IRSP Lower Falls Representative Michael Kelly is claiming that British Security forces risk bringing serious conflict onto the streets, following a number of high profile armed operations against its members in the city.
Over the past weeks and months, the IRSP have noted with increasing concern sustained assaults directed by the British security forces via the PSNI against its members, supporters and activists.
Vicious and aggressive ‘stop and search’ operations against members on the roadside have been complimented by targeted and destructive house raids and arrests conducted by Balaclava-clad and heavily armed men who only this morning stormed with machine guns the family home of republican ex-prisoner and IRSP Ard Comhairle member Sean Carlin, dragging him from his bed as his frightened young children looked on.
Some weeks ago the IRSP noted with real concern the comments of Stormont first minister Arlene Foster when she insinuated that republicans not belonging to state approved political parties here were facing a ‘fork in the road’ moment. If the recent targeted harassment of IRSP members represents this fork in the road, then the party fears that the political landscape may be facing a crisis unprecedented in decades.
Michael Kelly continued by saying… “The Irish Republican Socialist Party has been in existence for over forty years, in that time we have never tolerated attacks on our membership from any quarter”. “This remains our principled position today; the British state and the PSNI are playing with fire”.
End of Statement.
