Real IRA threatens to murder police officers

The Real IRA have vowed to kill more police officers in Northern Ireland – and told the Queen her visit to the Republic is an ‘insult’.

The chilling message from the dissident Republican group was delivered by a masked man in paramilitary uniform at an Easter Rising commemoration ceremony in Derry’s City Cemetery.

The statement of intent has been roundly condemned by politicians on both sides of the border, shocked by the severity and the hatred of its tone.

In the address, the Real IRA denounced the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Catholic Church, constitutional nationalism and ‘the criminal Free State government’.

The masked man’s statement also warned those officers serving in the PSNI that they were ‘serving the occupation and thus liable for execution’.

Watched by a crowd of just 200 people and monitored by security forces, the Real IRA messenger also warned of more terrorist attacks on ‘legitimate’ targets and threatened disruption of next month’s Royal visit to the Republic.

The man said: “The Queen of England is wanted for war crimes in Ireland and not wanted on Irish soil. We will do our best to ensure she and the gombeen class that act as her cheerleaders get that message.”

The Real IRA warned Catholics off signing up for the police service like Ronan Kerr who was blown up by a car bomb in Omagh on his way to work at the start of April.

“Óglaigh na hÉireann call on any young nationalist who may have been sold the lie that the RUC/PSNI is somehow a reformed, non-political police service to think again,” added the masked man.

“Those who think they are serving their community are in fact serving the occupation and will be treated as such.”

The attendance of GAA, Catholic Church representatives and nationalist politicians at the Kerr funeral was also condemned in the Real IRA statement.

“The GAA, Catholic Church and constitutional nationalism will be unable to protect those who turn traitor. They are as liable for execution as anyone else regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation,” he said.

As for the Queen’s visit next month, the messenger said: “We call for the Irish people to stand in opposition.

“Óglaigh na hÉireann urge all self-respecting Irishmen and women to resist the upcoming insult that is the visit of a British monarch to Irish soil.

“The criminal free state government invite is not on behalf of the Irish people but to further the selfish interests of a self-serving elite.

“Despite the best efforts of the media, big business, and other power blocs to portray this visit as acceptable we clearly state that the Irish people will not capitulate.”

The Real IRA also denied any suggestion it is in talks with the British or Irish governments.

“Those who continually repeat this lie must explain their actions and we must clearly question their motivation,” the spokesman said.

“If the British are serious about discussing the restoration of Irish sovereignty then we will listen to their proposals, anything else is a waste of time.”