Alan Ryan anniversary march passes off peacefully

A memorial march to mark the first anniversary of the death of Real IRA leader Alan Ryan has passed off without major incident in north Dublin today.

About 200 people took part in the march which began at Ryan’s family home at Grange Abbey in Clongriffin before proceeding to the cemetery in Balgriffin where he is buried.

There was a heavy Garda presence and one man was arrested for a minor public order offence.

Ryan (32) was shot dead at Grange Lodge Avenue in Clongriffin on the afternoon of September 3rd last year.

He had served time in prison for firearms offences linked to his membership of the Real IRA and was known as a key player in the organisation in Dublin, fundraising by extorting publicans and drug gangs.

Gardaí believe one of the Dublin organised crime gangs with whom Ryan had come into conflict was behind the murder.

Shots were fired over his coffin outside his home before the funeral on September 8th.

Ryan’s grave was vandalised last night ahead of today’s march. The slogan “rat scum” was sprayed on the headstone in red paint, while other small memorials were also defaced.

The grave was cleaned up by family ahead of the memorial event today.