New IRA Arrests

New IRA Arrests

In recent months The New IRA, Continuity IRA and The PIRA have been particularly active in the border region. The Centenary Celebrations in Northern Ireland in 2021 have become a particular focus, with all groups opposed to the creation of Northern Ireland.

It is also known that Sinn Fein/PIRA are seeking a distraction as many within their ranks are concerned that a split is emerging following comments by long serving Sinn Fein/PIRA member Francie Molloy.

In 2011 a number of groups including The Real IRA and PIRA came together in a plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Dublin in that year, the plan was thwarted when An Garda Siochana intercepted an explosive device in Dorset Street.

Up Date 25/8/2020

A 62-year-old man living in Scotland has become the 10th person to be charged in the MI5/PSNI operation against the New IRA.  He will appear at Laganside Court on Tuesday.

Update 24/8/2020

A Palestinian man was being questioned in Belfast last night as part of a major MI5 surveillance operation stretching from Co Tyrone to Scotland.

The 62-year-old was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Saturday and flown to Belfast later that day.

It is understood that although originally from Palestine, he had been living in Edinburgh in recent years.

A property in the city was searched as part of the operation on Saturday.

Police were yesterday given a further 36 hours to question the man.

The Irish Observer understands that as part of the surveillance operation, MI5 bugged two properties in Co Tyrone and also recorded conversations held in Scotland.

The Palestinian man was arrested as part of Operation Arbacia, which is investigating the activities of the 'IRA', often referred to as the 'New IRA'.

It is understood he was known to Dennis McFadden, who is originally from Scotland and is now suspected of being an agent at the centre of the operation.

No-one has been able to contact him since nine people - seven men and two women - were arrested in Derry, Tyrone and Armagh last week.

It has emerged the surveillance operation involved the bugging of two meetings in Co Tyrone earlier this year.

It is understood they took place at separate locations and that both audio and video evidence has been gathered.

It has been alleged that the Palestinian national was in attendance at one of the meetings.

He has previously addressed an Ard Fheis of republican party Saoradh.

It is alleged that the chief of staff and chairman of the 'IRA' addressed members of the organisation's executive at both Co Tyrone meetings.

A solicitor representing one of those arrested has said around 500 PSNI officers were involved in the operation, which has secured 36 hours of recordings.

On Wednesday police were granted an extra 72 hours to question the original nine arrested, who range in age from 26 to 50.

Two men, Shea Reynolds from Lurgan and Paddy McDaid from Derry, appeared in court on Saturday charged with a range of offences including directing terrorism.

Those who remain in custody include Co Tyrone men Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien McLaughlin, David Jordan and his wife Sharon Jordan, Derry men Joe Barr and Gary Hayden along with Lurgan woman and Saoradh vice-chair Mandy Duffy.

The two women along with the Derry men and Damien McLaughlin are due to appear in court in Belfast today.

Meanwhile, a sixth person was charged late last night with terrorism offences. Officers charged a 49-year-old man from Dungannon with membership of a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism and two separate charges of preparatory acts of terrorism.

Police were granted an extra 36 hours to continue questioning two remaining on Saturday.

Properties in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry were also searched by gardaí as part of the cross-border operation.

It is understood that others are also still wanted in connection with the investigation.

Up Date 23/8/2020

THE use of MI5 in covert surveillance to snare dissident republicans is not a new tactic.

Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien McLaughlin, Mandy Duffy, Davy Jordan, Sharon Jordan, Shea Reynolds, Gary Hayden, Joe Barr, Paddy McDaid.

Dennis McFadden alleged MI5 Agent

Earlier this year seven men pleaded guilty to charges arising out of a bugging operation against the Continuity IRA in Newry that had taken place in 2014.

A number of other senior republicans linked to the New IRA are currently also before the courts as a result of allegations linked to MI5 surveillance.

As the technology and techniques used by intelligence agencies become more sophisticated you would imagine that those who know they are in the sights of the spooks would also up their game.

However, up to nine people now could be charged with a number of serious offences linked to the so-called New IRA.

The bugging used to make a case against the group is believed to be of the highest standard, recordings crystal clear, cameras planted all over two 'safe houses', linked to a man alleged to be a double agent but trusted by the suspects.

That man, not originally from Northern Ireland, has since left his Belfast home but was often seen in the company of senior republicans.

It seems that the MI5, PSNI and An Garda Síochána are seeking to neutralise the New IRA.

Those currently arrested range in age between 26-50 and are widely considered to be the most politically active dissident republicans in the north.

They include well-known names and faces.

Kevin Barry Murphy from Coalisland, once described in court as the leader of the Real IRA in east Tyrone.

Damien McLaughlin, also from Tyrone, who was cleared in 2018 of charges linked to the murder of prison officer David Black.

Co Armagh woman Mandy Duffy, a chairperson of the New IRA's political wing Saoradh, and a sister in law of veteran republican Colin Duffy.

David Jordan, sentenced to seven years in 2010 for dissident activity in the Republic. He was previously named as a person of interest regarding the 2009 attack at Massereene army barracks in which two soldiers were murdered.

His wife Sharon Jordan, formerly Rafferty, who was one of a gang of four jailed in 2014 for a string of offences including the setting up of a training camp at Formil Wood near Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Shea Reynolds, from Lurgan, the youngest of the nine, was previously charged with being part of a terror plot targeting a retired PSNI officer.

Gary Hayden from Derry, who was convicted last year of taking part in an illegal parade organised by Saoradh in the Creggan estate in 2018.

Saoradh Derry chairman Joe Barr, also convicted of taking part in the 2018 parade.

Paddy McDaid from Derry, who in 2013 he was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of managing a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation.

Charged are expected to be brought over the weekend on the back of the evidence collected during two separate covert operations by MI5.

If found guilty those involved face lengthy prison sentences, a blow to the New IRA and a massive coup for the intelligence services.

Kevin Barry Murphy, Damien McLaughlin, Mandy Duffy, Davy Jordan, Sharon Jordan, Shea Reynolds, Gary Hayden, Joe Barr, Paddy McDaid.

Up Date 23/8/2020

The New IRA was told two years ago that the suspected informant who is now accused of setting up senior dissident republicans for arrest at bugged safe houses was in the pay of the security services.

They dismissed these claims because the individual, who fled his home last week prior to a series of high-profile arrests, was close to leading west Belfast republican Tony 'TC' Catney.

The convicted killer and former Provo life sentence prisoner, who died from cancer in 2014, helped form the New IRA.

Up Date 22/8/2020

A major surveillance operation targeting the 'IRA' involved the bugging of two meetings earlier this year.

It is understood the meetings were held at separate locations in Co Tyrone and that both audio and video evidence has been gathered.

Ciarán Shiels, of Madden and Finucane Solicitors, who represents one of those arrested last night said it is alleged that the Chief of Staff and chairman of the 'IRA', which is sometimes referred to as the New IRA, addressed members of the organisation's executive at both meetings.

Mr Shiels said that around 500 PSNI officers were involved in the operation which has secured 36 hours of recordings.

The solicitor added that an emerging issue centres on the possible activity of a British agent

The seven men and two women were arrested in early morning raids in Derry, Tyrone and Armagh on Tuesday as part of operation police have called Arbacia.

On Wednesday police were granted and extra 72 hours to questions the nine, who range in age from 26 to 50.

Properties in Dublin, Laois Cork and Kerry were also searched by gardai as part of the cross-border operation.

The Irish News understands that others are wanted in connection with the investigation.

Four offices across the north used by hardline republican party Saoradh were also raided by the police on Thursday.

Some of those arrested are members of the party's national executive.

Police on both sides of the border have said the arrests and searches are linked to an investigation focusing on the activities of the New IRA.

The Irish News understands the first meeting, at a rented property between Cookstown and Omagh, took place in February.

Sophisticated cameras and listening devices are believed to have been located throughout the building.

A second meeting is understood to have taken place at a property in the Gortin area last month.

Again, it is understood conversations between those attending were recorded.

Meanwhile, it is understood that a west Belfast man who may have had a role in arranging the meetings has not been seen since the middle of this week.

Sources say that the contents of his home were packed into a removal van on Wednesday and that friends and acquaintances have been unable to contact him.

Mr Shiels said: “An issue that is emerging is the possible activity of a British agent provocateur in connection with the arrangement, facilitation and logistical support for both meetings and entrapment of the individuals said to have attended,” he said.

The ‘IRA' is the largest and most active of the armed groups opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.

It was formed in 2012 after a merger between the now defunct Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs and a group of independent republicans.

Up-Date 22/8/2020

Two men have been charged under the Terrorism Act as part of an ongoing investigation into the New IRA.

A 50-year-old from Londonderry and a 26-year-old from Lurgan were charged with membership of a proscribed organisation, directing terrorism and preparatory acts of terrorism.

The 26-year-old was also charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life.

They will appear in court on Saturday.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said the men had been charged as part of Operation Arbacia, which is "an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA".

Seven men and two women, aged between 26 and 50, were arrested on Tuesday.

Police have until Saturday afternoon to question the seven other people who remain in custody.

The New IRA is considered to be the largest dissident republican group and has been behind numerous attempted attacks on police officers.

There has been a renewed focus on its activities since the death of Lyra McKee, shot in 2019.

Initial Arrests 

Police have arrested suspected members of the New IRA’s so-called army council in early morning raids across Northern Ireland.

Eight men, all believed to be the paramilitary organisation’s highest-ranking members are in custody in Belfast.

A source said: “This was a detailed operation that included areas of Londonderry, east Tyrone and beyond plus the border regions and as far as Cork and Kerry where Gardai colleagues conducted a simultaneous operation in support of PSNI intelligence.

“This was a massive crackdown on dissident and dissident activity. The volume of arrests and searches could be described as significant.

“At least eight people were taken into custody in Northern Ireland by separate arrest teams and each is now under arrest.

“This has been a significant operation for the intelligence, arrest and support teams in the ongoing fight against dissident republican terrorism. Charges are expected to follow. It has been a good day for Northern Ireland so far.”

A PSNI statement said: “Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have made a number of arrests under the Terrorism Act across

Northern Ireland today in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA.”

Gardai conducted six searches in counties Cork, Dublin, Kerry and Laois in support of the PSNI operation.

No arrests were made in Ireland during planned and detailed searches of several properties in four counties. The Gardai’s operation has been described as ‘successful and ongoing’.

A statement said: “An Garda Síochána are this morning, 18th August 2020, carrying out a number of searches in support of an operation led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

“The searches in this jurisdiction are being carried out at locations in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry and are part of ongoing operations to combat the activities of the New IRA.

“The searches are being conducted by members of the Special Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí and Regional Armed Support Units.

“The searches are being conducted by members of the Special Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí and Regional Armed Support Units.”