It’s reported the IRM consists mainly of disgruntled members of another dissident organisation
A new armed dissident group calling itself the Irish Republican Movement has issued a warning, saying that they will “actively target crown forces” involved in policing republican commemorations.
According to The Irish News, the group consists of former members of Óglaigh Na hÉireann, a group which declared a ceasefire last year.
The group are said to be based in Belfast and west Tyrone, and appear to have access to automatic weapons.
In a statement issued to The Irish News, the group said they will “protect” their membership and that anyone who is involved in the drugs trade must “cease” immediately, saying the “penalty is death” for anyone discovered selling drugs within nationalist communities.
Breakaway dissident group issue threathttps://t.co/kBIPwVSXT6 pic.twitter.com/ik3hfatD5X
— The Irish News (@irish_news) April 12, 2018
Their statement also mentioned events in Lurgan and Derry over the Easter period when the PSNI arrested and charged a number of individuals in connection with republican commemorations.
The group promised that they would “actively target crown forces” involved in policing operations against republican commemorative events.
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has called on a new dissident republican splinter group to “disband and get off the back of the community.”
“There is absolutely no place for this group,” Kelly said.
“It seems this latest group has emerged from yet another split which is testament to the lack of any cohesion, strategy, support or credibility within dissident republican circles.
“Instead of issuing threatening statements to newspapers, what they should be doing is getting off the stage and off the backs of the community.”
