Report links republican groups with serious crime

REPUBLICAN groups such as the INLA and the Continuity IRA are engaged in serious crime in the Republic, a new report claims.

The International Monitoring Commission (IMC) said, while the Provisional IRA was unequivocal in following a political path, dissident republican groups, as well as loyalist groups, were engaged in terrorist and criminal activities.

The IMC published its latest report, which examines March to August of this year, yesterday. This was before the brutal murder of 21-year-old Paul Quinn in Co Monaghan last month. Gardaí suspect he died at the hands of Provisional activists from south Armagh.

The IMC said the Continuity IRA (CIRA) was engaged in terrorism and serious crime.

“Throughout the six months members have engaged in a wide variety of serious criminal activity north and south, including extortion, drug dealing, robbery, brothel keeping, smuggling and fuel laundering.”

It said the CIRA was trying to recruit members and test home-made explosives.

Last May, three men were jailed for possession of a home-made bomb following an investigation by the Special Detective Unit (SDU) into the activities of the CIRA in Co Wexford.

The CIRA has been linked to the supply of pipe-bombs to criminal gangs in Dublin and Limerick.

The IMC said the INLA appeared to have increased its activity in serious crime.

“Members have been involved in a range of serious criminal activity north and south, in the case of the latter apparently with greater energy than in the recent past, albeit for personal gain.

“The activity has included providing protection and undertaking paid services for organised crime gangs, from which it secures a considerable income. This is particularly the case in the Dublin area.”

The rise follows the release of the Dublin INLA boss was from jail earlier this year. This man was behind the abduction and torture of a man in Tallaght, Dublin, last August. The victim was saved when the SDU raided the home.

The INLA boss is involved in at least one violent feud with drug dealers in the south inner city. He threw a hand grenade at the home of one of the dealers. He is also thought to have supplied a grenade to criminals who used it in an attack in Crumlin.

The IMC said members of the Real IRA (RIRA) were also involved in serious crime.

Last July, the Special Criminal Court heard how the RIRA used a remote area in Carlow for testing bombs.