‘Dissident attacks will rise in wake of Brexit’
FORMER Northern Ireland police chief Sir Hugh Orde has warned that Brexit border controls will “play into the hands” of dissident republicans.
Sir Hugh, who was the chief constable between 2002 and 2009, hit out at government ministers who led the Leave campaign for their “unforgivable and inept” handling of the Irish border issue.
Writing in The Times, Sir Hugh, who is also the former head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “During the referendum debate the Leave campaign dismissed border control as a sideshow.
“Hence there appears to have been absolutely no planning for the foreseeable and inevitable complexity of this critical issue.
“This is unforgivable and inept.
“After Brexit we will be ‘outside the club’ and therefore not entitled to the benefits of EU membership.
“This will inevitably lead to some form of border control.
“The political consequences of this will play into the hands of those who are still determined to destroy the relative peace that we have enjoyed through close co-operation and effective policstand since 1998 and the Good Friday Agreement.”
He went on to back comments made by Fine Gael senator Neale Richmond who said that border controls would be a target for “dissident republicans”.
“They provide an ideal, static and predictable target that prevents free movement,” Sir Hugh added.