Poisoned darts for use in a "quiet assassination campaign" against police in Northern Ireland were being considered by the Irish Republican Army in the 1960s.

A previously secret police intelligence report from 1967 is among state papers published for the first time this New Year by the National Archives Office.

A top secret assessment of the IRA by the Irish Police Commissioner of 1966, Patrick Carroll, gives full details of the IRA's strategy and long-term planning and profiles the top 36 commanders at the time.

The report states that about 1,000 members "would obey military orders" - an increase on the estimated 650 in 1962 after several years of intense violence.

The documents formed a "military plan", found in the possession of Sean Garland, a member of the seven-strong Army Council of the IRA, when he was arrested.

The IRA blueprint consisted of four stages: an anti-agent campaign to start immediately, large stunt-type operations, a phase of agricultural and industrial sabotage and the kidnapping of prominent members of the British government.

"Open" assassinations would be performed in riot situations in Northern Ireland and informers would also be "openly" assassinated.

There were to be quiet assassinations for police. "Silencers, poison darts can be used with effect," it said.

"Spectacular kidnaps" would be used to secure hostages in the event of the execution of republicans.

The IRA plan acknowledged that in Northern Ireland the vast array of police and military and the hostility of the population meant that classic guerrilla-type operations could not be successful.

"We must learn from the Cypriots and engage in terror tactics only. The type of operation should be of an anti-personnel and sabotage nature."

The blueprint said the IRA must expect members to be tortured by police and therefore a basic unit should consist of only four men.

"Anyone breaking under police interrogation could then only squeal on three men."

A campaign of infiltrating trade unions to make them "more revolutionary" was also planned.

An IRA convention in 1963 split the whole island of Ireland into 18 "command areas" and a directive was issued that neither the public nor ordinary IRA men were to know about the restructuring.
 

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