END OF ROAD FOR REAL IRA
End of the road for the Real IRA
THE group known as the Real IRA has probably already been the subject of more attention and analysis than it deserves over recent days.
It is a tiny organisation, which has negligible support in any part of Ireland, and has only come under the spotlight because of its evil capacity to carry out the slaughter of innocent people.
However, it is still worth looking at the circumstances which led to it issuing two conflicting statements in the space of little more than 12 hours.
As we said yesterday, its first message admitting responsibility for the Omagh bomb was pathetic in every respect.
It made it clear that the Real IRA's murder campaign would continue, and gave no hint that the group was prepared to listen to advice from any other source.
In the early hours of the morning, a second communication outlined a remarkably different picture.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the organisation had decided to suspend its activities.
This was said to be a response to the Omagh carnage and appeals from Bertie Ahern and others.
A process of 'consultation on our future direction' was claimed to be under way.
What was much more likely was that the Real IRA was shaken by the cold fury directed against it by the entire community and fearful of the impact of the new security package drawn up by the Dublin government.
The group's 'consultation' process should not take very long. Its short history has been disastrous, and it has finally run out of options. It must disband immediately.
THE group known as the Real IRA has probably already been the subject of more attention and analysis than it deserves over recent days.
It is a tiny organisation, which has negligible support in any part of Ireland, and has only come under the spotlight because of its evil capacity to carry out the slaughter of innocent people.
However, it is still worth looking at the circumstances which led to it issuing two conflicting statements in the space of little more than 12 hours.
As we said yesterday, its first message admitting responsibility for the Omagh bomb was pathetic in every respect.
It made it clear that the Real IRA's murder campaign would continue, and gave no hint that the group was prepared to listen to advice from any other source.
In the early hours of the morning, a second communication outlined a remarkably different picture.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the organisation had decided to suspend its activities.
This was said to be a response to the Omagh carnage and appeals from Bertie Ahern and others.
A process of 'consultation on our future direction' was claimed to be under way.
What was much more likely was that the Real IRA was shaken by the cold fury directed against it by the entire community and fearful of the impact of the new security package drawn up by the Dublin government.
The group's 'consultation' process should not take very long. Its short history has been disastrous, and it has finally run out of options. It must disband immediately.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0122
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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