O'Brien Pocket History of the IRA

That July was the worst month in the entire northern troubles – 200 explosions, 95 dead, 2,800 shooting incidents. Whitelaw was caught out and vowed never again to hold secret talks with the IRA. The combination of those two responses ensured that the Provisionals’ campaign would continue indefinitely.

In September 1971 the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was formed, drawing support from loyalist working-class areas of Belfast in particular. For many in those areas the UDA was seen as an unofficial replacement for the B-Specials, their new shield against the IRA. The UDA became a formidable force on the ground, reaching a peak, also in 1972, of about 40,000 members. In that year loyalist groups of varying kinds killed 111 people, mostly ordinary Catholics.

Terror was the tactic. The military objective was to create a fortress-like atmosphere where the north could be governed only by military means. This, in turn, would bring the collapse of Northern Ireland as a viable entity, forcing the British government into making radical political changes. From the Provos’ point of view the signs and the omens looked good.

Guns were, of course, a vital ingredient in the IRA’s attempts to escalate their campaign and force a British political response. But the major impact was made by explosives used in a myriad of ways: car bombs, nail bombs, the carrier-bag bomb, bombs walked into Belfast city centre by women pretending to be pregnant, cigarette packet incendiary devices. In 1971 the British authorities recovered one ton of explosives, in 1972, eighteen tons

The IRA’s Libyan route had been re-opened for a number of years, probably since back in 1981 during the hunger-strikes period. Col Ghadaffi had been threatening to support anti-imperialist groups, including the IRA

Then, at the point of departure, the arms consignment was impounded by the Dutch authorities at Schipol Airport on 16 October 1971.