The "Real IRA" has admitted that it murdered 51-year-old Protestant civilian worker, Mr David Caldwell, in Derry three weeks ago. He died in an explosion at the Territorial Army camp in Derry on August 1st. Police and politicians were in no doubt that the "Real IRA" killed Mr Caldwell.
Yesterday's admission was made by a caller using a recognised code word to the Derry Journal. The "Real IRA", describing itself as the Derry Brigade of Óglaigh na hÉireann, said it "carried out the execution" of Mr Caldwell. Mr Caldwell was the first murder victim of the dissident republican group since it carried out the Omagh bombing that claimed the lives of 29 men, women and children four years ago, including that of a woman pregnant with twin girls. While the "Real IRA" declared a ceasefire after Omagh it was generally accepted that its cessation was bogus and designed to try to take some security pressure away from the organisation after Omagh. It has engaged in a number of actions since then. Most recently in June a young Catholic recruit narrowly escaped with his life when a part of a booby-trap bomb exploded under his car in Ballymena, Co Antrim. Last month another Catholic recruit was given special security protection in Newry after it emerged the "Real IRA" planned to murder him. Mr Caldwell died after a booby-trapped lunchbox which he picked up exploded.
Loyalist paramilitaries threatened to retaliate for his murder. His family pleaded for no revenge.