REAL IRA STAND DOWN CALL BRANDED A CYNICAL GESTURE
Real IRA 'stand down' call branded 'a cynical gesture'
REPORTS that the Real IRA was on the point of disbanding have been received with widespread caution and scepticism.
At the weekend, Real IRA prisoners in Portlaoise Prison called on its 'Army Council' to stand down.
The Real IRA carried out the Omagh bombing of 1998, as well as a number of other attacks in Northern Ireland and Britain.
However, while the call came from prisoners, other sources within the organisation have said there is no question of disbanding.
Indeed, the organisation has claimed it was behind a number of alerts and incidents this week, including the coffee jar bomb attack on Castlederg police station.
Among those sceptical of the call was Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help Group. He described the statement as 'a cynical gesture'.
"We've been here before with similar promises from the Real IRA. After Omagh the Real IRA went on ceasefire but that did not last very long," he said.
Mr Gallagher told the 'Tyrone Constitution' that those left unsure about the Real IRA intentions got their answer on Monday with the spate of bomb scares throughout the Province, as well as the attack on Castlederg police station.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that the statement on Sunday was a ploy by leading members of the Real IRA in prison to reduce the impact of trial convictions they may face," Mr Gallagher said.
He said he believed the Real IRA would try to fill the vacuum left by the Provisional IRA ceasefire and the Government had not been very effective so far in dealing with the Real IRA in Northern Ireland.
He said that he, and the other relatives, were concerned that talks were taking place between the Real IRA and the Irish Government. The latest statement appeared to be 'a ploy' aimed at getting lighter sentences for prisoners.
Mr Gallagher said that, despite what the prisoners had said, it appeared to be 'business as usual' for the Real IRA.
In their statement, the prisoners called on the current leadership to 'stand down'.
The statement went on: "We will not demean our struggle or provide succour to our enemies by releasing the comprehensive catalogue of evidence which has exposed this leadership. However, we do feel duty bound to state that this Army leadership's financial motivations far outweigh their political commitment to our struggle at this time.
"Real IRA prisoners find this morally and politically unacceptable. We believe that the current Army leadership has forfeited all moral authority to lead. To date the leadership has failed to respond to our demand. Thus we feel we are left with no option but to withdraw our allegiances from this Army leadership."
The statement also reaffirmed commitment to republican principles and opposition to the Good Friday Agreement, and denied that any prisoners' representatives had entered into negotiations with the Irish Government.
The prisoners have been reported as being angry at the corrupt nature of the organisation. Leaders have been accused of taking part in criminal activities purely to line their own pockets.
REPORTS that the Real IRA was on the point of disbanding have been received with widespread caution and scepticism.
At the weekend, Real IRA prisoners in Portlaoise Prison called on its 'Army Council' to stand down.
The Real IRA carried out the Omagh bombing of 1998, as well as a number of other attacks in Northern Ireland and Britain.
However, while the call came from prisoners, other sources within the organisation have said there is no question of disbanding.
Indeed, the organisation has claimed it was behind a number of alerts and incidents this week, including the coffee jar bomb attack on Castlederg police station.
Among those sceptical of the call was Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help Group. He described the statement as 'a cynical gesture'.
"We've been here before with similar promises from the Real IRA. After Omagh the Real IRA went on ceasefire but that did not last very long," he said.
Mr Gallagher told the 'Tyrone Constitution' that those left unsure about the Real IRA intentions got their answer on Monday with the spate of bomb scares throughout the Province, as well as the attack on Castlederg police station.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that the statement on Sunday was a ploy by leading members of the Real IRA in prison to reduce the impact of trial convictions they may face," Mr Gallagher said.
He said he believed the Real IRA would try to fill the vacuum left by the Provisional IRA ceasefire and the Government had not been very effective so far in dealing with the Real IRA in Northern Ireland.
He said that he, and the other relatives, were concerned that talks were taking place between the Real IRA and the Irish Government. The latest statement appeared to be 'a ploy' aimed at getting lighter sentences for prisoners.
Mr Gallagher said that, despite what the prisoners had said, it appeared to be 'business as usual' for the Real IRA.
In their statement, the prisoners called on the current leadership to 'stand down'.
The statement went on: "We will not demean our struggle or provide succour to our enemies by releasing the comprehensive catalogue of evidence which has exposed this leadership. However, we do feel duty bound to state that this Army leadership's financial motivations far outweigh their political commitment to our struggle at this time.
"Real IRA prisoners find this morally and politically unacceptable. We believe that the current Army leadership has forfeited all moral authority to lead. To date the leadership has failed to respond to our demand. Thus we feel we are left with no option but to withdraw our allegiances from this Army leadership."
The statement also reaffirmed commitment to republican principles and opposition to the Good Friday Agreement, and denied that any prisoners' representatives had entered into negotiations with the Irish Government.
The prisoners have been reported as being angry at the corrupt nature of the organisation. Leaders have been accused of taking part in criminal activities purely to line their own pockets.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1123
Published Date: 24-Oct-02
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