File on republicans interned before Second World War declassified after 80 years
Lancaster bombers from Battle of Britain in the Second World War
Éamon Phoenix
29 December, 2020 00:01
The late Jimmy Drumm, at his wife Maire's grave. Mr Drumm was interned during the Second World War
Files on dozens of suspected IRA men who were interned shortly before, or during, the Second World War have been declassified after more than 80 years.
The first file, dated December 22, 1938, includes details of 34 men interned by Stormont home affairs minister Sir Dawson Bates, a founder of the pre-First World War UVF.
The files reveal the internees' names, addresses, occupations and suspected rank in the IRA, including Frank McGrogan of North Queen Street in north Belfast, a window-cleaner and ‘Officer, G Company, Belfast Battalion’.