THE ARMS CRISIS OF 1970: THE PLOT THAT NEVER WAS

An in-depth reassessment of Ireland’s 1970 arms trial

The Irish arms crisis of 1970 is an event steeped in its own folklore and mythology, with Taoiseach Jack Lynch as its hero and Minister for Finance Charles Haughey and Minister for Agriculture Neil Blaney its villains. The traditional narrative tells how Lynch, an honest and gentle leader, acted quickly to stop a plot to smuggle weapons to arm the Northern Ireland republicans. Had such an event occurred, the results could have been violent and bloody, with Haughey and Blaney ready to seize control from a leader they despised.

Here, Michael Heney challenges this view with an account that uses new research to uncover a far more complex and surprising narrative than previously established. The term ‘forensic’ is often used when describing Heney’s work and that’s certainly the case here. Heney brilliantly

Author Michael Heney Publisher Head of Zeus Price £16.99 Released Out now

reassess events, compiling evidence surrounding the trial and presenting it to the reader in a way that provides an entirely new look at this controversial moment.

That’s not to suggest, however, that this is some vast and heavy tome, decipherable only by those steeped fully in the story of the trial – far from it. In fact, Heney outlines his key players and events in the introduction in a way that is entirely accessible to newcomers. The breakdown of the chapters is likewise simple and easy to follow and there’s even a section of photographs so readers can put faces to names. On the whole The Arms Crisis Of 1970 is a new look at a controversial trial that should interest both experts and new readers alike.