Britain Castigated for IRA Gunmen’s Deaths

The killing of four suspected Irish Republican Army gunmen in a battle with elite British undercover commandos sparked accusations Monday that Britain has adopted a “shoot-to-kill” policy against Irish nationalist guerrillas.

Members of the elite Special Air Services killed four suspected IRA gunmen and wounded two others after their abortive machine-gun attack on a Northern Ireland police station, security sources said. The IRA is battling to oust Britain from Northern Ireland.

“Maximum force was used when these men could have been arrested. This looks like another case of shoot to kill,” said Francis Malloy, an official of Sinn Fein, the legal political party that supports the IRA.

However, supporters of Britain’s role in Northern Ireland hailed the Sunday-night shootings.