Real IRA claim attacks

The Real IRA has claimed responsibility for a bomb which exploded on the railway line in Newry last month, which it said was aimed at drawing in members of the PSNI to the area.

In a statement published in Sovereign Nation, the newspaper of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, the group said it had targeted the PSNI with a booby-trapped landmine planted nearby. The second device was later defused by the British Army.

“Only they know how lucky they were,” the RIRA statement read. “We reiterate our call to civilians to keep their distance from crown force personnel and facilities as more IRA attacks are imminent”

The Real IRA was also behind a gun attack in Derry last week. The breakaway republican group used a recognised code word in claiming responsibility for the attack at the home of a former SDLP councillor, Liam Bradley.

The round entered the hallway but Mr Bradley and his wife Marie were upstairs and were unhurt.

Bradley’s son, who was not in the house at the time, is a serving member of the PSNI and was the apparent subject of the attack.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the RIRA had targeted the home before.

“They are not showing themselves to be big or strong,” he said.

“They are showing themselves to be weak and cowardly whenever they pick on easy targets like this.”

‘VINDICTIVE’

Meanwhile, a group representing republican prisoners said despite the re-introduction of segregation at Maghaberry prison, those visiting republican prisoners have been made to share transportation and waiting areas with loyalist killers.

“Ever since the introduction of segregation within Maghaberry the Brits and their screws have continued to act in bad faith,” said the Republican Prisoners Action Group in a statement.

The RPAG said ‘sniffer’ dogs had been used as an excuse to prevent a visit from four people to a Republican POW, including his sister and young nephew, while another prisoner was recently placed in solitary confinement for a period of 48-hours in a similar manner.

“The screws are well aware of the fact that Republican prisoners are completely opposed to the use of illicit drugs, and that none of their visitors have ever been found to be in possession of such substances. Neither have any been discovered within the prisoners’ landings.

“Ordinary people must stand up for the rights of the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry, and demand an end to the vindictive tactics of the prison authorities in the Six Occupied Counties.”

Urgent Appeal