Óglaigh na hÉireann New Year's Statement

The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann send new year’s greetings to all our friends and supporters both nationally and internationally. We also extend special greetings to our volunteers who have remained faithful to their oath and to their constitution, and to all POW's who have stood resolute in the face of the on-going criminalisation process in Maghaberry and Free State internment in Portlaoise. Our thoughts are with you and your families at this time, you remain an inspiration to the republican base.

Once again the constitutional nationalist and establishment parties are attempting to sell the lie that the RUC/PSNI are a civic police force, the IRA stand by our assertion, and this has been borne out by recent events, that the RUC/PSNI are primarily a political police force whose primary function is to protect British interests in Ireland. It is for this reason that the IRA have carried out a number of attacks against the British police in Ireland, these attacks will continue.

Óglaigh na hÉireann advise political and community leaders to desist from the practice of assisting, and urging others to assist the RUC/PSNI, those who do so are clearly making the choice to align themselves with the enemy. The repercussions of assisting the enemy are clear and those who do so bear full responsibility for any action that may be taken against them.

The last year has seen a marked increase in the activities of MI5 inspired counter gangs masquerading as republicans, these gangs will be seen for what they are by the republican base and their attempts to bring the republican movement into disrepute will not be tolerated. Such counter gangs exist to sow discord and confusion within republicanism. It is also clear that such groups are behind an increase in sectarian attacks across the six counties, sectarianism is anathema to republicanism and serves the interests of British imperialism in Ireland, not the republican position.

Óglaigh na hÉireann exist to defend the republic and we reject all British attempts to implement the long held policy of Ulsterisation, criminalisation and Normalisation. The Irish Republican Army will continue to carry out armed attacks against the British military and political apparatus in Ireland and those who assist in anyway their illegal occupation