A potential agreement to “cooperate” with dissident Republicans to achieve border research is being sought by Sinn Fein, according to the Sunday Times.
the newspaper reports that party chairman Declan Kearney made direct contact with Saorad – widely considered the political wing of the New IRA – in late 2020.
According to the Sunday Times, Mr Kearney wrote to Brian Kena, who is chairing Saoradh, proposing to hold a meeting to promote a “commitment to a common strategy and co-operation” around the referendum.
He also proposed an invitation for a “delegation” from the dissident group to “meet with me and other members of the Sinn Fein leadership.”
Sinn Fein defended the move in front of the newspaper, saying “dialogue and engagement” are “a vital part of the peace process”.
The New IRA group previously claimed responsibility for the murder of journalist and writer Lyra McKee in Londonderry in April 2019 as she watched riots in the Kregan area.
Earlier, Sinn Fein condemned the “harshest conditions” assassination in 2019, just a year before the reported approach to the group was made.
According to the Sunday Times, the proposal for cooperation was rejected by Ken.
In a letter sent to the group by Mr Kearney, he wrote: “While the forthcoming imposition of Brexit and its implications for Ireland underscore the enduring undemocratic nature of division, the Covid-19 pandemic has also led to controversy over the division of our country equally. -sharp focus.
“It is clear that these two factors have had a significant impact on the thinking of many citizens outside the wider republican base.
“The prospect of securing a referendum on Irish unity is very real, but we need to make it a reality.
Sinn Fein believes that such a referendum should be an immediate political priority for all Irish Republicans … to encourage commitment to developing a common strategy and cooperation to achieve this result, I invite you and a delegation from your party to meet with his and other members of the Shin Fein leadership. “
The new IRA gang told the Sunday Times: “Those who trade with this approach are partisans and reformists and only serve to extend the shelf life of Stormont and its institutions.
“Nothing mentioned by any party so far has given Saorad a reason to join the call for polls.”
Last month, six men from the group were arrested during an Easter celebration in Derry, organized by Saorad, and PSNI was attacked while in the area.
The men – detained under the Terrorism Act – were later released pending reports to the PPS.
In a statement to the Sunday Times, Sinn Fein said: “We have always stated that dialogue and commitment – even with those who support armed factions – are a vital part of the peace process and moving these groups away from violence in a peaceful and democratic way. termination of the division provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.
The party was asked to comment.
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