Real IRA admits city bomb attacks

BBC ^ | Friday, 11 August 2006

[Jack2006]

The dissident republican Real IRA has claimed responsibility for the firebomb attacks on stores in Newry this week. Firebombs destroyed JJB Sports and CarpetRight stores in the town whilst a TK Maxx store and MFI outlet were among those badly damaged on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the cross-border railway line between Newry and Dundalk has been closed while police carry out a search. It follows the Real IRA's warning in its statement that there may be unexploded devices on the line.

The firebomb attacks earlier this week are estimated to have caused damage worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Newry's SDLP mayor Michael Carr said: "The Real IRA should examine their motives. "Their cause is not a blow for Ireland, but a blow against their own communities."

Mr Carr added that the businesses which had been targeted would be given every support, including an effort to have them temporarily re-located.

[vimto]

Hi Jack2006.

Ashamed to say it but I cannot get a handle on how important this news is - the MSM has virtually given up on news from N. Ireland. This is a bit of a new departure in isn't it?

How do you read?

[akorahil]

...The dissident republican Real IRA ...

Is this a splinter group of the Irish Republican Army, or is this what it has morphed into?

Sadly, the first thought that ran through my head is that they are 'real' as "The Real Ghostbusters" were real.

Yes, I need to get out more...

[vimto]

I don't know if there is a N.Ireland ping list, there should be.

Thankfully the Americans (Dems in truth) had their fingers burned about funding the IRA. Does it still happen?

[Andyman]

I'd subscribe to such a list.

[vimto]

I would do one, but I think someone from the province would be the most appropriate.

Any offers anyone!

[vimto]

I would do one, but I think someone from the province would be the most appropriate.

Any offers anyone!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I can't help thinking that the Real IRA aren't a splinter group, but a covert unit of the Provisional IRA.

[elc]

There's not a separate N. Ireland ping list. But Irish_Thatcherite manages the Ireland ping list and he always includes items about the north.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

There's not a separate N. Ireland ping list. But Irish_Thatcherite manages the Ireland ping list and he always includes items about the north.

Yeah, think of it as an 'Island of Ireland' list! Unionists welcome, nationalists welcome - they only people I don't want on it are terrorist sympathisers, neither Sinn Feiners nor Loyalists!

[Tax-chick]

Will the "Really Truly IRA" show up next and denounce all the others as imposters?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Yeah, probably - it's like the way Gerry Adams could 'utterly condemn' the Omagh bombing, because the RIRA is considered a splinter group - of course he still ordered PIRA members to not cooperate with the police investigation.

[vimto]

Sounds good to me - I would have been a bit surprised it there wan't one already.

One day I will tell you of my meeting with the IRA. Till then....

[Irish_Thatcherite]

So I can add you?

One day I will tell you of my meeting with the IRA. Till then....

Now I'm curious! :P

[Tax-chick]

This reminds me (as so much does) of a P.J. O'Rourke article. When he was covering the elections in Paraguay, he said the opposition party was called the "Authentic Radical Liberal Party," and wondered if that made the incumbents the "Fake Conservative Stingy Party."

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I'd subscribe to such a list.

I have an Irish list, would you wish to join?

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Sounds like Irish politics to me...

;)

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I nearly forgot to ping you this.

[Andyman]

Yes, please, I'd love to be on such a list.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Ok, done!