]) PIRA leadership denied sanctioning the plot, although Claxton ([http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/The_Village/arts2005/feb19_lies_catch_up_with_Teflon_leaders__SBreen.php]) claimed in court that he was sent to Florida by a senior [[PIRA]] official.
-[http://www.americansforgunsafety.com/pdf/GunShowLoopholeandTerror.pdf Browne later said] that Claxton "spent more than US$100,000 off the books on semi- and fully automatic weapons".
-In August 1999, the [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,204840,00.html IRA denied] sanctioning the plot through the Irish republican newspaper [[An Phoblacht]]. Although Conor Claxton [http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/The_Village/arts2005/feb19_lies_catch_up_with_Teflon_leaders__SBreen.php said in court] that he was sent to Florida by a senior IRA official and that they needed higher approval to complete the arms mission.
 == Notes ==