New IRA group’s march condemned

Irish premier Leo Varadkar has condemned the actions of a republican group that paraded down Dublin’s O’connell Street after the murder of Lyra Mckee.

Mr Varadkar said the march, by a group associated with the so-called New IRA, had dishonoured the Irish national flag. The Taoiseach said it was an “insult” to the Irish, as people across the island mourned the journalist and author. Ms Mckee, 29, died after she was shot in the head by a member of the New IRA during a Londonderry riot on Thursday.

About 150 members of the Saoradh group held a march in military colours wearing berets and sunglasses in the capital on Saturday.

“The actions by Saoradh in Dublin this weekend are beneath contempt,” Mr Varadkar said.

“People North and South are mourning the death of a brave campaigner and journalist Lyra Mckee.” He added: “On Sunday we marked the heroes of 1916 who put Ireland on the path to democracy.

“Others like Saoradh want to return Ireland to a violent and troubled past. We can never allow this to happen. Saoradh should apologise for their actions this weekend.”

The Taoiseach attended a commemoration outside the GPO on Dublin’s O’connell Street on Sunday afternoon to mark the 103rd anniversary of the Easter Rising. Irish president Michael D Higgins laid a wreath.