28 September 09  

McCREA CONDEMNS DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY

DUP Mid Ulster MLA Ian McCrea has condemned the increased dissident activity across Northern Ireland in recent weeks.

Speaking today Mr McCrea said:

“I totally condemn the latest spate of dissident activity and want to make it abundantly clear that these thugs have no support at all within the wider community. It is hard to envisage just what this minority hope to achieve out of these mindless acts, but I fear that the increased dissident activity is more of a recruitment drive focusing on susceptible young people, filling them with nothing but poison and hatred.

It is deeply worrying that there is so much bitterness towards Protestants and their culture in so many parts of Northern Ireland. Protestant families are being systematically targeted and throughout Northern Ireland Loyal Order properties are being regularly attacked.

The PSNI have recently begun intensive operations aimed at disrupting potential dissident republican activity and I welcome the arrests of those in the Dungannon area and congratulate the PSNI on finding the weapons which I have no doubt were planned to be used for attacks on innocent people. I feel more can and must be done and would encourage everyone to support the PSNI to help stamp out the threat of dissident republican scum.”