The IRA were determined to gain control of an increase in haulage business between the Republic and Northern Ireland, and to extort protection money, declassified state papers show. Irish officials were told that an increase in haulage traffic across the border would provide opportunities for republican paramilitaries through the lapse of official customs controls. It came after the Provisional IRA repeatedly bombed the Dublin/Belfast railway line, which caused constant disruption. The “local guess”, officials were told, was that the IRA campaign against the line was connected with road haulage. It was understood that the IRA wanted control of some haulage companies, and to extort protection money from others, officials said.

Source: Irish Examiner December 30, 2019 05:26 UTC