CIRA ceasefire claims planted by web hackers

Tim McKenzie,

THE Continuity IRA has become the latest victim of computer hacking.

Sources in the republican terror group told the Herald that hackers created a false story on the pro-CIRA website Saoirse stating that the organisation was declaring a ceasefire.

The fake story said that CIRA had called off its armed campaign on August 17 and that it would review the ceasefire over the coming months.

The alleged ceasefire even had some Sinn Fein politicians fooled with Stormont junior minister and former Provo bomber Martina Anderson welcoming it on the social network Twitter last night.

However, a CIRA source said there was no ceasefire and that it had been a hoax. He pointed out that anti-Sinn Fein republican radical group Eirigi had also had its computers hacked over the last seven days. "Eirigi were the first to be hacked and now its the Saoirse website," the CIRA source said.

"There is no ceasefire, the entire report was a fake. There is something very sinister about this. Someone might be stirring up trouble by hacking into the computers and inventing these stories. But there is no way the Continuity are giving up the armed struggle."

CIRA is linked to the hardline Republican Sinn Fein which opposes the peace process and the power sharing settlement in Northern Ireland.

It was responsible in 2009 for the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll, the first Police Service of Northern Ireland officer to be killed by republican dissidents.

CIRA has carried out a number of gun and bomb attacks in the north over the past two years. It has also been involved in a shooting war with gangland figures in Dublin.

As well as having terror units in North Armagh, CIRA has a presence in Dublin and Limerick. It was formed shortly after a split within Sinn Fein back in 1986 when a minority faction lead by Ruarai O Bradaigh opposed the party's decision to recognise the Dail as the legitimate parliament of the Republic.

hnews@herald.ie