‘After an extensive investigation, we have come to the conclusion that we are dealing with a rogue group, a group that we are sure must have been within the organisation until recently, who are now operating on their own,’ said Hennessy. He saw one or two frowns. ‘The fact that they know the codewords, even after they are changed, suggests that they still have connections, and high level connections at that. And the type of explosive devices would indicate that they are IRA trained. It could even be that they passed through one of the Libyan training schools.’

One of the older members of the group, white-haired and with rosy cheeks from years on the hills around his farm, cracked his knuckles under the table to catch Hennessy’s attention. ‘If what you say is true, Liam, then it should not be too hard to pin these people down.’

Hennessy nodded. ‘In theory that’s so, Patrick. But it will require a hell of a lot of legwork. We are going to have to speak to everyone within the organisation who has bomb-making skills, to find out where they are and if they have been out of the country. Or if they have instructed anyone else. And it cannot be one man, so we’ll also be looking for any other IRA members who are unaccounted for. In short, gentlemen, we will have to interview every single member of the organisation.’

Patrick Sewell leant back in his chair and cracked his knuckles again. ‘That could cause some resentment, Liam, especially when many of our younger people are actually in favour of what has been happening. The bombing campaign has its supporters, you know. And it wasn’t all that many years ago that you yourself weren’t averse to taking the struggle over the water.’

Hennessy leant forward and placed his hands flat on the highly polished table. ‘I’m all too well aware that there are hotheads within the movement who would prefer to see us blowing up police stations in London, but they must learn to understand that there is a time for violence and a time for negotiation,’ he said.

Sewell grinned. ‘And if they don’t agree?’

‘Then, Patrick, you are free to blow their fucking kneecaps off, sure enough.’

Hennessy grinned and so did Sewell and the group burst into deep-throated laughter. The two men were best of friends and they went back a long way. A hell of a long way. They both had a powdery dry sense of humour and took great pleasure in winding each other up.

Hennessy waited for the laughter to die away before continuing. ‘There is a second line of enquiry which we must pursue,’ he said. ‘Whoever is behind the bombing campaign appears to have a ready source of explosives and bomb-making equipment. I want every single stockpile of arms checked, both here and on the mainland. And I don’t mean that we just check that they are there, I mean every item must be verified. Verified and then re-hidden. It could be that they have access to more than one of our stockpiles and have taken a small amount from each place. You see what I mean? A few pounds of Semtex from here, a detonator there, a transmitter from somewhere else. Hoping that we wouldn’t notice.’