A PROMINENT Conservative councillor has resigned because of the disclosure of her close associations with the Provisional IRA in the early 1970s, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor
Maria Gatland, a senior figure on Croydon council in Greater London, quickly resigned after it emerged she was the author of the book To Take Arms: My Year with the Provisional IRA, and was involved with the organisation more than 30 years ago.
Originally from Churchtown, Dublin, and writing under her maiden name of McGuire, Ms Gatland detailed her experiences with senior IRA figures and her recollections of an illegal arms-buying trip to Europe.
However, following Bloody Friday in Belfast in 1972 when the IRA exploded a series of bombs killing nine and injuring scores more, Ms Gatland is said to have rejected the movement and left for England.
She was confronted with her past at a public meeting and promptly resigned as a council cabinet member for children. She said she was not prepared to say anything further "at this stage". The council said it was suspending her pending an investigation.
"The council has been advised that Maria Gatland has resigned as cabinet member for children," a spokesman said.
The former Maria McGuire was pictured alongside IRA leader Daithí Ó Conaill in The Irish Timesin October 1971 during a month-long trip across continental Europe in search of arms for the Provos, for which Mr Ó Conaill had £100,000 at his disposal.
This newspaper reported that Mr Ó Conaill said one of the purposes of their trip was to secure arms "which would have gone to create a free Derry not just in name but in effect".
The report continued that Ms McGuire was "not anxious to discuss her precise role in the IRA".