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I repubblicani liberati su licenza dopo il GFA potrebbero tornare in carcere

Freed republicans ‘may be sent back to prison’

Irish Political HostagesA NUMBER of prominent republicans freed under the terms of the Good Friday agreement could be returned to jail on suspicion of setting up a new terrorist group based in Co Tyrone, it has been claimed.

Reports in the Sunday Times reveal that intelligence obtained by the MI5 and Crime and Security, the Garda’s intelligence agency, indicates the as yet unnamed group is planning to announce its arrival with a bombing wave.

There are fears that up to 100 members of the Provisional IRA have pledged their allegiance to the group and that hundreds of sympathisers are providing support.

Intelligence services on both sides of the border believe the group has the capability to construct large bombs and to build mortars – and is drawing on the expertise of the experienced IRA gunmen and bomb-makers.

The newspaper says the cross-border intelligence is based on information from informants, surveillance reports and listening devices.

Chair of the assembly’s justice committee Lord Maurice Morrow said the group “must be stopped before it gets going”.

The DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone said: “If there is intelligence suggesting that these people are about to embark on a ruthless, murderous campaign then I am fully in favour of them being returned to jail.

“Members of the public have a duty to support the police in this – they should be rounded up before they get the chance to harm anyone. I hope the security forces will be allowed to do their job.”

He added: “If this intelligence is accurate then it’s very concerning. We want a pro-active approach in dealing with these people – not a reactive one. There is no sense in waiting until someone is hurt or killed before action is taken.”

Party colleague Arlene Foster said terrorist prisoners should never have been released from prison in the first place.

“Those unionist leaders who agreed to release the prisoners in 1998 should now hang their heads in shame and acknowledge that they were wrong,” she said.

She added: “The police, MI5 and security services must be praised for the way in which they have met the dissident challenge so far and all democratic parties should give them their full support. I am fully in favour of the police returning anyone in breach of their licence to jail.

“Northern Ireland is moving forward, yet a small remnant are determined to drag us back and cause instability. Whilst these small groups work below the surface the people of Northern Ireland have moved on and don’t want to go back to the ways of the past.”

At the end of last month a bomb described by police as an “anti-personnel device” designed to kill people was left outside a shop close to a police station on Belfast’s Antrim Road.

The NIO refused to comment on the claims.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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