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'Republicans are indoctrinating their children like ISIS' - Chair of North's Police Federation

Last night, two men were arrested by gardaÍ after a car with explosives was stopped on the...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.25 14 Apr 2016


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'Republicans are indoc...

'Republicans are indoctrinating their children like ISIS' - Chair of North's Police Federation

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.25 14 Apr 2016


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Last night, two men were arrested by gardaÍ after a car with explosives was stopped on the Naas Road in Dublin.

Detectives believe the men are linked to the 'New IRA'.

But just how big is the task facing the authorities on both sides of the border in tackling paramilitary activity?

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Newstalk.com's Richard Chambers has been focusing in on the issue in a two-part series.

Today we are going to hear two different approaches to dealing with paramilitaries - but we start with the official one.

Mark Lindsay is Chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland in Belfast.

He had strong words about the threat level and his views on the influence on younger Republicans.

Gardaí and the PSNI are committing a lot of resources to the cross-border issue, but officers in the North actually find that it has become harder since a lot of roads were opened between the Republic and the North.

Mr Lindsay says it is very difficult to break down support for dissident paramilitaries, and that is having an impact on officers.

In the past few years - and in particular in recent months - the proliferation of drugs in Co Derry has been the number one criminal and social issue.

Heroin and pills are growing in popularity and that is something that has not sat well with Republican paramilitaries, who have struck out against that.

Graffiti displaying RAAD - Republican Action Against Drug - is seen in a lot of areas, while more graphic warnings are daubed up along the walls for dealers.

And there have been a lot of assaults and shootings as a result of that battle.

One grassroots organisation looking at this issue is the Rosemount Resource Centre, managed by Tommy McCourt.

He explains how his group has come between the paramilitaries and drug dealers and users with a mark on their head.

The view locally in areas like Creggan, Rosemount, the Bogside is that is not it better to have this sort of solution than have mothers taking their sons to be shot by appointment rather than have them killed.

It is incredible at times to think that is happening on this island - but it is something that has happened on numerous occasions even in the past 10 years.

Mr McCourt was asked about the pressure on the Rosemount Resource Centre.


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