THE CONTINUITY IRA leadership has insisted that it has not been ousted by a new more militant and more Northern based CIRA “army council”, as was claimed by representatives of the purported new leadership.
The Continuity IRA leadership through the “Irish Republican Publicity Bureau” issued a statement last night rejecting claims by four representatives of the self-styled army council that it had overthrown what it described as the “old guard” or “pensioner” leadership.
The new faction in an interview in yesterday's Irish Timessaid that a so-called "army convention" held in Bettystown, Co Louth, in the late summer had deposed the CIRA leadership and replaced it with a more Northern-based "army council".
But the original leadership said last night that this convention had no legal standing under CIRA regulations and warned of “consequences” for those claiming to be the new leadership.
"The leadership of the republican movement wishes to reiterate our statement of June 8 that contrary to claims made in The Irish Timesof July 28th by those who have set up a splinter group, no General Army Convention of Óglaigh na hÉireann, popularly known as the Continuity IRA, has been held," it said.
“The constitution of óglaigh na hÉireann is very clear as to the circumstances under which a general army convention may be held. The holding of an unauthorised meeting to supplant the leadership is an undermining of the movement and will not be tolerated,” added the CIRA statement.
“The army council is intact and is fully in control of all matters concerning the army. We once again warn that the unauthorised use of the name of the army can have consequences,” it said.
The statement was signed “B Ruairc”, the equivalent of the “P Ó Neill” signature that the Provisional IRA used to authenticate its statements.
The four representatives of the purported new leadership described the meeting in Bettystown as a “takeover of the movement by the volunteers. It is a takeover of the military end of things”.
It accused the original leadership of effectively “running down” the CIRA’s paramilitary capability and threat. It also accused a “prominent” dissident in Belfast of “siphoning off” more than £20,000 intended for the CIRA.
The new faction said it would rebuild the CIRA “for a long struggle” to force the British government to “declare its intention to withdraw” from Northern Ireland.
