IMC warns of rising dissident threat

Dissident republican activity is at its more dangerous level since monitoring of paramilitary groups began in 2003, the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has concluded.

The twenty-second report from the IMC, published today, said paramilitary activity by the Continuity IRA and the Real IRA had increased significantly in 2009 and that the overall level of dissident activity is now at its highest in over five years.

The commission's report, which was handed to the Irish and British Goverments earlier this week, covers the period from March 1st until the end of August, a period in which dissident republicans murdered three members of the security forces in the North.

Sappers Patrick Azimkar (21), from London, and Mark Quinsey (23), from Birmingham were murdered by the Real IRA at Massereene British army base in Antrim on March 7th.

Two days later, the Continuity IRA shot dead PSNI constable Stephen Carroll from Banbridge, Co Down while he was on call in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern today criticised the ongoing activities of dissident groups in the North. “These are a small hardcore of unrepentant criminals who have no support amongst the Irish people, North or South,” he said.

Mr Ahern said the IMC’s report had highlighted “the range of criminal activity in which these organisations indulge, including murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping”.

He praised the work of the Garda and the PSNI in countering these groups, and welcomed the report’s comments regarding several groups which were deemed to be moving away from Para militarism.

According to the report, the activities undertaken by dissident republican groups represent a challenge to the peace process, but one which is "unlikely to cause the process to unravel".

The report's authors said that while the three murders in March were by far the most serious incidents during the six-month period under review, there were may other incidents which showed the threat posed by the groups.

In September, dissidents tried to kill police officers in Co Armagh with a 272kg bomb and last month tried to kill a policeman in Belfast.

While experienced dissidents have provided "services" to the organisations, the bulk of recruits now are "inexperienced young males," the report said.

"What really matters is not so much the number of members as the experience and skill sof those available to an organisation," the IMC said.

The IMC added the Continuity IRA and Real IRA remain "in a state of heightened activity."

According to the IMC, the Provisional IRA remains on an exclusively political path as previously reported.

The INLA, which last month announced that its armed struggle was over, was found to be still deeply involved in serious crime and remained a threat.

The numbers of casualties of republican shootings was at its highest for six years while the number of casualties from loyalist assaults was at a four-year high.

Northern Ireland secretary of state Shaun Woodward said the IMC review was the most significant report by the body since it confirmed that the Provisional IRA had stood down.