PRC-UTE
9th May 2005, 00:58
Sunday Life
Help!... the IRA
Beatle Lennon offered to play gigs in Ireland for the 'cause'
08 May 2005
IRA sympathising ex-Beatle John Lennon met with a senior Belfast Provo at the height of the Troubles, a new book reveals.
And the pop star promised he would do concerts in Dublin and Belfast. The revelation is contained in No Surrender, a new biography of Ulster soft rock star Van Morrison.
Ex-IRA prisoner Gerry O'Hare tells author Johnny Rogan how he met Lennon in New York after the former Beatle had carried a pro-IRA placard at a rally in London. His claims tie in with reports that British Intelligence kept tabs on Lennon.
"Lennon was taken very seriously," recalled O'Hare, a former Belfast councillor.
"Paul McCartney had also written (about Ireland). These were two powerful people to have on your side.
"We were up to speed with Lennon because he was very interested (in the IRA).
"I met him through a contact whose name I do not wish to divulge," added O'Hare, whose ex-wife Rita remains a senior republican figure.
"Lennon gave me the impression that he was genuine. He said he'd like to do the concert in Dublin, but he insisted on doing one in Belfast, too.
"I got the impression he wanted to do an additional show for the Protestant community."
But they never happened because Lennon was afraid US immigration would refuse to let him back into America if he left the country.
Lennon, who was murdered by deranged fan Mark Chapman in 1980, tried to reconcile his pacifist Give Peace A Chance views with support for the IRA by saying: "If it's a choice between the IRA and the British Army, I'm with the IRA. If it's a choice between violence and non-violence, I'm with non-violence. So it's a very delicate line."
Help!... the IRA
Beatle Lennon offered to play gigs in Ireland for the 'cause'
08 May 2005
IRA sympathising ex-Beatle John Lennon met with a senior Belfast Provo at the height of the Troubles, a new book reveals.
And the pop star promised he would do concerts in Dublin and Belfast. The revelation is contained in No Surrender, a new biography of Ulster soft rock star Van Morrison.
Ex-IRA prisoner Gerry O'Hare tells author Johnny Rogan how he met Lennon in New York after the former Beatle had carried a pro-IRA placard at a rally in London. His claims tie in with reports that British Intelligence kept tabs on Lennon.
"Lennon was taken very seriously," recalled O'Hare, a former Belfast councillor.
"Paul McCartney had also written (about Ireland). These were two powerful people to have on your side.
"We were up to speed with Lennon because he was very interested (in the IRA).
"I met him through a contact whose name I do not wish to divulge," added O'Hare, whose ex-wife Rita remains a senior republican figure.
"Lennon gave me the impression that he was genuine. He said he'd like to do the concert in Dublin, but he insisted on doing one in Belfast, too.
"I got the impression he wanted to do an additional show for the Protestant community."
But they never happened because Lennon was afraid US immigration would refuse to let him back into America if he left the country.
Lennon, who was murdered by deranged fan Mark Chapman in 1980, tried to reconcile his pacifist Give Peace A Chance views with support for the IRA by saying: "If it's a choice between the IRA and the British Army, I'm with the IRA. If it's a choice between violence and non-violence, I'm with non-violence. So it's a very delicate line."