Free Republic

DUBLIN, Ireland --Sinn Fein accused the Bush administration Monday of needlessly harassing officials of the IRA-linked party at airports in the United States, where party leader Gerry Adams was detained last week because he is on the U.S. "watch list." Adams and his longtime aide, Richard McAuley, were delayed Friday from traveling to Buffalo, N.Y., for a meeting just hours after both Sinn Fein officials were guests of President Bush in the White House for St. Patrick's Day. They missed the flight -- and still were missing two suitcases when they returned Monday to Ireland. "This is a nonsensical position...

Experts Say IRA Has Criminal Empire By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer Thu Sep 29, 9:50 PM ET The Irish Republican Army may no longer want to fight the British, but detectives say it's still in business — as owners of pubs and clubs, smugglers of fuel and cigarettes, bank robbers by night and property investors by day. Throughout the past 35 years of conflict over this British territory, the IRA has built a sophisticated criminal empire throughout Ireland and beyond, laundering profits through legitimately owned businesses and properties worth more than $400 million, anti-racketeering experts say. Now that weapons...