(forwarded) > > IRA DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN MURDER OF DISSIDENT > ============================================ > > The IRA has issued a statement tonight saying it was not > involved in the murder of a member of the "Real IRA" in West > Belfast last Friday. > > > Father-of-three Joseph O'Connor (26) was shot dead outside > his mothers home in Ballymurphy on Friday afternoon last. > His mother Margaret, who accused Sinn Féin president Mr > Gerry Adams of having her son's "blood on his hands", blamed > the IRA. But the dead man's widow, Nichola, has insisted it > was a personal vendetta. > > > Tonight, in a statement, the IRA said: "In light of the > speculation and allegations surrounding the killing of > Joseph O'Connor the IRA wishes to state that it was not > involved in his death. The IRA leadership extends its > condolences to the O'Connor family. Malicious accusations > suggesting IRA involvement are designed to heighten tension > and promote the agenda of those opposed to current IRA > strategy." > > > The IRA statement continued: "Threats directed at the IRA do > nothing but exacerbate the situation. The IRA leadership > will not be deflected from our current strategy." > > > Meanwhile, Irelandclick.com has reported that RUC officers > raided the Springhill home of Mr. O'Connor on the evening > following his murder. > > > The RUC's decision to remove domestic items from the > O'Connor home is believed to relate to the possibility that > Friday's shooting may in some way be connected to a meeting > involving the murder victim and two suspected members of the > "Real" IRA, which is alleged to have taken place in Mr. > O'Connor's Springhill home on Thursday night. > > > The meeting between the father of three and the two "Real" > IRA men is said to have ended in a heated exchange. > Irelandclick.com reported that Joseph O'Connor is alleged to > have told friends on Friday morning that he intended to meet > senior members of the Real IRA to tell them that he wanted > to disassociate himself from the group and take no further > part in the organization's actvities. > > > But he was shot up to five times just hours later as he sat > talking to a close relative in the passenger seat of a white > Peugeot outside his mother's house. > > > The RUC is believed to have taken away a series of items > from the murder victim's home in a bid to uncover any > forensic evidence which may be linked with the gun attack. > > > > >-----------------------------------------------------------------
