IMC says 'Real IRA' is 'committed' to terrorism

The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) said in its report today that the "Real IRA" was the most active dissident republican group and was "committed to terrorism".

It said the group had been responsible for brutal attacks and robbery.

"It sent explosive postal packages to DPP members in September 2004 and again in January and February 13th, 2005," the report said.

The "Real IRA", responsible for the 1998 Omagh bombing, has also recruited, trained members in the use of firearms and targeted police officers, according to the report.

"It has continued efforts to improve its capacity in the use of explosives. We believe this is the work of an organisation which is ruthless and committed to terrorism."

The report also said the Continuity IRA has continued to be "sporadically active". It has continued to threaten District Policing Partnerships (DPP) in Northern Ireland and has issued threats to places at which DPP meetings were held.

On the Irish National Liberation Association, the IMC said the group's activities and potential "remain essentially the same although the level of activity is not high".

It has not shot or assaulted people as it had in the previous six-month periods, but its members remain very actively involved in organised crime, including drugs, the IMC said.

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) remains active and violent and it continues to be involved in organised crime, the IMC report states.

"The UVF undertook a number of attacks over Christmas and New Year as part of its continuing conflict with the LVF. Members of the same UVF unit shot at LVF members in Belfast in mid-January."

The group has also undertaken the targeting of rivals and continues to recruit new members. The UVF is also engaged in organised crime, the report said.

"The UVF is active, violent and ruthless, and is prepared to use violence to promote what it sees as the interests of the organisation.

. . . We believe it would undertake greater violence than in recent months if it judged that those interests so required."

The LVF, the report said, remains "deeply involved" in drug dealing, and in some areas has recruited people solely for that purpose.