Leader of party ‘linked to New IRA’ warns more violence is ‘inevitable’ – By David Blevins (Sky News) / Aug 27 2019
Saoradh leader Brian Kenna says the murder of journalist Lyra McKee is “regrettable” but refuses to condemn violence.
The leader of a party widely regarded as the New IRA’s political wing has told Sky News that a continuation of violence is “inevitable”.
In his first television interview since the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, Brian Kenna described her death as “regrettable” but denied any knowledge of the gunman.
It prompted an angry response from Ms McKee’s partner, Sara Canning, who called his remarks “appalling”.
Image: Lyra McKee, 29, was shot dead in April
Mr Kenna, a convicted IRA member who was jailed for 10 years for his part in an armed robbery, now leads a party called Saoradh – the Irish word for liberation.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) – which says the party and the New IRA are “inextricably linked” – insists violence is neither inevitable nor excusable.
Mr Kenna denies any overlap in the leadership of his party and the New IRA but refuses to condemn violence, including the murder of Ms McKee.
The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead while covering a riot in Londonderry in April.
Image: Brian Kenna denies any knowledge of the gunman who murdered Lyra McKee
Mr Kenna told Sky News: “The death of Lyra McKee was a very tragic event. It genuinely came about because of the heavy presence of the PSNI, flooding into Derry at seven o’clock in the evening, into parts of the Creggan.”
“It was shocking and tragic and we’re on record as saying that we regret that death very, very much,” he added.
Asked if he knew the gunman, who remains at large, Mr Kenna replied: “No, I’ve no idea of the events of that night.”
He refused to call for a ceasefire, claiming “young Irish people have always taken up arms” and “that is going to continue”.
“I believe that it’s inevitable,” Mr Kenna said.
Image: Mr Kenna, a convicted IRA member, now leads a party called Saoradh
“It will always happen so long as the country is artificially divided and held by force of arms, people will always strike out against that occupation,” he added.
The violence which led to Ms McKee being shot in the head by a member of the New IRA began after police conducted a search in the Creggan estate ahead of the anniversary of the Easter Rising.
After Sky News broadcast Mr Kenna’s interview on Tuesday, Ms Canning said: “Absolutely appalling statement by Brian Kenna.
“The police being in Creggan didn’t murder Lyra, the New IRA idiots… did.
“They proved the police’s reason for being there by bringing a gun onto the streets and putting lives in danger, and ultimately murdering the love of my life.
“Had no gun come out they could have claimed unfair oppression, instead they totally justified the police presence.”
Image: Sara Canning at vigil for her partner Lyra McKee earlier this year
Ms Canning said many more lives were also put in danger.
“It was not an accident, it wasn’t just regrettable, it was despicable,” she added.
“The blatant disregard for the people of the town and beyond is staggering.
“No lives should have been lost that night. There is no justification for murder.”
Stephen Martin, deputy chief constable of PSNI, said he had no doubt about the link between Saoradh and the New IRA.
He told Sky News: “There are people who are members of Saoradh who are members of the New IRA and some of them are in leadership positions in the New IRA.”
Image: Stephen Martin said he has no doubt about the link between Saoradh and the New IRA
“So there is that inextricable link between the two organisations,” he added.
This year alone, the New IRA has detonated a bomb in a car outside Londonderry Courthouse, shot dead Ms McKee and attempted to kill police officers in booby-trap bomb attacks.
Mr Martin said: “We have seen an increase in their activity this year. Last year, there was one quite spontaneous attempt to kill police officers and this year, we’ve seen six incidents.
“Four of those incidents were very determined attempts to kill police officers… but violence isn’t inevitable, nor is it excusable.”
In his interview with Sky News, Mr Kenna said that “if young people in the six counties have been more politicised and in some sense radicalised by events of recent times, then what’s wrong with that?”
But Mr Martin said anyone using violence now was doing so against the expressed wishes of the majority who voted for peace.
