AN INSULT TO LYRA
New IRA political wing ignores fury at journalist’s murder as they march in Dublin
THE political wing of the New IRA marched outside the GPO in Dublin yesterday – less than 48 hours after journalist Lyra Mckee was murdered.
In a show of defiance up to 150 men and women in military fatigues took over the capital’s busiest street.
Demonstrators from Saoradh, their faces covered by berets and sunglasses, shocked shoppers with their paramilitary display in the 23C Easter heat.
A security source said: “This is a blatant insult to the memory of the young woman shot dead for doing her job.
“This group Saoradh cancelled their planned parade in Derry because they
knew they’d be ran out of the city. They should have been ran out of Dublin too.”
The march came as two men, aged 18 and 19, were being quizzed by the PSNI in connection with Thursday night’s shooting during riots in the Creggan area of Derry.
One disgusted bystander tweeted: “A day after Lyra Mckee is shot dead in Derry, Saoradh march on O’connell Street/bridge.
“The same Saoradh who have defended the action’s of Lyra’s shooter.
“They wouldn’t even let us have Pride on O’connell Street last year, how is this remotely okay?”
Another wrote: “A fistful of hatemongering curs should not be marching on O’connell Street ever, but especially not this weekend.”
Saoradh organisers used Twitter to advertise The Unfinished Revolution Easter Commemoration which assembled at the Garden of Remembrance at 3pm.
The source added: “They carried flags and marched three abreast from Parnell Square down O’connell Street and gardai from the Special Detective Unit monitored them at every stage.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris tweeted: “Pathetic cowards. No place in our democracy.” A statement issued by Saoradh on Friday claiming 29-year-old Lyra was “accidentally killed” sparked a ferocious backlash. The group said the celebrated journalist died after an armed “republican volunteer” fired shots at the PSNI who were in the area conducting a search of a house.
A Garda spokesperson said yesterday afternoon: “A peaceful demonstration is currently under way at O’connell Street in Dublin.
“No incidents have been reported. Gardai are at the scene.”