Alwaght- The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) has claimed responsibility for killing one person and the wounding two others at a boxing weigh-in on Friday in Dublin amid concerns of violence in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman claiming to represent the leadership of the Continuity IRA told journalists in Belfast that it shot dead David Byrne and was planning further attacks on “drug dealers and criminals”.
“A unit of the Continuity IRA was authorized to carry out an operation in Dublin at the weekend, and others throughout Ireland,” he said.
The spokesman claimed Mr. Byrne was shot because he had been involved in the murder in Dublin four years ago of dissident republican Alan Ryan.
The latter was a senior member of the Real IRA in the city and was shot dead as a result of a gangland feud in September 2012.
“Although not a member of our organization, we are not going to stand back and allow drug dealers and criminals to target republicans,” said the Continuity IRA spokesman.
He said there would be more attacks. “The Continuity IRA will carry out further military operations,” he said. “This will not be an isolated incident. Continuity IRA units have been authorized to carry out further operations. More drug dealers and criminals will be targeted.”
The spokesman said the Continuity IRA has been “retraining and re-arming in recent years”.
The IRA's roots trace back to the war of independence from Britain that led to Ireland's partition. It has had a number of factions and splinter groups including the Provisional IRA and Real IRA. The Continuity IRA is opposed to the peace process in place since the 1990s and rejects weapons decommissioning.