3 Sentenced as IRA Gunrunners; 2 Also Get Drug-Smuggling Terms

Three Massachusetts men who admitted smuggling seven tons of weapons and ammunition destined for the Irish Republican Army were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison Tuesday, and two were also sentenced for smuggling marijuana into the United States.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro referred to the gun-running case as an attempt to carry out foreign policy, rather than as a threat to national security, but said the smuggling of drugs into the United States “is most serious to me. That is the national security case.”

The men’s pleas on the gun-running charges were reached in an agreement with prosecutors, who dropped racketeering charges and promised to recommend sentences substantially lower than the maximum.

Those sentenced were Joseph Paul Murray Jr., 41, of Boston’s Charlestown section; Patrick Nee, 42, of South Boston, and Robert Andersen, 47, of Gloucester.

Tauro sentenced Murray to 10 years in prison and Andersen to four years for their parts in the smuggling of weapons and drugs. Nee was sentenced to four years for his involvement in the gun case.

Prosecutors said the three conspired to buy weapons in violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control and Export Administration Act. Murray and Nee bought weapons, and Andersen’s ship was used in the September, 1984, operation.