Report on the Irish Workers’ League. General feeling is that the League is losing ground. At their meeting at Mansfield Corner their speakers were attacked, so the League has gone underground. Last summer it held camps at Dundalk, Skerries and Killybegs. Excursion to Enniskerry ended with a drunken orgy. Links between the IWL and the ‘folk university’. Information on Miss Annie Peach, Miss Hilda Verlin, Sean Nolan the following need watching: John Byrne, Patrick O’Neill and Stephen Daly. John Dalton has returned to Church.

Typed copy of letter from Una Byrne [to IHA Committee] re letter of 4th March. She is astounded that the Committee is surprised she ignored the impertinent letter she received. Protests against the assumption that as a free citizen that her right to speak openly can be stifled. Asks the Committee to state the substance and source of their accusations before demanding apologies and withdrawals.

Typed copy of statement read by Mrs. Una Byrne at a meeting of IHA. As Committee looked upon her with hostility she refused to either deny or admit the accusations. Would consider discussing the matter when the informant was present. She refused to be intimidated by their action. Regarding the Roscommon Herald she was not connected and would be glad to thrash it out in court. Reasons for not signing confession given.

Typed letter to + McQuaid from [Una Byrne – name and address redacted]. The following items are mentioned: Archbishop’s kindness in granting them the Catholic Institute to hold the Congress in 1961 Communist Party here is static Gerry Kerrigan is doing great work in the trade union notice in Communist paper in London says Irish Workers’ Union formed in Eire and Britain. Aim is a Marxist Workers’ Republic the Irish Association for Nuclear Disarmament is trying to woe all sections of the community there is an uneasy feeling about activities of the Garda Commissioner friendship with Mrs. Oganshea, Nigeria.

Copy of typed letter to Mrs. Una Byrne from J.A. MacM., Secretary, thanking her, on behalf of the Archbishop, for her helpful letter of the 7th instant.

Handwritten letter to Liam from (Fr.) Jim Kavanagh, the Presbytery, Kilmacanogue. Says he wrote an acknowledgement, rather innocuous, to letter from J. Kelly. He thanked Kelly for his letter, and in a P.S. wrote “Congrats on your radio play. I did not hear it, but I am told it was good.” Kavanagh received a letter from Mrs Una Byrne saying that Kelly got a post on the Radio by using this letter. She apparently expected him to believe such nonsense.

Typed letter to + McQuaid accompanied with a report received from Mrs. Una Byrne. It was agreed that the Committee should meet on a definite day each month, that the quality of minutes should be improved and that individual members would take more initiative in securing information.

Handwritten minutes of ‘V’ Committee meeting. The following items are mentioned in the report: Discussed statements by Mr. Lynam and Mr. Leonard regarding Dublin boys going to Communist youth camps in Northern Ireland. Mrs. Una Byrne seems to be the source of information. She told Col. Tony Lalor and Fr. Killian, OFM. Committee feel that the report of the camp is fictitious. Michael O’Riordan is forbidden from holding any office in the Union for five years. A letter from Fr. Michael O’Neill in The Irish Times on the Irish Workers’ Party was discussed letter from Mrs. Gray said to be “immature and childish”. Commission Defensio Dei: Michael Noonan is offering to give lectures on Communism in schools. + McQuaid said nobody had permission to give any such lectures.

Note from Fr. Brian Byrne re censorship.

. Copy of note to Gay Byrne thanking him for defending him with vigour and generosity.