The security services are going to have to devote a “lot more resources” to monitoring the far-right and protecting Ireland’s Muslim community, a security expert has warned. 

Earlier this month, Gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland carried out a number of raids targeting a group called the ‘Irish Defence Army’. 

The group contains no more than a handful of members but is accused of plotting terrorist attacks against mosques and IPAS centres. 

On Newstalk Daily, Irish Examiner Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe, described it as a “very dramatic development”. 

 “Two men were arrested in the South and then there was a search operation at an address in the North,” he said. 

“A number of allegedly suspect devices were found. 

“They were subsequently charged, so they’re before the courts at the moment. 

“The wider issue raised for the authorities, North and South, was the emergence of what has been described by the authorities as an alleged violent, right-wing organisation.” 

A Garda lamp. Picture by: Alamy.

While this may be concerning, it is also not surprising. Law enforcement on both sides of the border have watched with concern the rise of the far-right across Europe and anticipated plots against Ireland’s Muslim community. 

Mr O’Keefe added that just because membership of the Irish Defence Army is “tiny”, does not mean it should not be taken seriously. 

“Of course, a really small grouping can obviously be potentially extremely dangerous if they have the intent and the willingness to carry out violence,” he explained. 

“This grouping broke away from a larger grouping, which also sees itself as a self defence army against ‘foreign and domestic threats’ - as they describe themselves. 

“So, the authorities do have this second grouping also in their eyesight.” 

Mr O’Keefe continued that the ‘Irish Defence Army’ is not the only group that Gardaí are worried about. 

“We have a plethora of small groups, small little units in the country that appear to have a willingness to at least call for violence,” he said. 

“There’s a number of little groupings out there, all probably known out there.” 

Muslim community

Since the arrests, Mr O’Keefe has spoken to a number of Muslim community leaders, who he describes as all in a profound “state of shock”. 

“They are particularly concerned about what they see as a significant step up in the threat that they face,” he said. 

“Far beyond verbal abuse and there may be the possibility of some kind of criminal damage and so on - which is what they do experience - to something far more dangerous. 

“They feel the repercussions may take some time to emerge; their congregation may stop coming to their prayers and so on.” 

There are particular worries about the safety of Muslim women walking to and from mosques and they are discussing what procedures can be put in place to increase security. 

“They are on edge,” Mr O’Keefe said. 

“There’s no doubt they’re terrified… Certainly, the imams felt that the Government and society as a whole need to act now. 

“There’s no point waiting until there’s actually an actual tragedy and then responding."

A mosque in Dublin. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

It is a concern that officials are keenly aware of. 

“I was told last week that this is an area that the security services will have to be devoting a lot more resources and efforts into the future,” Mr O’Keefe said. 

“Not least because of the wider picture in terms of division and intolerance and hatred doesn’t look like it’s going to reduce across Europe and across the world. 

“It certainly looks like it’s going to be very busy for the authorities.”

Main image: A split of a Garda and Muslim men praying. Pictures by: RollingNews and Alamy.com.