IRA UNDER FIRE FOR MOVE TO DISBAND SPLINTER GROUPS
IRA under fire for move to disband splinter groups
By TOM BRADY Security Editor
REPUBLICAN splinter groups opposed to the peace process last night attacked the provisional IRA's attempt to force the gang behind the Omagh bomb to disband.
Known members of the Provisionals called to the homes of former colleagues who had joined either the break-away group, known as the Real IRA, or the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, which denies it is the gang's political wing.
The visits were well co-ordinated and were all carried out over an hour, shortly after Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams statement that violence must become a thing of the past.
Members of the 32 , County Sovereignty Committee later claimed that the Provisionals, who were not masked and were known to those on their target list, had issued threats during the visits.
But senior security sources said last night they were not aware of any death threats issued by the Provisionals.
On this side of the border the homes of dissident republicans in Dundalk, Dublin, Wexford and several parts of Munster were visited by the Provisionals who said they were acting on instructions from their leadership and called on the groups to disband within a fortnight. Republican personnel from Belfast also visited houses in south Armagh.
Dissident sources last night accused the Provisionals of "sullying the name of republicanism" and said the threats should be lifted.
And Republican Sinn Fein, which denies it is the political wing of the Continuity IRA, claimed the provisionals were denying the right to freedom of speech and political expression.
The visits followed a statement by a Provisionals' spokesman last weekend which called on the splinter group to disband. It said that the Real IRA had exaggerated claims of defections and inflated estimates of its strength.
The spokesman added: "The grouping have done only disservice to the republican cause. They have no coherent political strategy, they are not a credible alternative to the IRA."
The Real IRA, declared a suspension of "military operations" but has resisted calls to declare a ceasefire.
By TOM BRADY Security Editor
REPUBLICAN splinter groups opposed to the peace process last night attacked the provisional IRA's attempt to force the gang behind the Omagh bomb to disband.
Known members of the Provisionals called to the homes of former colleagues who had joined either the break-away group, known as the Real IRA, or the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, which denies it is the gang's political wing.
The visits were well co-ordinated and were all carried out over an hour, shortly after Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams statement that violence must become a thing of the past.
Members of the 32 , County Sovereignty Committee later claimed that the Provisionals, who were not masked and were known to those on their target list, had issued threats during the visits.
But senior security sources said last night they were not aware of any death threats issued by the Provisionals.
On this side of the border the homes of dissident republicans in Dundalk, Dublin, Wexford and several parts of Munster were visited by the Provisionals who said they were acting on instructions from their leadership and called on the groups to disband within a fortnight. Republican personnel from Belfast also visited houses in south Armagh.
Dissident sources last night accused the Provisionals of "sullying the name of republicanism" and said the threats should be lifted.
And Republican Sinn Fein, which denies it is the political wing of the Continuity IRA, claimed the provisionals were denying the right to freedom of speech and political expression.
The visits followed a statement by a Provisionals' spokesman last weekend which called on the splinter group to disband. It said that the Real IRA had exaggerated claims of defections and inflated estimates of its strength.
The spokesman added: "The grouping have done only disservice to the republican cause. They have no coherent political strategy, they are not a credible alternative to the IRA."
The Real IRA, declared a suspension of "military operations" but has resisted calls to declare a ceasefire.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/233
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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