A leading dissident republican has called on splinter terror groups to unite
to enable them to intensify their campaign of violence against British
forces.
Londonderry hard-liner Gary Donnelly, a key figure within dissident circles,
said the Real IRA and Continuity IRA should join forces.
The groups have co-operated in the past, most notoriously in the 1998 Omagh
bomb attack, but have never formed an official alliance.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for shooting and injuring two off-duty
PSNI officers in separate attacks late last year.
Donnelly, who is from the Creggan area, is a senior member of the 32 County
Sovereignty Committee, the group regarded as the political wing of the Real
IRA.
“I would love to see republicanism united,” he told the Sunday
Times.
“It would be more logical to have one group which would be more
effective than two.”
The republican said the RIRA was rearming and actively recruiting new
members.
His claims follow a foiled alleged attempt by the terror group to purchase
arms and explosives in Lithuania last week.
Louth man Michael Campbell (36), the brother of former RIRA leader Liam
Campbell, was arrested after a sting operation by the country’s secret
service.
Donnelly, who denies being a leading member of the RIRA, said the group was
attracting many disgruntled republicans.
“More and more people are returning to republicanism because of what
(Gerry) Adams and (Martin) McGuinness have done,” he said.“ And these
support the (Real) IRA.”
He added: “History has taught us that there always will be an IRA. Its
evolution may ebb and flow but it will always be there as long as the border
between north and south exists.”
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