Claire Twomey
The partner of former Provo Anthony McIntyre has appealed to the US government to grant him political asylum.
Carrie Twomey, who is married to the controversial Boston Tapes founder, claims McIntyre’s life is in immediate danger due to the PSNI’s decision to use his recordings as part of police investigations.
Twomey, who is an American citizen, is believed to have approached the US administration just last week to plead McIntyre’s case stating that granting him refuge would ultimately save his life.
McIntyre, a former IRA prisoner, claims he has received repeated death threats since his involvement in the Boston Tapes was exposed.
“Carrie approached the administration herself, on behalf of her husband and as an American citizen to plead his case,” a source said.
“She believes moving to America would be a chance for them to start over and could ultimately save her husband’s life.”
“She fears for his safety but she also fears for his mental and physical health. McIntyre is under huge pressure and she wants him out of it. She wants to move back to the States and forget about the whole nightmare.”
The tapes, which include the recordings of former senior IRA members Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes and Dolours Price, have been used by the PSNI in the investigation into the murder of Jean McConville 42 years ago.
This has resulted in the arrests of former IRA members and the most recent detention of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, which caused worldwide outcry.
The quality of the tapes contents have been questioned as some who gave recordings are known to harbour grievances against their former IRA colleagues, Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams.
McIntyre was paid £26,000 a year as a researcher by Boston College, his wife Carrie Twomey was also paid as an assistant researcher.
McIntyre made the recordings alongside journalist Ed Maloney who went on to write the book, Voices From the Grave, after Brendan Hughes died, something McIntyre insists should never happened as it only alerted police to the existence of the tapes.
He has also claimed that he was ‘shafted’ by Boston College as they went back on their word that the tapes would only be released after the participant's deaths and would not be used in any police or government investigations.
Last week the Sunday World revealed how former IRA chief Ivor Bell had been asked to inform the former comrades he figured on the tapes.
It is claimed he named over a dozen former members of the IRA leaving many fearful of arrest.
The Sunday World also revealed that in addition to Bell former escapee Tommy Gorman, blanketman Richard O'Rawe, and former IRA man Brendan ‘Shando’ Shannon has also made tapes naming dozens of people involved in IRA activity 40 years ago.
Last week Richard O’Rawe admitted taking part in the project and outlined his intentions to sue Boston College for breach of contract.