Another vile show of RIRA pageantry on the way

Gardaí are bracing them for a show of force by masked dissident Republicans at the funeral of slain Real IRA gangster Vinny Ryan. Stock Image

Paul Williams Email

March 02 2016 02:30 AM

Gardaí are bracing them for a show of force by masked dissident Republicans at the funeral of slain Real IRA gangster Vinny Ryan.

For a third time in as many weeks, heavily-armed police will be deployed to watch over the burial of a gangland murder victim.

The purpose of the operation will be two-fold: prevent a further attack on the dissident criminals in attendance, and keep an eye on the dregs of the Republican movement who turn up to pay their respects.

In 2012, the Real IRA were handed an invaluable propaganda opportunity when a north Dublin drug gang murdered Alan Ryan in broad daylight.

The mobsters milked the event for all that it was worth by staging a sinister paramilitary pageant that brought back dark memories of a time everyone hoped had long gone.

With tricolours fluttering and a pipe band playing, men and women wearing the traditional garb of the Provos - dark glasses, black berets, balaclavas and paramilitary uniforms - marched out of step alongside the coffin. Others were dressed in white shirts, black ties, dark glasses and berets, the funeral dress worn by the IRA at the burial of their comrades.

The terrorist pageant was clearly intended to intimidate their enemies - and of course the decent people unfortunate enough to live in the same neighbourhoods.

Now the same vile display can be expected for the funeral of Alan Ryan's younger sibling.

The cold-blooded murder of the 25-year-old terrorist is a reminder from the drug gangs that they are, to use the immortal sinister words of Gerry Adams, not gone away you know.

The murders of Vinny and Alan Ryan were in revenge for an ongoing feud in which the Ryans and their associates were responsible for the murder of at least four members of a crime cartel.

That means the death toll in this six-year feud is double that of the Kinahan and Hutch clans.

And everyone fears that the killing is far from over.