Evil gangsters a threat to democracy

THE alleged activities of the Continuity IRA are a grim reminder of the danger that so-called Republicans still pose to our democracy.

There is no room for any ambivalence on this issue.

The overwhelming majority of the people throughout the island, North and South, voted in favour of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and nobody has a right to undermine it.

Another bomb was found near the Border recently, which raised the horrific spectre of the Omagh bombing in which innocent men, women and children, both Irish and visitors, were slaughtered and maimed.

The authorities have obviously been keeping a close eye on those dissident elements who have consistently flouted the will of democracy.

A Republic is a state in which the people and their elected representatives have the supreme authority. The so-called Continuity IRA refuses to recognise the authority of the people. They have shown by their behaviour that they do not even know the meaning of republicanism.

They should really be called what they are evil gangsters, hiding behind their ignorance and posing as political idealists. The Omagh bombing should always remind us of the need to treat them as a real threat to this Republic and its democracy.