Oh, no, it’s yet another splinter group!
A new republican splinter group has emerged in West Belfast – this one with the name ‘Real Sinn Féin’.
The new organisation is aligned to a Republican Sinn Féin faction in Limerick who recently parted company with the Belfast party, led by Geraldine Taylor. It’s believed the name was deliberately chosen to sow confusion as Real Sinn Féin and Republican Sinn Féin now share the same acronym – RSF.
The Limerick faction’s local wing – which is believed to be headed up by former CIRA man Tommy Crossan – was behind a failed coup earlier this year which included unsuccessful attempts to take over the Falls Road office of Republican Sinn Féin as well as its newspaper. Sources say Real Sinn Féin are seeking to open an office on the Springfield Road.
While Real Sinn Féin’s power base is in Limerick, it has small but active cadres in Belfast, Derry and Armagh. Since the split, Real Sinn Féin has begun issuing its own press releases, primarily dealing with issues relating to Limerick. But plans are afoot to up its activities here by opening an office in West Belfast. However, the faction’s plan to open an office on the Springfield Road have met with derision from mainstream republicans.
“That’s all we need,” said one republican, “this alphabetti-spaghetti of dissident republican names just gets bigger. It’s all about egos and personalities and has nothing at all to do with a united Ireland. The average person on the street hasn’t got the foggiest idea of how RSF differs from the 32CSM or RNU or Real Sinn Féin, or for that matter how the CIRA differs from the RIRA or ONH.”
