A newly launched anti-agreement republican organisation has said it stands for “peace and justice” and unionists have nothing to fear from it.
The Éire Nua group is understood to include former members of Republican Sinn Féin and Sinn Féin and describes itself as “a new grassroots republican organization”.
An official launch took place recently in Co Monaghan and was attended by republicans from Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh, Cavan, Antrim and Monaghan.
Under the Éire Nua programme, Ireland would have parliaments in each of its four provinces.
At the recent launch, chairman Paul Callan, from south Armagh, said “Éire Nua state quite clearly here today that we are an organisation of peace and justice”.
He added there was a “mix of both youth and senior republicans” present at the event.
“Our Organization stands simple on four principles,” Mr Callan said.
“To promote the Éire Nua program.
“To promote our history culture and language.
“To commemorate all the men and women that died in pursuit of Irish freedom.
“To engage in community activism.”
The chairman added that non-republicans have no cause for concern.
“To our unionist brothers and sisters here in Ireland you have nothing to fear of Éire Nua,” he said.
“Éire Nua want to assure the Protestant community on the island of Ireland that the republican demand for British withdrawal is not aimed at them.”
“It is directed solely at the British government’s control in Ireland.”
Mr Callan said his party’s demands are aimed at forging a “pluralist” society.
“It is a demand that the people of Ireland, and that includes the essential contribution and participation of all the Protestant people of the country to be allowed to control our own destiny and shape a society which is pluralist and reflective of the diversity of all our people,” he said.
Mr Callan urged members of the public to read and study the 1916 proclamation.
