Opinion ID: 441634
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: PIRA Meets Hanratty

Text: 4 The events that culminated in the June 1982 arrests of the defendants began a year earlier, when Duggan, on the recommendation of an acquaintance, sought out Michael Hanratty, a seller of surveillance and countersurveillance equipment and other electronic items. At this first meeting, Duggan and an associate, Brendon Docherty, a/k/a Brendon Sloan (Sloan), identified themselves to Hanratty as members of PIRA, and explained that they sought to purchase equipment for use against the British in Northern Ireland. At a meeting that evening, Duggan, Sloan, and a third companion explained to Hanratty their political views and PIRA's equipment needs. Although Duggan and his associates inquired about the availability of a variety of equipment--including bullet proof vests, electronic tracking systems, and devices to detect the presence of electronic surveillance--their principal interest was in acquiring sophisticated remote-controlled explosive detonators, items that Hanratty could not supply. 5 Hanratty promptly informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of these conversations and agreed to provide FBI agents with information gained from any future meetings, in particular the types of electronic equipment Duggan and his associates desired to purchase. Although the agents did not instruct Hanratty to initiate any further contact with Duggan's group, they requested that he attempt to introduce an undercover FBI agent into future dealings if the opportunity arose. 6 Over the next six months, Hanratty was contacted by Duggan and Sloan several times for the purchase of a variety of equipment that could be used as fusing mechanisms for bombs. In addition, Sloan asked Hanratty if he could supply surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), with which PIRA could shoot down British helicopters. 7 During these meetings Duggan and his associates frequently spoke of consulting their money man for the PIRA purchases. In January 1982, Hanratty was summoned by Duggan for his first meeting with the money man and was presented to Megahey. Megahey introduced himself as the leader of PIRA operations in the United States, and stated that all PIRA activities in the United States were conducted with his knowledge. Megahey said he had chosen to reveal himself to Hanratty because Hanratty had become a valuable asset to their organization, and he, inter alia, reminded Hanratty of the importance of acquiring certain previously ordered devices that were needed as safety mechanisms in the construction of remote-controlled bombs.