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BRITISH RULE in Northern Ireland has tended more and come lawless rule. The British Parliament can be relie under Tories and Labour alike — to rubber-stamp what It even retrospectively legalised the shooting down of 13 civilians First there was internment without charge or trial, in 1971. Then there was the introduction of no-jury Diplock courts by the Labour government in the mid-'70s. In the last two years there has developed a system of convicting people in these no-jury courts on the word of informers who often have a massive gain to make from their Most receive either immunity or massively reduced sentences on their own charges. All the information made available by informers who later changed their minds, and by people who refused to become informers, shows that vast sums of money are also on offer.

Robert Lean was touted as the ultimate in 'supergrasses', allegedHis spectacular turn-around and retraction of his testimony has dealt a serious blow to the informer system — though he may have to pay dearly for it. Others will probably follow his example and retract.

We print here An Phoblacht's account (written by Maeve Armstrong) of the dramatic Belfast press conference at which Lean The last major target in Beirut was the US Embassy: Secretary of State 300 US marines have been rushed to the Lebanon to replace those slaughtered last Sunday (23rd) when two massive mobile truck borbs were hurled by suicide drivers against buildings occupied by US and French troops of the so-called peace-keeping force.

The US death toll now stands at 214: the French at 62, with nearly as many more still listed as 'missing, but probably dead.

Who was responsible for the bombing is not known. The Palestine Liberation Organisation denies responsibility. A spokesperson said: "The PLO has nothing to do with the explosions. But what has happened is not a surprise because he who comes into a bear's den must expect to get bitten."

The visit to Beirut of French President Mitterrand and of US Vice-president Bush immediately after the bombings showed the determination of both governments to hang on in the Lebanon. They are staying there to stabilise the Maronite cammunalist government of Amin Gemayel which is opposed by the Muslim majority of the people of Lebanon.

But the slaughter will inevitably stir into renewed life opposition in America to US involvement Schultz visited the wreckage Army in Northern Ireland does.

in Derry on January 30 1972.

testimony.

ly deputy head of the Belfast IRA.

retracted. The article has been shortened.

BALLYMURPHY man Robert Lean, the man whom the RUC boasted six weeks ago would devastate the IRA and Sinn Fein in Belfast, made a dramatic appearance at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at the Felons' Club in West Belfast.

And he told the assembied journalists that, having lulled his RUC 'minders' into a false sense of security, he had escaped from Palace Barracks at Hollywood the previous night, taken an RUC car and driven to Belfast where he rejoined his wife and five children.

Fifteen minutes before the press conference Lean had sworn an affidavit retracting his evidence and previously signed statements against 28 people including well-known Belfast republican Ivor Bell.

Lean outlined events from the time of his arrest at the end of August on the word of [informer] William Skelly, how the RUC used Skelly's statement - implicating him in a rocket attack and kidnapping charge - to intimidate him, and how they had concentrated on his fears that his family would be split up if he did not cooperate.

"I was in a bad way because I knew he had also mentioned the wife. The RUC told me he had and they were going to arrest and charge her.

We have five children and I felt intimidated. They offered that if I turned informer they would supply me with the relevant information, the people they wanted to put away, and all I would have to do would be agree to it.

I was supplied with photographs of people whom they wanted named, statements of what they termed terrorist acts' . I was given the whole runmore to beid upon -the British Paddy Dollard He was guarded by arme RUC 'minders' and was move about from one army base to ar other, but never left the si counties and refused to leave o one occasion. He: said he we fairly comfortable and whe they moved him to Palace Ba racks, "the security sort • relaxed. There were only tw 'minders' with me and, as I sa: I bided my time until the oppo tunity arose"

Lean said that he had bee planning an escape for a fe weeks, and at around 12.: on Wednesday October 19 t took his chance:

'One of the "minders' left h car-keys on the mantelpiece ar went up to bed. I had a grow so I shaved the growth ar moustache off. I climbed out ti window, took the policeman car, drove by the main entranc where I was waved on, and lan ed with my family in Belfast"

Following the end of the pre conference, Lean remained f 10 to 15 minutes awaiting h legal counsel, but as they & tempted to drive away to me his family, a large force of Bri RUC personnel, led by a hig ranking plainclothes Speci Branch man, stopped the cE opened the doors, and told hi he was being arrested und Section 12.

He was then physically 1 moved from the car. Amid general furore, the senior RI man was heard to say in an i timidating and sinister fashion "Come on, Robert, for yo family's sake"

Lean was then bundled in the back of an RUC landrov and was driven off to Cast] reagh.

Iron IN ON TRIAL New pamphlet, 50p; latest ' bulletin, 30p, plus posti From TSC, BM Box London WCIN 3XX.

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