SL10An/08

Dissidents selling RIRA 'tribute' coins
EXCLUSIVE
BY STEPHEN BREEN
CRIME CORRESPONDENT

THIS is the sick tribute made to the terrorist group responsible for the 1998 Omagh bomb outrage as victims remember the 10th anniversary of the outrage.
The Real IRA terror coins are being sold by renegades in republican strongholds across Northern Ireland exactly 10 years on from the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
We obtained one of the £1 coins from a dissident republican supporter in west Belfast.
The coins have also been offered for sale to tourists in the area, with Real IRA sympathisers claiming proceeds were going to republican inmates at Maghaberry prison.
The items were also recently distributed during secret dissident republican meetings - involving the Real and Continuity IRA which took place across the province.
Said one senior republican source: "The coins have been around for some time and the dissidents are really pleased with them.
"They believe they are selling Real IRA regalia and anyone who buys them are supporting their armed campaign and also the actions of their prisoners.
"The reality is that hardly anyone has been buying them and even the American tourists won't support an organisation that killed 29 innocent people.
"It's mainly kids who have been brainwashed by the dissidents who are buying the coins and they think they're smart by handing them over in shops.
"It's hard to believe why anyone would want to take the time to inscribe RIRA on pound coins. It's a pointless exercise and more to do with some crazy form of propaganda."
Sales of the coins were last night slammed by relatives of the Omagh bombing.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden in the blast, said anyone who purchased the coins was "promoting terrorism".
Said Mr Gallagher: "My daughter received one of these coins from a shopping centre in 2003 and I can't believe they're back in circulation. "Anyone who purchases or keeps one of the coins should remember the innocent victims of Omagh.
"This is just an exercise in supporting and subsidising terrorism. I thought they were a one-off but the Real IRA supporters must get some sick kick out of the coins.