Secret gas was issued for IRA prison riots

[emad]

Craig Morrison and Martin Bright
Sunday January 23, 2005
The Observer

The British government secretly authorised the use of a chemical riot control agent, fired from aerosols, water cannon or dropped from the air, to be used in prisons at the height of the Northern Ireland troubles, The Observer can reveal.

Papers from 1976 released under the government's freedom of information legislation show that the use of 'CR' or Dibenzoxazepine- a skin irritant 10 times more powerful than other tear gases - was permitted from 1973 to be used on prison inmates in the event of an attempted mass breakout.

The documents show that the authorisation was so sensitive that officials involved in organising training with the chemical were told: 'All concerned should be told of the consequences of idle talk.'

The man behind this instruction (in a document from 16 March, 1976, marked 'Secret - UK Eyes A', one of the highest levels of classification) was David B. Omand, a senior official in the Ministry of Defence. As Sir David Omand, he later became head of security and intelligence at the Cabinet Office, one of the most senior posts in Whitehall. He retires this year. The documents show he believed trials should begin immediately 'to correct defects and weaknesses already noted'.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1396713,00.html

EDWARD HEATH MP was the Prime Minister of the day and should take the credit for this one.

[MaineDem]

1. "And you dare to call me a terrorist, while you look down your gun"

From the song about Joe McDonald of the H Block.

Sad indeed.

[Toots]

2. CR...CS.. They are only tear gas.

We love to make mountains out of molehills around here. They have been using tear gas in prison riots for over fifty years. They use the same stuff on the streets when things get a bit out of hand. I find nothing wrong with it. We supposedly believe in law and order around here. We should not strip our police of their tools unless we want the mobs to rule, kind of like what is happening now with republican rule.

[nickshepDEM]

3. I agree.

Its a prison riot. The guards should be authorized to do whatever they HAVE to do.

[two gun sid]

4. Rule of law?

Are you aware that the prisoners in H-Block at Long Kesh were mostly locked-up by Diplock Courts? Sort of like our new secret Terror courts.

The reason they were rioting was because the Brits had changed there status from political prisoner to common criminal.

[UL_Approved]

5. If it wasn't so illegal, it wouldn't have been such a secret

That is like slipping tasers powerful enough to kill people into the hands of guards. This is not about riot control, this is a torture/intimidation factor to be used as political muscle.

Law and order is one thing. Excessive force is another, and is outside of the law...

[bin.dare]

6. an example of their evasions from the H of C (no less) ...

Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times police forces have used CR tear gas in public since 1968; on what dates CR gas was used in public; for what reasons; and in what circumstances police forces have been authorised to use CR tear gas in public since 1968. <60331>

Mr. Boateng: CR gas is not issued to police forces in the United Kingdom.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo981119/text/81119w07.htm