Adams offers to meet dissidents

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has called on dissident republican groups to condemn the killing of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr.

Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, the Sinn Féin leader called on political groups including the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Éirigi, Republican Sinn Féin and the Republican Network for Unity, "to call stop" to the violence.

The Sinn Féin leader repeated an offer first made at the weekend on his blog Léargas to meet dissident groups "anywhere, at any time".

"This has to stop," he said. Mr Adams said there was an "entirely legitimate process" of political engagement which "everyone is entitled to be part of".

Éirígí general secretary Breandán MacCionnaith claimed Mr Adams was trying to demonise his party. “Éirígí’s position on the recent killing in Omagh and on other armed actions is clear and unambiguous,” he said. “The party is not aligned to or supportive of any armed groups or their actions. This has been our position since our foundation five years ago.”

Thousands of people gathered in Omagh, Co Tyrone, yesterday for a peace march a week after Mr Kerr's murder.

Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process were blamed for the attack. They are also believed to be behind a 500lb van bomb police discovered near the border town of Newry on Thursday.

Three people remain in custody in connection with the police investigation into the attack. A 33-year-old man was arrested in Omagh on Friday and police were also given five more days to question a 26-year-old man arrested in Scotland on Wednesday and re-arrested on Thursday, plus a 40-year-old man arrested near Omagh on Thursday.

Éirígí said it will hold a protest at the GPO in Dublin on April 16th against Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland next month.