Dissident Threat
On Sunday the 3rd of October 2010 theirishobserver.blogspot.com warned the public that Dissident terrorists were about to launch a bombing campaign from their strong holds in Donegal, north Monaghan and Louth. On Monday the 4th October 2010 Dissidents caused wide spread damage when they exploded a one hundred pound bomb in Derry. Yesterday the Gardai in County Louth made significant seizures of Dissident weapons and explosives. The public must remain vigilant; while the Gardai are to be congratulated on yesterday’s success the Dissidents remain determined to cause death and destruction in Northern Ireland and in England.
The Story so Far:
A “significant” dissident republican explosives dump and arms cache has been uncovered by anti-terror gardaí in county Louth.
An improvised mortar, three kilos of TNT, bomb-making equipment and a pipe bomb were found hidden in a wood in Co Louth.
The weapons haul included a general-purpose machine gun, a shotgun and assorted ammunition. The TNT explosives – a powerful explosive commonly used by the military and in mining – were found in the wooded area near Dunleer.
The finds were the second massive blow to suspected factions of the Real IRA in recent days and followed 10 arrests and separate searches over the weekend.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said the discovery was “significant” and added: “This find represents a further step in our determined strategy to target, disrupt and detect the activities of dissident republicans.
“We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and in the Security Service to thwart the intent of a small group of people who want to inflict violence and pain on communities.”
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern praised the work of detectives, saying: “This was a very significant find at a time when the threat from dissident groups poses dangers for law-abiding people.
“I want to congratulate An Garda Síochána for their detailed work in this area.”
A Garda spokesman said a series of raids were carried out yesterday morning in Co Louth, which straddles the border with Northern Ireland, and its neighbouring county Meath.
It is the second time this year that material for a suspected mortar bomb attack has been uncovered by authorities.
A device suspected of being made into a mortar was uncovered near Dundalk, Co Louth, in May.
The latest major operation, led by the anti-terror Special Detective Unit, followed 10 arrests and explosive seizures at the weekend in a wave of raids in Louth, Waterford and Wexford.
Bomb detonators and a small quantity of Semtex plastic explosive were seized.
Two men were charged in Dublin’s non-jury Special Criminal Court on Sunday night in connection with the anti-dissident operation.
Nicholas Kendall (aged 20) of Row Street, Wexford, was charged with unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition and a bomb part.
Peter Butterly (aged 33,) of Cortown in Dunleer, Co Louth, was charged with being a member of the IRA.
The eight others included a 24-year-old woman and men aged from 19 to 71.
3rd October 2010 – irishobserver.blogspot.com
Coordinated Bombing Campaign Planned -
Dissident Terrorist groups have pooled their resources to carryout a coordinated bombing and shooting campaign this Autumn and Winter. The Dissident Terrorists will launch bomb attacks from their strong holds in the Irish Republic, namely Donegal, north Monaghan and north Louth in the coming weeks and months. The Dissident Terrorists remain committed to carrying out a bombing campaign in England; this type of spectacular has traditionally been viewed as the life blood of Irish terrorism. Recent successes by the security services on the Island of Ireland have been a set back for the dissidents, however, these groups have been strengthened in recent months by further defections from the Provisional IRA and a significant number of new recruits who have been trained in weapons and explosives. The dissidents have also secured automatic weapons through their relationship with criminal gangs in Cork, Limerick and Dublin. Significant amounts of commercial explosives have not been secured by the dissidents and so they remain dependent on home made explosives.
It is essential that the public remain vigilant and that anyone with any information about the terrorists groups should provide that information to the Gardai or PSNI. It is essential that both the Gardai and the PSNI are given the resources necessary to monitor and where possible apprehend Dissident Terrorists. The border counties on both sides of the Irish border are going to be hot spots in the coming weeks and months for Dissident activity. Due to on going economic criminal activity by the dissident groups in the border areas (for example, smuggling) there is a significant tolerance level of their activity as many local people engage in the selling and buying of illegal goods.
