Three stories from todays Sunday Life---
Fear as CIRA rebels link up
Exclusive by Stephen Breen
23 April 2006
RENEGADE republicans in Londonderry and Down last night vowed to step up their campaign of terror.
Sunday Life understands that members of the Continuity IRA have been working closely together in recent months.
Dissidents from south Down are believed to have travelled to the Derry/Donegal border for training and to receive arms for a fresh campaign of violence.
The weapons are understood to have included handguns and explosives.
The terror summits took place before a CIRA spokesman told crowds at an Easter Rising commemoration in Derry's Creggan area that the "armed struggle" would continue.
The threat comes after a suspected dissident bomb-making factory was discovered in Lurgan last week.
Republican dissidents in Derry and Down have also been active in recruiting young people to their ranks.
Many of those recruited include petty criminals who were previously targeted by the Provos before they ended their campaign of violence last July.
Although the dissidents have been thwarted by the security forces on many occasions, they are still believed to pose a high threat in the two counties.
Said a senior republican source: "CIRA leaders from the two counties have been in close contact in the past few months over their future plans. Other counties may be active, too, but these two counties consider themselves a lot stronger and that's why they want to kick-start their campaigns again.
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell (above) expressed concerns over the threat of dissident republicans.
He said: "Dissident republicans pose a real threat to this society and I would urge the security forces to do all they can to bring these people to justice."
AND----
'Old' guard planning a new terror wave...
News analysis by Jim Cusack
23 April 2006
A 64-YEAR-OLD Limerick man who has rarely visited Northern Ireland leads the bizarre splinter group the Continuity IRA (CIRA) which is currently plotting a resumption of terrorism.
In Limerick and Dublin, the group supplies arms and explosives to local drug-gangs in return for cash.
The Garda have intercepted four under-car bombs that CIRA has sold to criminals and a similar number of under-car and anti-personnel devices have been discovered in Limerick.
CIRA is one of the oddest groups to have ever evolved from armed republicanism.
It contains both young and elderly idealists.
And in Dublin and Limerick, men, claiming to belong to CIRA, are heavily involved in the drugs trade, extortion and other forms of crime.
One of its Dublin members, Robbie Doolin, who acted in a number of RTE sitcoms, died after suffering a seizure caused by overuse of cocaine at a taxi depot in Dublin in August 2000.
While claiming to be the legitimate inheritors of the struggle for Irish freedom, gardai say that most of the organisation in the Republic is involved in ordinary crime.
It still, however, maintains a small core terror group which is bent on causing destruction in Ulster.
Two weeks ago, on Good Friday, gardai discovered an arms cache at Cratloe, Co Clare, on the outskirts of Limerick. It belonged to one of the most vicious gangs in the city.
The cache included a horizontal mortar of the type manufactured by the Provos from the late 1980s to the first ceasefire in 1994.
The Garda believe CIRA manufactured and sold the missile launcher to the "ordinary" criminals who planned to use it against Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick.
Senior gardai scratch their heads when they try to understand and explain why the Continuity IRA exists.
Around 40 of its members - including teenagers and men in their 60s - are currently being held in prison or before the courts in the Republic on charges which relate to CIRA activity.
Almost every time the tiny terror group plans something it is intercepted by police on either side of the border.
Yet, despite the fact that a high percentages of its members get arrested and go to jail, CIRA continues to exist and young men still appear to be attracted to its cause.
CIRA was created after the former president of Sinn Fein, Ruari O Bradaigh, walked away from Sinn Fein in 1986 after being defeated by the Gerry Adams-led faction of the party.
Adams and his supporters wanted to build a political base in the Republic as well as in Northern Ireland, but, according to the 'pure' republican, beliefs of O Bradaigh and his supporters it would be an offence for Sinn Fein to take seats in Dail Eireann, Stormont or Westminster.
According to republican folk lore, the only legitimate government of the whole island of Ireland resides in the IRA's Army Executive.
The Limerick man who leads CIRA believes that he and his "executive" - a group of middle-aged and elderly men - are the true and only inheritors of the only legitimate government of Ireland.
Like the south Armagh-based Real IRA, CIRA set out to foment civil strife in Northern Ireland by attacking a civilian target with a large bomb.
In July 1996, it exploded a bomb which destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. Since then, CIRA has carried out a number of mainly-failed attacks in against civilians and security force targets.
The main impetus for the latest upturn in activity by CIRA comes from last summer's act of decommissioning by the Provisional IRA and its statement saying it would "cease all activities".
CIRA is now hoping to fill what it sees as a void left by what it sees as PIRA's defeat and capitulation and by Sinn Fein's "treacherous" act of taking seats in both the Stormont Assembly and the Dail.
And, in spite of its poor track record, it still appears to be attract recruits.
The riots in Dublin city centre against the Love Ulster march last month were led by CIRA figures.
The main concern of both the PSNI and gardai is that CIRA is filling a void left by the effective disbandment of the Provisional IRA and, eventually, it will succeed in carrying out a murderous act of terrorism.
⢠Jim Cusack writes extensively for the Independent newspaper group on security matters.
AND---
Dissidents braced for an upsurge in attacks
By Alan Murray
23 April 2006
FURTHER bomb attacks by the Continuity and Real IRA can be expected in the coming months, senior security sources said last night.
It's understood that more devices like the 250lb bomb seized in Lurgan last week are being planned.
And there are fears that one could slip through the security net and have catastrophic consequences similar to the 1988 Omagh bomb.
The Easter message issued by Republican Sinn Fein - warning that the Continuity IRA is still "active and dedicated" is being taken seriously in security circles on both sides of the border.
And while the Republic's justice minister, Michael McDowell, promised that the Garda and the "will of the people" would thwart dissident republican activity, it is acknowledged that there is a risk that one bomb could get through and cause major fatalities.
Just a week before the bomb factory in Lurgan was raided, another bomb was abandoned in Londonderry.
Mr McDowell said that those behind the recent upsurge in republican violence were intent on creating death and destruction.
"They believe, in some mad way, that this will advance the cause of a united Ireland."
Me thinks the horse boltd a long time before bLair closed the stable door......
I was down in Bessbrook Saturday & watched the RAF Puma going back & forth to the watchtower,dismantling it.The guy's home I was working in told me Queens Uni are moving into Bessbrook Mil..Look's like,judging by the news stories above,Jerry & Martin have achieved their goal of a British pull out.
Spike
Fear as CIRA rebels link up
Exclusive by Stephen Breen
23 April 2006
RENEGADE republicans in Londonderry and Down last night vowed to step up their campaign of terror.
Sunday Life understands that members of the Continuity IRA have been working closely together in recent months.
Dissidents from south Down are believed to have travelled to the Derry/Donegal border for training and to receive arms for a fresh campaign of violence.
The weapons are understood to have included handguns and explosives.
The terror summits took place before a CIRA spokesman told crowds at an Easter Rising commemoration in Derry's Creggan area that the "armed struggle" would continue.
The threat comes after a suspected dissident bomb-making factory was discovered in Lurgan last week.
Republican dissidents in Derry and Down have also been active in recruiting young people to their ranks.
Many of those recruited include petty criminals who were previously targeted by the Provos before they ended their campaign of violence last July.
Although the dissidents have been thwarted by the security forces on many occasions, they are still believed to pose a high threat in the two counties.
Said a senior republican source: "CIRA leaders from the two counties have been in close contact in the past few months over their future plans. Other counties may be active, too, but these two counties consider themselves a lot stronger and that's why they want to kick-start their campaigns again.
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell (above) expressed concerns over the threat of dissident republicans.
He said: "Dissident republicans pose a real threat to this society and I would urge the security forces to do all they can to bring these people to justice."
AND----
'Old' guard planning a new terror wave...
News analysis by Jim Cusack
23 April 2006
A 64-YEAR-OLD Limerick man who has rarely visited Northern Ireland leads the bizarre splinter group the Continuity IRA (CIRA) which is currently plotting a resumption of terrorism.
In Limerick and Dublin, the group supplies arms and explosives to local drug-gangs in return for cash.
The Garda have intercepted four under-car bombs that CIRA has sold to criminals and a similar number of under-car and anti-personnel devices have been discovered in Limerick.
CIRA is one of the oddest groups to have ever evolved from armed republicanism.
It contains both young and elderly idealists.
And in Dublin and Limerick, men, claiming to belong to CIRA, are heavily involved in the drugs trade, extortion and other forms of crime.
One of its Dublin members, Robbie Doolin, who acted in a number of RTE sitcoms, died after suffering a seizure caused by overuse of cocaine at a taxi depot in Dublin in August 2000.
While claiming to be the legitimate inheritors of the struggle for Irish freedom, gardai say that most of the organisation in the Republic is involved in ordinary crime.
It still, however, maintains a small core terror group which is bent on causing destruction in Ulster.
Two weeks ago, on Good Friday, gardai discovered an arms cache at Cratloe, Co Clare, on the outskirts of Limerick. It belonged to one of the most vicious gangs in the city.
The cache included a horizontal mortar of the type manufactured by the Provos from the late 1980s to the first ceasefire in 1994.
The Garda believe CIRA manufactured and sold the missile launcher to the "ordinary" criminals who planned to use it against Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick.
Senior gardai scratch their heads when they try to understand and explain why the Continuity IRA exists.
Around 40 of its members - including teenagers and men in their 60s - are currently being held in prison or before the courts in the Republic on charges which relate to CIRA activity.
Almost every time the tiny terror group plans something it is intercepted by police on either side of the border.
Yet, despite the fact that a high percentages of its members get arrested and go to jail, CIRA continues to exist and young men still appear to be attracted to its cause.
CIRA was created after the former president of Sinn Fein, Ruari O Bradaigh, walked away from Sinn Fein in 1986 after being defeated by the Gerry Adams-led faction of the party.
Adams and his supporters wanted to build a political base in the Republic as well as in Northern Ireland, but, according to the 'pure' republican, beliefs of O Bradaigh and his supporters it would be an offence for Sinn Fein to take seats in Dail Eireann, Stormont or Westminster.
According to republican folk lore, the only legitimate government of the whole island of Ireland resides in the IRA's Army Executive.
The Limerick man who leads CIRA believes that he and his "executive" - a group of middle-aged and elderly men - are the true and only inheritors of the only legitimate government of Ireland.
Like the south Armagh-based Real IRA, CIRA set out to foment civil strife in Northern Ireland by attacking a civilian target with a large bomb.
In July 1996, it exploded a bomb which destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. Since then, CIRA has carried out a number of mainly-failed attacks in against civilians and security force targets.
The main impetus for the latest upturn in activity by CIRA comes from last summer's act of decommissioning by the Provisional IRA and its statement saying it would "cease all activities".
CIRA is now hoping to fill what it sees as a void left by what it sees as PIRA's defeat and capitulation and by Sinn Fein's "treacherous" act of taking seats in both the Stormont Assembly and the Dail.
And, in spite of its poor track record, it still appears to be attract recruits.
The riots in Dublin city centre against the Love Ulster march last month were led by CIRA figures.
The main concern of both the PSNI and gardai is that CIRA is filling a void left by the effective disbandment of the Provisional IRA and, eventually, it will succeed in carrying out a murderous act of terrorism.
⢠Jim Cusack writes extensively for the Independent newspaper group on security matters.
AND---
Dissidents braced for an upsurge in attacks
By Alan Murray
23 April 2006
FURTHER bomb attacks by the Continuity and Real IRA can be expected in the coming months, senior security sources said last night.
It's understood that more devices like the 250lb bomb seized in Lurgan last week are being planned.
And there are fears that one could slip through the security net and have catastrophic consequences similar to the 1988 Omagh bomb.
The Easter message issued by Republican Sinn Fein - warning that the Continuity IRA is still "active and dedicated" is being taken seriously in security circles on both sides of the border.
And while the Republic's justice minister, Michael McDowell, promised that the Garda and the "will of the people" would thwart dissident republican activity, it is acknowledged that there is a risk that one bomb could get through and cause major fatalities.
Just a week before the bomb factory in Lurgan was raided, another bomb was abandoned in Londonderry.
Mr McDowell said that those behind the recent upsurge in republican violence were intent on creating death and destruction.
"They believe, in some mad way, that this will advance the cause of a united Ireland."
Me thinks the horse boltd a long time before bLair closed the stable door......
I was down in Bessbrook Saturday & watched the RAF Puma going back & forth to the watchtower,dismantling it.The guy's home I was working in told me Queens Uni are moving into Bessbrook Mil..Look's like,judging by the news stories above,Jerry & Martin have achieved their goal of a British pull out.
Spike
