Óglaigh na hÉireann (Real IRA splinter group)

For other uses, see Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Óglaigh na hÉireann
ˈoːɡɫ̪iː n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ
Participant in the Dissident Irish republican campaign
Active 2009 - present
Ideology Irish republicanism
Leaders Army Council
Area of operations Northern Ireland (mainly)
Republic of Ireland
Strength ~50 members
Originated as Real Irish Republican Army
Opponents British Army
Police Service of Northern Ireland

Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH; [ˈoːɡɫ̪iː n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) is the title taken by a small dissident Irish republican paramilitary group that has taken part as a belligerent in the armed conflict in Northern Ireland. The organisation started carrying out attacks around 2009 and was formed after a split within the Real IRA.[1]

In December 2010, the group's strength was estimated to be about 50 members and it is recruiting and training in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.[2] The group has carried out high-profile attacks on the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the British Army in Northern Ireland. The organisation seems to be mainly based in the Belfast area, and there are also elements within the Derry, Strabane and South Armagh/North Louth areas.[3] However, with the growth of the larger Real IRA or New IRA after it merged in July 2012 with other groups, the organisation's activity has steadily declined. Splits and an intelligence campaign waged against it by the PSNI and MI5 have caused the organisation to lose many members according to media reports.[4] The organisation is said to be aligned with the Republican Network for Unity, a republican socialist group, although RNU has denied this.[5]

It is claimed the organisation came into existence after a split between the older leadership of the Real IRA and the new leadership, with the older leadership claiming those that "took over" the Real IRA were "more interested in criminality as a opposed to fighting the crown forces". These tensions were evident as far back as late 2003, when Real IRA members in Portlaoise Prison called on the leadership to stand down and call off its campaign. However, these calls fell on deaf ears and a dispute started, with most Real IRA prisoners at the time siding with the older leadership who founded the organisation.[6]

Weaponry

It is not well known what weaponry Óglaigh na hÉireann has access to. Most of its attacks use improvised explosive devices rather than more conventional military weapons. These include coffee jar bombs, car bombs, pipe bombs, improvised mortar, under car booby traps and other booby traps. These are weapons that have been used in attacks they have claimed. In August 2013 the group was blamed for planting a Katyusha-style rocket in undergrowth next to a field near Cullyhanna in South Armagh. The weapon was to be triggered using a mobile phone.[7]

Other attacks Óglaigh na hÉireann has carried out have used conventional weapons such as grenades, assault rifles and pistols. In 2010 a man on a bicycle threw a "Russian type" hand grenade at Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers attending a call to a bookie's. The officers were injured and the grenade caused slight damage to a kerb.

Actions

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2015

2016

See also

References

  1. "Timeline of dissident republican activity". BBC News. 25 March 2014.
  2. "Oglaigh na hEireann is now the main threat". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  3. Brady, Tom. "Oglaigh na hEireann is now the main threat". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  4. Breen, Suzanne (2011-02-15). "Dissident denies stealing inmates’ Christmas cash". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  5. Rowan, Brian (2011-02-19). "Dissidents deny issuing death threat to Belfast republican". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  6. Black Operations: The Secret War Against the Real IRA
  7. Belfast Daily. "DISSIDENT MORTAR BID TO DOWN PSNI COPTER". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  8. "'Splinter group' behind road bomb". BBC News. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  9. "Calls for extra resources after 60 dissident bomb attacks in 18 months". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  10. "Woman injured in car bomb attack". BBC News. 16 October 2009.
  11. "Bomb allegedly was the work of dissidents". Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. "400lb bomb left at Policing Board". BBC News. 22 November 2009.
  13. McDonald, Henry (17 January 2010). "Northern Ireland dissidents use remote control bomb in attack on PSNI officer". The Guardian (London, UK).
  14. "Car bomb officer Peadar Heffron's leg amputated". BBC News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  15. "Police widow Kate Carroll in tears after GAA symbol row hits fundraiser". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  16. "Real IRA admits NI MI5 base bomb". BBC News. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  17. Batty, David (23 April 2010). "Car bomb blast outside police station on Irish border". The Guardian (London, UK). Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  18. McDonald, Henry (13 April 2010). "Northern Ireland village sealed off in bomb alert". The Guardian (London, UK).
  19. "Pipe bomb left at counting centre". BBC News. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  20. "Alert device 'left five days ago'". BBC News. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  21. "Óglaigh na h-Éireann claim bomb attack". Derry Journal. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  22. "200lb of explosives in Derry car bomb". BBC News. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  23. "Group claims Strand Road bomb attack". BBC News. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  24. "Óglaigh na h'Éireann claim gun attack". Derry Journal. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  25. "UTV News - Device 'could have killed'". U.tv. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  26. "ONH claim arson attack on depot", North Belfast News, 21 February 2011.
  27. 1 2 "Dissidents behind city bombs", UTV News, 29 March 2011.
  28. "Dissident bomb in soldier's car - UTV Live News". U.tv. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  29. McDonald, Henry (28 April 2012). "Republican dissidents blamed for planting bombs in Northern Ireland". The Guardian (London, UK).
  30. "Dissident group claims PSNI bomb attack", UTV News, 7 June 2012.
  31. "'Loud bang' was grenade attack on PSNI - UTV Live News". U.tv. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  32. "Ardoyne Republican Gunman Fire On PSNI". YouTube. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  33. 1 2 "ONH claims rocket attack", Irish Republican News, 3 August 2012; retrieved 5 August 2012.
  34. "Police shots 'dissident murder bid'". UTV News. 31 July 2012.
  35. "Nothing found after mortar search". u.tv. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  36. "ONH blamed for pipe bomb". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  37. "Booby Trap Bomb Found Under PSNI officer's Car In East Belfast (30 December 2012)". YouTube. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  38. "Dissident republicans blamed over north Belfast pipe bomb". BBC News. 30 January 2013.
  39. "Pipe bomb thrown at police in Belfast 'reckless bid to kill'". BBC News. 31 January 2013.
  40. North Belfast bomb blast 'was attempted murder', bbc.co.uk, 11 March 2013.
  41. Oglaigh na hEireann escalate campaign, Republican News, 15 March 2013.
  42. 1 2 "Terror group claims car bomb was meant for Northern Ireland G8 summit", The Guardian, 25 March 2013; retrieved 25 March 2013.
  43. "Óglaigh na hÉireann Volley Of Shots - 2013". YouTube. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  44. "Man 'recruited' to bomb Stormont". u.tv. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  45. "'Bomb' found at police murder bid scene", UTV News, 17 May 2013; retrieved 15 June 2013.
  46. ‘ÓNH’ force PSNI retreat from Twinbrook. An analysis on recent armed actions!. Republican Network for Unity. 18 May 2013; retrieved 15 June 2013.
  47. Belfast Daily. "REVEALED: ARDOYNE BOOBY TRAP BOMB PLOT TO KILL TWO PSNI OFFICERS - Belfast Daily". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  48. Belfast Daily. "BREAKING NEWS…’BLAST BOMBS’ ATTACK ON PSNI STATION". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  49. "Abandoned bombs represent 'unfinished business' – ONH claim responsibility". Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  50. "Óglaigh na hÉireann Aborted Mortar Plot To Shoot Down PSNI Chopper In South Armagh (27/8/13)". YouTube. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  51. "60kg car bomb partially explodes in Belfast city centre". BBC News, 25 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  52. "Oglaigh na hEireann claims bomb responsibility", The Irish News, 29 November 2013; retrieved 14 December 2013.
  53. "Belfast bomb 'despicable' say Robinson and McGuinness", BBC News, 14 December 2013; retrieved 14 December 2013.
  54. "Police hunt man after explosion", Belfast Telegraph, 14 December 2013; retrieved 14 December 2013.
  55. "Crossmaglen: Man is injured in South Armagh explosion - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  56. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/rockets-mortars-ak47s-ira-dissidents-deadly-weapons-haul-seized-by-police-34341184.html

External links

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