Ex-IRA man urges nationalists not to pass information to PSNI

Former close associate of Adams and McGuinness speaks of major split in republican movement

Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor

A senior ex-Provisional IRA figure has spoken of his disillusionment with the failure of the peace process to progress towards Irish unity and has urged nationalists not to pass information onto the PSNI.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Tribune, Brian Arthurs (45), a former commander of the Tyrone Brigade, said the political settlement in the north wasn't what republicans had fought for.

Arthurs, once a close associate of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, disclosed he had left Sinn Féin two years ago after a major split in the republican movement in Tyrone. Five Sinn Féin cumainn, and 90% of the East Tyrone brigade left in the previously unreported move.

Arthurs said: "No one can deny there have been changes in the north but it is an equality agenda being pursued. People did not die, they did not take up arms, for equality. They did so for Irish freedom. Yet a huge £100m MI5 building has been built in the north and 5,000 British soldiers remain here.

"David Cameron told the Tory party conference that he was prime minister of Britain and Northern Ireland. He stressed the importance of the union. Republicans cannot see Irish unity in any of this. It should be remembered that, as republicans, we were committed to fight on until Britain made a declaration of intent to withdraw from Ireland."

Similar sentiments were voiced by Peter McCaughey (40), another senior ex-Provisional IRA member from Tyrone, who left Sinn Féin with Arthurs. Both men come from prominent republican families.

Arthurs' brother Declan was one of eight IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Loughall in 1987. McCaughey's brother Martin was killed by the SAS in 1990.

Six independent republican societies with around 200 members have now been formed in Tyrone. Another six are being set up. They include new young members and veteran republicans.

Peter McCaughey said he was "extremely disappointed" with Sinn Féin's condemnation of those still involved in 'armed struggle'. Martin McGuinness recently called Real IRA bombers in Derry "conflict junkies and Neanderthals". He condemned the gunmen who killed two British soldiers at Massereene as "traitors to the island of Ireland".

Peter McCaughey said: "Was my brother a 'conflict junkie', 'a Neanderthal' or a 'traitor to the island of Ireland'? That is what is what Martin McGuinness would call him if he was killed on active service today. My brother was a freedom fighter. He fought for a united Ireland. That goal is still there and remains deeply cherished by republicans in Tyrone.

"We were disgusted when Martin McGuinness stood at the gates of Stormont with the Chief Constable of the PSNI after Massereene and demonised republicans. He did not speak for us."

Brian Arthurs said nationalists shouldn't heed calls from Sinn Féin and the SDLP to pass information to the PSNI because it would inevitably lead to the "imprisonment or death" of republicans.

October 24, 2010

Comments

#1 Joe O,Neal commented, on October 25, 2010 at 1:22 p.m.:

Dear Brian, (and all the other has-beens and idiots),

Get a life NO-ONE wants you or your murder and mayhem - its 2010 not 1710!

#2 Ryan commented, on October 25, 2010 at 7 p.m.:

Finally, the truth. The british should remove themselves from the north of Ireland and all would be well.

#3 P Carolan commented, on October 25, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.:

Yes, Mr McCaughey, your brother was a Neanderthal, in the sense that you and McGuinness seem to believe those people to have been shallow-browed bruised-knuckled fools. He was part of a deeply immoral grouping which believed that the random deaths of people in the name of your political ambitions was a good, honourable thing. He was a thug.

#4 Jojo commented, on October 25, 2010 at 8:54 p.m.:

Freedom Fighters, Cowards more like.
Very few care a dam about what so called ex IRA terrorist say, think. Sinn fein are only in it for money and power, they don't care about a united Ireland. They are now in bed with the british, its never been so good.

#5 micheal ui neill commented, on October 25, 2010 at 9:16 p.m.:

Mhaith thu brian and peter

#6 realist commented, on October 26, 2010 at 1:40 a.m.:

It is only a matter of time that a full blowen war will start up again.Ireland unfree will never be at peace.

#7 Shane - Dublin commented, on October 26, 2010 at 11:36 a.m.:

Realist, get Real. sinn fein, IRA knew they could never beat the British, that's why Gerry and Marty have now joined them. Gerry and Marty took everyone for fools, they, sinn fein have done their own more damage than the British ever could. They are counting their money in their homes, holiday houses - life has never been so good for those sinn fein boys, it will get much better.
Peter McCaughey Asks: "Was my brother a 'conflict junkie', 'a Neanderthal' or a 'traitor to the island of Ireland'? That is what is what Martin McGuinness would call him if he was killed on active service today. My brother was a freedom fighter. He fought for a united Ireland. That goal is still there and remains deeply cherished by republicans in Tyrone.
No Peter he, like all of the others, was a terrorist - a coward - murderers. The IRA, killed their own people for fun.
Declan Arthurs, like all of the other terrorists will be in hell, where they belong. Lets not forget that it was a sinn fein, IRA member who informed of those involved in Loughall in 1987, a great job very well done by the SAS. The IRA could never be any kind of match for the SAS. Wake Up, Wise Up and give up.

#8 sean macdaibheid commented, on October 26, 2010 at 5:43 p.m.:

how dare any one come on here and belittle MEN who gave their lives for irish freedom?? these men are heros just as the same men were of easter 1916, they fought the british army eye to eye toe to toe, you have nothing in your whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit or will of not one irishman!! Beir Bua

#9 Shane C. Ardboe commented, on October 27, 2010 at 3:27 p.m.:

Fair play to Brian Aurthurs and Peter McGaughey for speaking up and saying what the true Republicans of East Tyrone are thinking. The shinners have sold us out and can no longer carry the Republican mantle. They have become british minister and are implementing british rule in Ireland. Those who administer british rule are traitors. I think the Dark Hughes said it all last night on RTE.

#10 max commented, on October 29, 2010 at 3:11 a.m.:

Sean - don;t be a fool - terrorist will never be accepted as 'heros'. the real heros were those who stopped them, put them in jail, closed them down. The IRA were nothing other than cowards, hoods The IRA and Sinn Fein have sold so many of their own down the river. Just look at dark hughes case.

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