1992 North American IRA arrests

Described as a "political witch hunt", four men were arrested as part of a "terrorism operation"Barron, James. New York Times, " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1DB133FF931A25752C1A964958260 4 Arrested in Shipments of Detonators to Northern Ireland ] ", November 12 1992] on charges of trying to purchase 2,900 detonators from a supplier in Arizona in November 1989, believed to be destined for the Irish Republican Army. [Intelligence Online, [http://www.intelligenceonline.com/Identification/p_identification.asp?rub=login&lang=ANG&service=BRE&context=ARC&doc_i_id=63558 Threat Assessment: IRA Smuggling Charges] , February 12 1992] They were found not guilty of conspiracy to smuggle the devices back to their native Ireland.cite web|url=http://wc.arizona.edu/~wildcat/papers/old-wildcats/spring94/APRIL27,1994/05_1_m.html |title=6 cleared on charges of shipping explosives, 04/27/94 |publisher=Wc.arizona.edu |date= |accessdate=2008-09-24]

Although all citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Thomas Maguire from Fermanagh, and Gerard Branigan and Patrick Moley from Armagh were legal residents of the United States, and Denis Leyne from Cork was a legal Canadian resident living in Toronto.SQOIRSC, "Four Irishmen held in USA despite bail grant", Nollaiz/December 1992] Moley's brother Shamus had been arrested in 1990, along with Canadian Sean John McCann, following the attempted purchase of a Stinger missile.New York Times, " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D9113DF930A25752C0A966958260 Four are accused of tringy to buy antiaircraft missile for the IRA] ", January 13 1990.]

Although they were granted bail on November 17, they were held pending extradition to Arizona to face charges; admidst complaints from their family members that visits were difficult.

Two native-born Floridians, John Lynch and William Kelly, were also charged in the conspiracy, but denied ever having even known the four men.

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