New armed republican group describes local politicians as “legitimate targets”

A video has emerged of a group of masked, armed men menacing politicians in the Newry, Mourne, and Down area for threatening “our ways of life”. The statement is read by a man seated at a table, with a pistol alongside him. He is flanked by two other masked men, who are also armed. A tricolour is visible in the background. The speaker describes those present as members of “The New Republican Movement”, a previously unknown republican outfit. Videoed statements featuring armed men in balaclavas were a regular feature of The Troubles in the North of Ireland, but are now rarely seen. The spokesman goes on to say:

To the people of Newry, Mourne and Down – we the New Republican Movement have watched our councillors and MLAs over the past 12 months. The level of disrespect shown to the people who put you into power; this cannot be ignored any longer. We are proud men of Ireland, we are patriots. Your policies and decision-making with regards to flooding our communities with undocumented military-aged men is not acceptable.

This sort of anti-immigrant rhetoric has been much more common among loyalist-linked groups and social media accounts, such as the Belfast Nightwatch First Division, The Great Province-Wide Protest N.I. and the Ulster Women First Pink Ladies. However, there hasn’t been a case of a visibly armed group producing a threatening anti-migrant video of this sort. It shows the kind of escalatory potential that exists from the media’s cynical amplifying of the racist “military-aged male” trope, suggesting an invading army of immigrants. This new group seem to have missed the main historical purpose of republicanism, which is to challenge a genuine invading army – that of the British state, and the security apparatus attached to it.

Those claiming to ‘protect women and children’ are usually dangerous thugs

The man continues:

We will not sit back any longer and watch our culture and religion destroyed by the people we put in power. Also, the sexual indoctrination of our children in schools has not went unnoticed either.

The New Republican Movement will take immediate action against anyone who threatens our ways of life and the safety of our women and children.

This again picks up on the claims of protecting women and children so beloved of the far-right generally. Yet a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Detail found that:

…half those arrested for race hate disorder in Belfast…[in] August [2024] had previously been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse.

Another of those expressing a keenness to protect vulnerable youngsters has been Mark Payne, found guilty of stabbing a 14-year-old.

The New Republican Movement spokesman concludes by saying:

We have your addresses and know your movements. Every one of you are legitimate targets as of today.

Those potentially in the firing line have responded with indignation to the threats, with Dáire Hughes – Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh – saying:

The sinister threats issued by faceless thugs against elected members of Newry, Mourne and Down are an attack on democracy and on the mandate each of us as elected members receives from the public. Let me be crystal clear: these faceless individuals represent no one and they will not deter me or my party colleagues from carrying out our work, every day, representing our constituents.

Despite bombs planted at our offices and chilling threats made through social media, Sinn Féin will continue to stand up for our people. I send solidarity to each of my elected colleagues across our constituencies. Let us stand as one against these deluded individuals.

DUP ignore their own racism and attempt to score cheap points

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) South Down MLA Diane Forsythe said:

This video is vile and cowardly. It is an attack on all who serve their communities, regardless of background or party. It seeks to drag Northern Ireland back to a dark past that the vast majority have rejected. Our children should not be seeing this on their newsfeeds.

She then used the moment to try and score a few political points, with a thinly veiled reference to Sinn Féin:

Of course, because some in elected leadership today celebrate the IRA’s actions in the 70s, it is no surprise that this generation is trying to use copycat tactics.

She ignores her party’s own inflammatory rhetoric around immigration – and overt Islamophobia – which create a climate in which armed racists feel emboldened to speak their mind.

Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson MLA also condemned the video, describing it as “vile and reprehensible“. He continued:

This is not just an attack on politicians, but on the people they serve and the democratic process itself. These faceless thugs do not speak for our community, and they will not succeed in dragging us backwards.

The threats are believed to be linked to the decision of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) to make Newry a City of Sanctuary. The program aims to help welcome and integrate immigrants into local communities. It has previously been the target of a confected panic around children allegedly being asked to send Valentine’s Day cards to refugees.

Video follows voicemail threats and pipe bomb attack

A threatening voice message had previously been sent to councillors, again describing them as “legitimate targets”. There was also a “pipe bomb-type device” left at a Sinn Féin constituency office in early October. The Irish News reports that:

In the aftermath of the threat the PSNI [Police Service of Northern Ireland] contacted all 41 councillors at Newry, Mourne and Down council. It is understood they have been given security advice and told patrols will be stepped up.