FARA non-file + Knights 1990 · p.98
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PAGEHRL
SUNIAYTImESUNION
ALL IHFORMATIONCONTAINED
HEREIN ISUICIASSIFIEL
！
Colonie man heads
The remaining NORAID memb
elected Murray as ther oew cb2.
man and eventually goctbe boo
families
hick from the beeakaway cr
group
now called Frens of InhFrt
dom.Bothare nowrzising money:
..'of Irish nationalists
thedependentstbesoo1F
prisonerx.
Murray said he thought r
By Craig Brandon
Aibany.He was failed on a felony
schism.though regrettablellha
charge in connection withallegedly
little impocton NORAID.which h
StaN wnter
COLONIE-For the first36years
lying on his visa application tovisit
kept most of itsmembers and its!
ohis life. Paul J. Murray was the
the United States.
branch otfices.inluding be one
On Monday. the 31-year-old May
Albany.
Since 1981. YORAID has bee
never make headlines.
a federal misdermeanor of lying ona
requredto submit finapcal disek
The story of how Murray,now 50.
visa form.
sures to theUSJusticeDepurumex
came toleadanational organization
folowing a court ruling that NC
thatraiseshundredsofthousandsoffromtheSinnFeinofficeinDublin
RAiDwas sn agent of tbe IRA ab
doliars a year for the families of every morning? asked Jean Mur-
tberefore subject to Agesty Regx
those trying to overthrow Britishray.
trationAct.
rule in NorthernIreland is a tale as
Paul Murray,a graduate of Colon-
Mlurray said tne ruhng was
selves.
business course at the College of
Murray, a lifelong Colonie resi-
Saint Rose in Albany and took a job
ipeq oo sey ieun q
dent,was named national chairman
with the Equitable insurance Co.in
rgister asanagenbut beFBlh
interviewed him"toupdate
known asNORAID,in September.
He was a partner in a local bar,
rmvrdshe sad He sard ke dide
Helsthefirstnative-boAmertheSandCreekInnthatofenplayed
think theFBlever spiedoa himo
c2nlohead the group.whichraisesIrishmusicbut thatwas aboutas
NORAID.
and fund-raisers and says it sendshe would ever get.
The reports NORALD led wth
about halfof it to anorganization in
Then,one day in 1974,he walked
theJusticeDepartment show that
lrelandwhich supports thefamiliesinto a tavern in Rensselaer called
the last fiveyearsit das seotsi6
of800IrishRepublican Army volun-
Ryan's Starry Plough and his life
toLrelandwhilereporuogoperag
teers held in British prisons.
began to change radically.
expenses of s864.946.TeBt
Crltics including the British gov-
government has charged tbat some
The bar was owned by John and
ernment and the US.Justice Depart- Jean Bryce,whowere recent
ofthatexpensemoneycruallymry
ment.claimthatNORAID uses someemigresfrom the Belfast shipyards.
hidemoney ned to buy arus.
ButMurray said much of tbehip
illegally.While someNORAID mem-TheIrish Revolution.-helistened
operating costs xrre tbe resalt
poor busnes raagemenpo
rerting funds forweapoars.Heplans
running.the funds to buy the arms British terror.
to bring inprofexuonal accoantass
have never been traced back to the.
"The Bryces were such nice peo-
tomake he organzatioo roa more
group.
TlmesUnionphoto byArnold LeFovre
AT HoME -- Paul J. Murray. national chairman of the Irish Northern Aid Cominttee. shows
cost-effectively.
Murray ls not ashamed to admit
stories they told so much worse.
some irish souvenirs athisColonie home.
The money. sad Murray. comes
that his conversion to the cause
Once you start learhing the truth
came late in life.
Irom indivdual andgroupsonauocs
about what's happening.it's dificult
brother. Larry. on July 25. 1978.
stjouope-ut
"My family knew we were Irish.
not to get involved.If it wasn't for
during an armed robhery of his
K to significantly inereae fund
but we weren't close to our Irish
the Bryces Id still be celebrating St.
house in Albany.While Murray
raising dy reachung out to tbe
heritage. We weren't very aware of
Patrick's Day in a bar."
discounts any connection between
My family knewwe wereIrish.butwe weren't
bmaderIrsh.Ameriean ommunty
what was going on in Ireland.J
It was not his lrish ancestry that
that crime and his decision to join
and to non-lrtshAmerices tho b
thought itwas just those crazy
got riled up.he said.Rather it was
NORAID that same year. his wife
close to ourIrish heritage.We weren'tvery
thinks willrespond once e njus
ProtestantsandCatholicsgoingatithisAmericansenseofcivright.
disagrces.
tices areclearly explsined tuem
again.said Murray. seated on the
*When you hear about vigilante
aware of what was going on in Ireland. I thought
"He told me that it taught him
His biggest' obstucle will be Lbe
fowered sofa in his split-level house
on Campagna Drive not far from
death squads. the highest infant
that life is too short. said Jean
itwasjustthosecrazyProtestants and Catholics
perception br many outiders thx
mortalityrateinFurope.peoplewho
Murray.who was Murray's compan-
NORAID is really a fron oeganiz-
wherehegrew up.
aren't allowed to vote because they
jon thenandwould later become his
goingatitagainE
Atfirst glaceit's the home of the
doa’t own a hnuse,those are things
sccond wife...
ate more terrors thalwmntan
that Americans find hard to bclieve.
dn'
Together.they attended demon
sf his wife.Jean,and five children thingsare obscene.
“A loto!pophe lhnkeeboo
strations outside the British consu-
ranging in age from4 to 30.School·The transformation didnhappen
-Paul J.Murray
throwers and that'sjust nox troe.e
late in New York City during the
said.The enly terrurism a Ireand
artwork is altachedto the refrigera-overnight.Instead.the stories from
hunger strikes that eventually took
lor door.There's a dried flower
jdoneby the Britishgovrraroent
Ireland began to take their toll on
the lives of 10 Irish prisoners in
irtangementon thecoffee table.
Murray.however.sud be thunks
him slowly.stirring up his passions.
Northern Ireland.
have been convicted in the United
that he had bcen unabte touetermine
Only when you look closer can you
that all the publicty abourORAID
find evidence of“the cause"”
“There were always things in the
"lt was a festive thing. a social
States on smuggling charges.
for surewhether NORAtD money s
Is doing mxre good than barm..
newspapers about Ireland. he said.
thing at the beginning.”hc said of
A spokeswoman for the-British
used toarni IRA soldiers.
woodenharpsthatwerehand-carved
"When Richard May came to
by IRA inmatesin LongKeshPrison
"There were always things to talk
thatperiod whenhemetmany of the
Consulate in New York,who did not
"It's a ery difficult,pated
Albany veryfewpeuple koewwhobe
about."
leaders of NORAID and SinnFein.
want her name used.said numerous
question.(0Connor told the Axso
wa5.” sad Aiurray.“Now,becance
Murray.who had never joined
"But then it became a time when a
members oI NORAID have bccn
ls arrest.everyone in tbe Capal
and Brtish Prime MinisterMarga.
anything more radicai than the local
lot of things struck home. Pcople
convicted ofattempting to cxport
NORAiD noncy gocs to support the
Pistrlct knous abut hlm and h
tetThatherinpaceofRhetButler
junior Chambcr of Commercc and
were actually going to die for thls.
arms to Ireland.even though Ameri-
IRA. but they really don't give me
the government won't let um speat
dScarletapcively
the Democratic Party.joined a
They believed init that much.That's
canlaw cnforcement otficials have
any proof.NORAiD offciais make
Americans bo couldn't areles
ConeWith The Wind”movic fame.
series ofIrish groups,each more
whenI declded that's it.I'm involved
not traced themoney dircctlyto the
the opposite claimbut arestmlarly
boutIreland,understandepne
The open black suilcase on the
radical than the one before.The first
until it's all over. I'm the type o!
group.
unabic to support it."
ple olfreespeechAllofthatcreaies
ouchMrryexplaned,elongs
was the Ancient Order of Hibernians
person thatwhenIsetmy mind to do
The convictions have'lncluded the
O'Connor concluded that t was the
sympathy forux Weexpert alox d
Sinn Fen parly member from
in 1976,“an apolitical group.a
something.I'm going to do it.
co-chairman of the 1976 NORAID
federal government's Job to deter
newmembery"
ireland whowasrecentlyarrestedin
Murray described it.
as
Murray.slightly balding. slightly
dinner dance ln New York,the head
mine onceandfor all what NO
Murray's new pautton as a spokes
He began to read books about the
u the Delaware County chapter in
RAID's tues ta the IRA are
man for tbe naucnalist carse rt
political party dedicated tounilying
Irish troublcs and now has"bookcas.
suspenders.said hc returned
Pennsylvania and the founder of the
Murray took over the rrins of
quireshim totravelarundthe
Lreland andtoremovng theBrilish
es and bookcascs filled with books
Alhany to become local chairman of
NORAID chapter in Yonkers.
NORAiD thls year fust asat was
country to speak ahut t
prrvencefrom Northern lreland.
about Ircland.Hic went to hcar
NORAID,a move that causrd most
"The position of the British gov.
undergoinga transformatun that
Heno longer hat tine to puroe
W'e didn't know uhat else to do
speakers from Ireland tell of the
of the more conservative members
‘rnment.said the British spokes.
has resulted in the reugnaton of
hus pasionfoe playng gotf and h2s
th the suiteave,”he said.
plight of the Catholics in Belfast and
of the group to resign.
qpasie spun eq s.ucom
sonc of tnational lrader.nclud.
put on a lew pount
ur whole social tfe is based
Hc hccane Northet regional
NORAiare used to continue the
ingFlannery.
“1 played xoll Iur ms in 1
srnand the Irsh community."
Londonderry.
coordinatorin1983andwasappont
vlnce and terrorsm thal goes on
Belare this'year.NoR's ole
pstyearIJon have tmetoo
he
"The story was always the sanic.
cd to thenatonalcxerutivrcommit-
in Northern ireland."
statedohyxtivewastorae tundsto
nything an nore.hed1'm rr.
Hran hus family have mmersed
he said."Innocent people being shot
tre in 1986
Sumc Amcrican offictals have
upport the widows and fanes of
the phone all the tm
by Loyalist murder gangs.houset
Hc's been to Northrrn Ircland
chosento severany ties to thr group
IRAtoluntevuhowere katledorn
Dpite tha.he stall an nsur.
ture
bring sashed.people hring arrest.
everaltumesandhasslared down
bisrd nn the allegations that NO.
prison Sne menabers.hurer.felt
the orgunzaunhould go teyond
amanandhxtkrn 3f
WIe.cat and breathe 1t."
rdwithout trial.This was happening
thc harrel ofa British gun while
HAD supports the A and the IRA
that rolend get rnvalvedn lhhy.
prautionsrcludnga Nand neu
expland Jean Murray while her
in the zoth century.
hring questioned
Julvocates vialence.
ifenuranpthn
usband sn the phone.talkingto
Thc rcal turning point catne
"Thry love to do that to Amer-
Sen Dancl P oynhan. DNY.
ngAmerean upinan to put prrsure
eratempung to frceanother
nHcn twthdawtps
la betucn calls to Pebin d
S Feinmemher,Hichard May of
between1978and1980 when a serirs
rans."hrsand
an then·fiov lugh L Curev boycot-
lastumer.Alhr
nhngton,IC,t mcal te
Belfast.
olcvenls.personal.lxal and inter.
Prume Miaster Thatcher and oth-
ted the St. Patrek's Day parade n
national hrought Sfurray further
man, Jun aunsell and duter t
tun was ahing hm questavt ar1
rBrtshnfralhave charged that
1583when NORAH funderch.el
Uonnl khr、d
medeal hstery and ging
frombis insuranrejohandcloser to
NORAID cuney supmris valenee
Flannery was the grandmurshal
furnture nl upawfen
Ja rhrtrocargran.Nrt of
thc centurics-long struggle arross
NORAly bas never heen charged
the Atlanuc.
In July 1988,Cardins Jhn t)（n
r
Pisfaplunfuy
crimnally uth runnng cuns to
nur ot New York t'ety nd tlore
The furst wax the death of his
lahne apar pigrmige to lreland
xfrn
eete
lreland.but some ofs menbrrs
hlt
nwaidVurrat
SUNIAYTImESUNION
ALL IHFORMATIONCONTAINED
HEREIN ISUICIASSIFIEL
！
Colonie man heads
The remaining NORAID memb
elected Murray as ther oew cb2.
man and eventually goctbe boo
families
hick from the beeakaway cr
group
now called Frens of InhFrt
dom.Bothare nowrzising money:
..'of Irish nationalists
thedependentstbesoo1F
prisonerx.
Murray said he thought r
By Craig Brandon
Aibany.He was failed on a felony
schism.though regrettablellha
charge in connection withallegedly
little impocton NORAID.which h
StaN wnter
COLONIE-For the first36years
lying on his visa application tovisit
kept most of itsmembers and its!
ohis life. Paul J. Murray was the
the United States.
branch otfices.inluding be one
On Monday. the 31-year-old May
Albany.
Since 1981. YORAID has bee
never make headlines.
a federal misdermeanor of lying ona
requredto submit finapcal disek
The story of how Murray,now 50.
visa form.
sures to theUSJusticeDepurumex
came toleadanational organization
folowing a court ruling that NC
thatraiseshundredsofthousandsoffromtheSinnFeinofficeinDublin
RAiDwas sn agent of tbe IRA ab
doliars a year for the families of every morning? asked Jean Mur-
tberefore subject to Agesty Regx
those trying to overthrow Britishray.
trationAct.
rule in NorthernIreland is a tale as
Paul Murray,a graduate of Colon-
Mlurray said tne ruhng was
selves.
business course at the College of
Murray, a lifelong Colonie resi-
Saint Rose in Albany and took a job
ipeq oo sey ieun q
dent,was named national chairman
with the Equitable insurance Co.in
rgister asanagenbut beFBlh
interviewed him"toupdate
known asNORAID,in September.
He was a partner in a local bar,
rmvrdshe sad He sard ke dide
Helsthefirstnative-boAmertheSandCreekInnthatofenplayed
think theFBlever spiedoa himo
c2nlohead the group.whichraisesIrishmusicbut thatwas aboutas
NORAID.
and fund-raisers and says it sendshe would ever get.
The reports NORALD led wth
about halfof it to anorganization in
Then,one day in 1974,he walked
theJusticeDepartment show that
lrelandwhich supports thefamiliesinto a tavern in Rensselaer called
the last fiveyearsit das seotsi6
of800IrishRepublican Army volun-
Ryan's Starry Plough and his life
toLrelandwhilereporuogoperag
teers held in British prisons.
began to change radically.
expenses of s864.946.TeBt
Crltics including the British gov-
government has charged tbat some
The bar was owned by John and
ernment and the US.Justice Depart- Jean Bryce,whowere recent
ofthatexpensemoneycruallymry
ment.claimthatNORAID uses someemigresfrom the Belfast shipyards.
hidemoney ned to buy arus.
ButMurray said much of tbehip
illegally.While someNORAID mem-TheIrish Revolution.-helistened
operating costs xrre tbe resalt
poor busnes raagemenpo
rerting funds forweapoars.Heplans
running.the funds to buy the arms British terror.
to bring inprofexuonal accoantass
have never been traced back to the.
"The Bryces were such nice peo-
tomake he organzatioo roa more
group.
TlmesUnionphoto byArnold LeFovre
AT HoME -- Paul J. Murray. national chairman of the Irish Northern Aid Cominttee. shows
cost-effectively.
Murray ls not ashamed to admit
stories they told so much worse.
some irish souvenirs athisColonie home.
The money. sad Murray. comes
that his conversion to the cause
Once you start learhing the truth
came late in life.
Irom indivdual andgroupsonauocs
about what's happening.it's dificult
brother. Larry. on July 25. 1978.
stjouope-ut
"My family knew we were Irish.
not to get involved.If it wasn't for
during an armed robhery of his
K to significantly inereae fund
but we weren't close to our Irish
the Bryces Id still be celebrating St.
house in Albany.While Murray
raising dy reachung out to tbe
heritage. We weren't very aware of
Patrick's Day in a bar."
discounts any connection between
My family knewwe wereIrish.butwe weren't
bmaderIrsh.Ameriean ommunty
what was going on in Ireland.J
It was not his lrish ancestry that
that crime and his decision to join
and to non-lrtshAmerices tho b
thought itwas just those crazy
got riled up.he said.Rather it was
NORAID that same year. his wife
close to ourIrish heritage.We weren'tvery
thinks willrespond once e njus
ProtestantsandCatholicsgoingatithisAmericansenseofcivright.
disagrces.
tices areclearly explsined tuem
again.said Murray. seated on the
*When you hear about vigilante
aware of what was going on in Ireland. I thought
"He told me that it taught him
His biggest' obstucle will be Lbe
fowered sofa in his split-level house
on Campagna Drive not far from
death squads. the highest infant
that life is too short. said Jean
itwasjustthosecrazyProtestants and Catholics
perception br many outiders thx
mortalityrateinFurope.peoplewho
Murray.who was Murray's compan-
NORAID is really a fron oeganiz-
wherehegrew up.
aren't allowed to vote because they
jon thenandwould later become his
goingatitagainE
Atfirst glaceit's the home of the
doa’t own a hnuse,those are things
sccond wife...
ate more terrors thalwmntan
that Americans find hard to bclieve.
dn'
Together.they attended demon
sf his wife.Jean,and five children thingsare obscene.
“A loto!pophe lhnkeeboo
strations outside the British consu-
ranging in age from4 to 30.School·The transformation didnhappen
-Paul J.Murray
throwers and that'sjust nox troe.e
late in New York City during the
said.The enly terrurism a Ireand
artwork is altachedto the refrigera-overnight.Instead.the stories from
hunger strikes that eventually took
lor door.There's a dried flower
jdoneby the Britishgovrraroent
Ireland began to take their toll on
the lives of 10 Irish prisoners in
irtangementon thecoffee table.
Murray.however.sud be thunks
him slowly.stirring up his passions.
Northern Ireland.
have been convicted in the United
that he had bcen unabte touetermine
Only when you look closer can you
that all the publicty abourORAID
find evidence of“the cause"”
“There were always things in the
"lt was a festive thing. a social
States on smuggling charges.
for surewhether NORAtD money s
Is doing mxre good than barm..
newspapers about Ireland. he said.
thing at the beginning.”hc said of
A spokeswoman for the-British
used toarni IRA soldiers.
woodenharpsthatwerehand-carved
"When Richard May came to
by IRA inmatesin LongKeshPrison
"There were always things to talk
thatperiod whenhemetmany of the
Consulate in New York,who did not
"It's a ery difficult,pated
Albany veryfewpeuple koewwhobe
about."
leaders of NORAID and SinnFein.
want her name used.said numerous
question.(0Connor told the Axso
wa5.” sad Aiurray.“Now,becance
Murray.who had never joined
"But then it became a time when a
members oI NORAID have bccn
ls arrest.everyone in tbe Capal
and Brtish Prime MinisterMarga.
anything more radicai than the local
lot of things struck home. Pcople
convicted ofattempting to cxport
NORAiD noncy gocs to support the
Pistrlct knous abut hlm and h
tetThatherinpaceofRhetButler
junior Chambcr of Commercc and
were actually going to die for thls.
arms to Ireland.even though Ameri-
IRA. but they really don't give me
the government won't let um speat
dScarletapcively
the Democratic Party.joined a
They believed init that much.That's
canlaw cnforcement otficials have
any proof.NORAiD offciais make
Americans bo couldn't areles
ConeWith The Wind”movic fame.
series ofIrish groups,each more
whenI declded that's it.I'm involved
not traced themoney dircctlyto the
the opposite claimbut arestmlarly
boutIreland,understandepne
The open black suilcase on the
radical than the one before.The first
until it's all over. I'm the type o!
group.
unabic to support it."
ple olfreespeechAllofthatcreaies
ouchMrryexplaned,elongs
was the Ancient Order of Hibernians
person thatwhenIsetmy mind to do
The convictions have'lncluded the
O'Connor concluded that t was the
sympathy forux Weexpert alox d
Sinn Fen parly member from
in 1976,“an apolitical group.a
something.I'm going to do it.
co-chairman of the 1976 NORAID
federal government's Job to deter
newmembery"
ireland whowasrecentlyarrestedin
Murray described it.
as
Murray.slightly balding. slightly
dinner dance ln New York,the head
mine onceandfor all what NO
Murray's new pautton as a spokes
He began to read books about the
u the Delaware County chapter in
RAID's tues ta the IRA are
man for tbe naucnalist carse rt
political party dedicated tounilying
Irish troublcs and now has"bookcas.
suspenders.said hc returned
Pennsylvania and the founder of the
Murray took over the rrins of
quireshim totravelarundthe
Lreland andtoremovng theBrilish
es and bookcascs filled with books
Alhany to become local chairman of
NORAID chapter in Yonkers.
NORAiD thls year fust asat was
country to speak ahut t
prrvencefrom Northern lreland.
about Ircland.Hic went to hcar
NORAID,a move that causrd most
"The position of the British gov.
undergoinga transformatun that
Heno longer hat tine to puroe
W'e didn't know uhat else to do
speakers from Ireland tell of the
of the more conservative members
‘rnment.said the British spokes.
has resulted in the reugnaton of
hus pasionfoe playng gotf and h2s
th the suiteave,”he said.
plight of the Catholics in Belfast and
of the group to resign.
qpasie spun eq s.ucom
sonc of tnational lrader.nclud.
put on a lew pount
ur whole social tfe is based
Hc hccane Northet regional
NORAiare used to continue the
ingFlannery.
“1 played xoll Iur ms in 1
srnand the Irsh community."
Londonderry.
coordinatorin1983andwasappont
vlnce and terrorsm thal goes on
Belare this'year.NoR's ole
pstyearIJon have tmetoo
he
"The story was always the sanic.
cd to thenatonalcxerutivrcommit-
in Northern ireland."
statedohyxtivewastorae tundsto
nything an nore.hed1'm rr.
Hran hus family have mmersed
he said."Innocent people being shot
tre in 1986
Sumc Amcrican offictals have
upport the widows and fanes of
the phone all the tm
by Loyalist murder gangs.houset
Hc's been to Northrrn Ircland
chosento severany ties to thr group
IRAtoluntevuhowere katledorn
Dpite tha.he stall an nsur.
ture
bring sashed.people hring arrest.
everaltumesandhasslared down
bisrd nn the allegations that NO.
prison Sne menabers.hurer.felt
the orgunzaunhould go teyond
amanandhxtkrn 3f
WIe.cat and breathe 1t."
rdwithout trial.This was happening
thc harrel ofa British gun while
HAD supports the A and the IRA
that rolend get rnvalvedn lhhy.
prautionsrcludnga Nand neu
expland Jean Murray while her
in the zoth century.
hring questioned
Julvocates vialence.
ifenuranpthn
usband sn the phone.talkingto
Thc rcal turning point catne
"Thry love to do that to Amer-
Sen Dancl P oynhan. DNY.
ngAmerean upinan to put prrsure
eratempung to frceanother
nHcn twthdawtps
la betucn calls to Pebin d
S Feinmemher,Hichard May of
between1978and1980 when a serirs
rans."hrsand
an then·fiov lugh L Curev boycot-
lastumer.Alhr
nhngton,IC,t mcal te
Belfast.
olcvenls.personal.lxal and inter.
Prume Miaster Thatcher and oth-
ted the St. Patrek's Day parade n
national hrought Sfurray further
man, Jun aunsell and duter t
tun was ahing hm questavt ar1
rBrtshnfralhave charged that
1583when NORAH funderch.el
Uonnl khr、d
medeal hstery and ging
frombis insuranrejohandcloser to
NORAID cuney supmris valenee
Flannery was the grandmurshal
furnture nl upawfen
Ja rhrtrocargran.Nrt of
thc centurics-long struggle arross
NORAly bas never heen charged
the Atlanuc.
In July 1988,Cardins Jhn t)（n
r
Pisfaplunfuy
crimnally uth runnng cuns to
nur ot New York t'ety nd tlore
The furst wax the death of his
lahne apar pigrmige to lreland
xfrn
eete
lreland.but some ofs menbrrs
hlt
nwaidVurrat