'Border Fox' O'Hare finds God in a gospel hall
Notorious republican terrorist Dessie O'Hare is reported to have become a 'born-again Christian'
The man who severed a Dublin dentist's finger with a hammer and chisel when his ransom demands weren't met is reported to be attending gospel hall meetings in south Armagh and in Co Louth.
Reliable sources have confirmed that the former INLA terrorist, who was dubbed the 'Border Fox', has attended services run by a small Protestant congregation in South Armagh in recent weeks and has professed that he has been 'saved'.
The presence of O'Hare at one religious gathering last week is understood to have caused unease within the tightly knit gospel congregation but it's understood that the leaders of the religious community are prepared to allow the one-time INLA leader to continue to worship with them.
It's understood that O'Hare has also been worshipping with another Protestant religious group in Dundalk, Co Louth, in recent weeks.
No one connected with the South Armagh religious group was prepared to speak about O'Hare's presence at their meeting last week but one Church source in the area, who didn't want to be identified, said: "My understanding is that Mr O'Hare has become a Christian believer and has attended religious services recently."
But victims' relatives who are aware of O'Hare's visit to the south Armagh gospel hall are unhappy that he is attending Protestant services in the area.
One man whose close relative was shot dead by republicans said: "I have been told that O'Hare attended a prayer meeting in this area recently and it has caused upset among victims around the Keady, Markethill, Newtownhamilton triangle that he is coming around Protestant churches given what the INLA did at Darkley" -- a reference to the terrorist massacre at a remote Protestant community.
- Alan Murray
