James Kelly (Irish captain)
Encyclopedia
Captain James Kelly was a former Irish Army
officer who was found not guilty (along with two former Irish
ministers) of attempting to illegally import arms for the Provisional Irish Republican Army
in the Arms Trial in 1970. James Kelly was the eldest of ten children, born in 1929 into a staunchly republican family from Bailieboro in County Cavan
.
He was a central figure in the Arms Trial, having travelled to Hamburg to arrange the purchase of arms. It emerged later that Neil Blaney
had ordered him to do so outside normal legal channels, but before the weapons arrived the Garda Special Branch
had heard of the plan and tipped off the Taoiseach
, resulting in criminal charges. Although in his summing up, the judge said it was no defence for Kelly to say that he believed that the Government had authorised the importation of arms, Kelly was acquitted.
Although Kelly was acquitted, he suffered financially because he had felt compelled to resign from the Army even before the prosecution was brought. He printed and published a personal memoir in paperback format called "Orders for the Captain?" in 1971.
He was elected vice-chairman of Aontacht Éireann
, which led to his activities being observed by the Irish Army
. Aontacht Éireann met with little success at the polls and by 1980 he had joined Fianna Fáil
, becoming a member of its national executive. Following the first applications of the "Extradition (European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism) Act", 1987, he resigned from the party in 1989 in opposition to the extradition of Provisional IRA prisoners to the United Kingdom
.
He launched a successful defamation case against Garret Fitzgerald
over an article in the Irish Times. He died in 2003 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
in Dublin. The epiteph on his grave is "Put not your trust in princes" a quote from Machiavelli's The Prince
.
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
officer who was found not guilty (along with two former Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ministers) of attempting to illegally import arms for the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
in the Arms Trial in 1970. James Kelly was the eldest of ten children, born in 1929 into a staunchly republican family from Bailieboro in County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
He was a central figure in the Arms Trial, having travelled to Hamburg to arrange the purchase of arms. It emerged later that Neil Blaney
Neil Blaney
Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...
had ordered him to do so outside normal legal channels, but before the weapons arrived the Garda Special Branch
Special Detective Unit
The Special Detective Unit is a unit of an Garda Síochána under its Crime & Security Branch. They are a replacement for the older Special Branch unit, which itself replaced the CID in 1923...
had heard of the plan and tipped off the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, resulting in criminal charges. Although in his summing up, the judge said it was no defence for Kelly to say that he believed that the Government had authorised the importation of arms, Kelly was acquitted.
Although Kelly was acquitted, he suffered financially because he had felt compelled to resign from the Army even before the prosecution was brought. He printed and published a personal memoir in paperback format called "Orders for the Captain?" in 1971.
He was elected vice-chairman of Aontacht Éireann
Aontacht Éireann
Aontacht Éireann was an Irish political party founded by Kevin Boland, a former Fianna Fáil government minister and advocate of Irish republicanism...
, which led to his activities being observed by the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
. Aontacht Éireann met with little success at the polls and by 1980 he had joined Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
, becoming a member of its national executive. Following the first applications of the "Extradition (European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism) Act", 1987, he resigned from the party in 1989 in opposition to the extradition of Provisional IRA prisoners to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
He launched a successful defamation case against Garret Fitzgerald
Garret FitzGerald
Garret FitzGerald was an Irish politician who was twice Taoiseach of Ireland, serving in office from July 1981 to February 1982 and again from December 1982 to March 1987. FitzGerald was elected to Seanad Éireann in 1965 and was subsequently elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He...
over an article in the Irish Times. He died in 2003 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
in Dublin. The epiteph on his grave is "Put not your trust in princes" a quote from Machiavelli's The Prince
The Prince
The Prince is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. From correspondence a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus . But the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after...
.