PROVO SPLIT LED TO TERROR GROUP
Provo split led to terror group
By NEIL LESLIE
THE hardline republican grouping that has become the focal point for renegade bombers was formed in the wake of a bitter IRA convention last year.
In October, a key high-ranking Provo was ousted from the Army council, and within weeks the 32 County Sovereignty Committee had been established to oppose the Sinn Fein peace strategy.
It was formed by a handful of Sinn Fein members who were unhappy with the leadership of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.
In the last nine months its ranks have swelled to more than 100 supporters, mainly in the republican strongholds of East Tyrone and South Armagh in the north, and Dundalk and Munster in the south.
Expelled
It describes itself as "a pressure group within Sinn Fein," but a number of its members have been expelled from the party, and three key figures in the committee were refused entry to the party's Ard Fheis convention this year.
Security sources regard the group to be the political wing of the Real IRAwhich last night admitting carrying out the Omagh massacre.
Its founding member and most public face is Bernadette Sands. 40. the sister of hunger striker Bobby Sands who died in the Maze in 1981. Her partner. Mickey McKevitt. is also a senior party figure.
She introduced the committee to the world with the declaration that the IRA should never have signed up to the Mitchell peace principals.
Other senior members include former Sinn Fein Omagh councillor Francis Mackie and Rory Dougan. a former Sinn Fein member from Dundalk. Co Louth.
By NEIL LESLIE
THE hardline republican grouping that has become the focal point for renegade bombers was formed in the wake of a bitter IRA convention last year.
In October, a key high-ranking Provo was ousted from the Army council, and within weeks the 32 County Sovereignty Committee had been established to oppose the Sinn Fein peace strategy.
It was formed by a handful of Sinn Fein members who were unhappy with the leadership of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.
In the last nine months its ranks have swelled to more than 100 supporters, mainly in the republican strongholds of East Tyrone and South Armagh in the north, and Dundalk and Munster in the south.
Expelled
It describes itself as "a pressure group within Sinn Fein," but a number of its members have been expelled from the party, and three key figures in the committee were refused entry to the party's Ard Fheis convention this year.
Security sources regard the group to be the political wing of the Real IRAwhich last night admitting carrying out the Omagh massacre.
Its founding member and most public face is Bernadette Sands. 40. the sister of hunger striker Bobby Sands who died in the Maze in 1981. Her partner. Mickey McKevitt. is also a senior party figure.
She introduced the committee to the world with the declaration that the IRA should never have signed up to the Mitchell peace principals.
Other senior members include former Sinn Fein Omagh councillor Francis Mackie and Rory Dougan. a former Sinn Fein member from Dundalk. Co Louth.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/042
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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