WARNINGS OVER NEW VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN
Warnings over new violence campaign
By Michael O'Toole
Dublin Correspondent
DISSIDENT republicans are planning to establish a new paramilitary group and unleash another wave of terror, Garda sources warned last night.
Senior security sources along the border told the Irish News that disgruntled members of the Real IRA and INLA - both of whom are on ceasefire - have already formed an alliance with the Continuity IRA, the only republican grouping in Ireland not to have ceased their campaign.
But now they want to bring Continuity members with them and create a totally new organisation, which is being viewed as an umbrella organisation for republicans opposed to the various ceasefires.
It is thought that negotiations between all sides are at an advanced stage and have being going on since the aftermath of the Omagh atrocity.
Then, the Real IRA called a full cessation after it killed 29 people when a car bomb it left there on August 15 devastated the town centre. The INLA called its ceasefire soon after the Omagh atrocity.
The security forces on both sides of the border have repeatedly claimed that members of the Real IRA moved over to Continuity soon after its cessation came into force.
But security sources in the Republic said last night that members from both those organisations had set up a sub-grouping inside the Continuity IRA - and are opposed to any form of cessation.
Negotiations are thought to have been underway for some time between members of all three factions - the INLA, Real IRA and C1RA - and they now favour forming a new group.
At least 20 - and possibly as many as 30 -hardliners are involved in the plan, which is thought to be based in the border counties of the Republic and in pockets of South Armagh -like the Real IRA
Garda sources said last night: "Negotiations have been underway for some time. They are planning to set up a new group, made up of members opposed to any of the organisations' ceasefires. They have already formed a sub group within C1RA, but they want to create a new organisation.
"There are people from the south but also from south Armagh."
And the same sources revealed that a Dundalk man - reputed to be the leader of the Real IRA - is not part of the plan for a new organisation, as most dissident republicans have moved away from his position.
It is understood that no members of the mainstream IRA are involved in the discussion about the new organisation.
The Real IRA was formed in late 1997, after dissidents left the mainstream IRA over differences of policy. The Omagh atrocity collapsed its support and forced them to call a "suspension" then a full cessation. The CIRA made its first appearance after the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Its biggest attack was the car bomb which destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh in the height of the 1996 Drumcree crisis. It has been largely dormant in recent months.
Most of its members defected to the Real IRA - but slipped back after that organisation ended its campaign.
By Michael O'Toole
Dublin Correspondent
DISSIDENT republicans are planning to establish a new paramilitary group and unleash another wave of terror, Garda sources warned last night.
Senior security sources along the border told the Irish News that disgruntled members of the Real IRA and INLA - both of whom are on ceasefire - have already formed an alliance with the Continuity IRA, the only republican grouping in Ireland not to have ceased their campaign.
But now they want to bring Continuity members with them and create a totally new organisation, which is being viewed as an umbrella organisation for republicans opposed to the various ceasefires.
It is thought that negotiations between all sides are at an advanced stage and have being going on since the aftermath of the Omagh atrocity.
Then, the Real IRA called a full cessation after it killed 29 people when a car bomb it left there on August 15 devastated the town centre. The INLA called its ceasefire soon after the Omagh atrocity.
The security forces on both sides of the border have repeatedly claimed that members of the Real IRA moved over to Continuity soon after its cessation came into force.
But security sources in the Republic said last night that members from both those organisations had set up a sub-grouping inside the Continuity IRA - and are opposed to any form of cessation.
Negotiations are thought to have been underway for some time between members of all three factions - the INLA, Real IRA and C1RA - and they now favour forming a new group.
At least 20 - and possibly as many as 30 -hardliners are involved in the plan, which is thought to be based in the border counties of the Republic and in pockets of South Armagh -like the Real IRA
Garda sources said last night: "Negotiations have been underway for some time. They are planning to set up a new group, made up of members opposed to any of the organisations' ceasefires. They have already formed a sub group within C1RA, but they want to create a new organisation.
"There are people from the south but also from south Armagh."
And the same sources revealed that a Dundalk man - reputed to be the leader of the Real IRA - is not part of the plan for a new organisation, as most dissident republicans have moved away from his position.
It is understood that no members of the mainstream IRA are involved in the discussion about the new organisation.
The Real IRA was formed in late 1997, after dissidents left the mainstream IRA over differences of policy. The Omagh atrocity collapsed its support and forced them to call a "suspension" then a full cessation. The CIRA made its first appearance after the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Its biggest attack was the car bomb which destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh in the height of the 1996 Drumcree crisis. It has been largely dormant in recent months.
Most of its members defected to the Real IRA - but slipped back after that organisation ended its campaign.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0241
Published Date: 09-Dec-98
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