Gardaí in Limerick are investigating the actions of a number of people at a commemoration ceremony in the city, in which threats were made to Irish people serving in the British army.
The threats were made at the annual Seán South commemoration ceremony, which was organised by Republican Sinn Féin. It was attended by about 50 people and a number of them were dressed in paramilitary uniforms.
A statement was read out on behalf of the Continuity IRA prisoners in Portlaoise which warned any Irish person serving in the British military was a legitimate target for the dissident republican group.
“We have seen in recent years in the city of Limerick that Irish men are considering a career in the British army – the same British army that holds six of our counties,” read the statement, which was delivered at the republican plot at Mount Saint Lawrence Cemetery.
It added: “Whether they are motivated by financial reasons or a sense of adventurism, we take this opportunity to say that the moment you don a British uniform you become a legitimate target for the IRA.”
Gardaí had a presence at the commemoration march held on Sunday in Limerick and also in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery, but no arrests were made.
Plan foiled
Gardaí in Limerick confirmed that an investigation is under way into the statements.
Last month gardaí foiled a plan to murder a serving member with the British army, who was planning on returning home to Limerick for the Christmas holidays.
Gardaí also dealt a blow to dissident republicans in Co Limerick earlier this month by seizing a major haul of ammunition, explosives and firearms near Murroe in Co Limerick.
The find was part of a planned joint search between Bruff gardaí, Henry Street detectives and the Regional Response Unit.
Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins, who is also a Limerick TD, described the people who made the threats on Sunday as “plain and simple criminals”.
“These people have no political mandate and don’t represent anybody – only themselves . . . The Government has to step up the effort required to finally eradicate these people out of our communities . . . Not alone are they issuing a threat to people’s lives as we heard in Limerick but they are also inflicting severe reputational damage on the country,” he said.
Action plan
“From that point of view, the Government needs to come up with an action plan which will see An Garda Síochána fully resourced to deal with it and to eliminate it for once and all,” he added.
Sinn Féin Limerick city councillor Maurice Quinlivan said the threats on Sunday had “no place in a modern Ireland”.