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Sligo being targeted in Gardaí dissident crackdown

Gardai plan to launch a crackdown on dissident republicans in the wake of the paramilitary display and volley of shots at the weekend funeral of terror gang boss Alan Ryan.

A series of garda raids on the homes of dissidents in several counties, believed to include Sligo, is being organised, as officers build up evidence against those understood to have been involved in the show of arms outside the Ryan family home on the northside of Dublin.

A number of Sligo people attended the high-profile funeral in Dublin. See SligoToday.ie 8/9/12

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said yesterday that paramilitary activity could not be tolerated on the streets of the capital and where people were identified as having committed a criminal offence, they would be "brought to book".

Gardai disclosed last night that a dossier of fresh intelligence was being compiled as a result of the photographic evidence gathered at the funeral.

Two members of the Sligo 32 County Sovereignty Movement organisation (32 CSM) were with Ryan when he was murdered. Aaron Neilis from Coolaney was shot in the legs while Paul Stewart escaped injury. See SligoToday.ie 4/9/12

In Sligo 32 CSM claims that in recent weeks its members have been subjected to an ongoing campaign of harassment by the Gardai.

A spokesperson for the organisation says their members, and families, have been subject to regular Garda stops and searches as well as constant monitoring of their homes.

The group claims this heightened activity is in response to the growing support for the 32CSM in the Sligo region.

Gardai have declined to make a statement on the matter.


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