'Do Not Underestimate Dissident Threat', Warns Police Commissioner

Ireland’s top police officer has warned of the "significant" threat posed by dissident republican groups, who are aiming to destabilise power-sharing institutions in the North.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said intelligence has pointed to an increasingly active Continuity IRA and Real IRA.

Commissioner Murphy said these groups should not be underestimated.

Refusing to be drawn on a recent IMC report that found the IRA Army Council is gradually ‘withering away’; Mr Murphy pledged firm police action against dissident activity.

Addressing a large university conference, the commissioner said republican groups have their sights set on destroying the Northern Ireland peace process.

He said: "The threat still remains from CIRA and RIRA. I consider it significant - it is there significantly for some time and we are working on it, as indeed are our colleagues in sister agencies.

"My people and my members in crime and security are working with our colleagues in the PSNI and other sister agencies to ensure that the threat posed by dissident organisations is reduced and dealt with," he said.

Police officers in the North and South are continuing to take the threat seriously, and have established a close working relationship, according to Mr Murphy.

Intelligence remains at the forefront of combating illegal activity, and has been supported by the inception of an elite special response unit.

The units will have access to a fleet of high-powered vehicles, special body armour, high-powered weaponry and specialised firearms training.

Two armed Regional Support Units (RSU) are now undergoing pilot deployment in Limerick and Cork as part of a programme to ease pressure on the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

(PR/KMcA)