Fears of a deadly republican feud are growing after dissident group Óglaigh na hÉireann (ÓNH) threatened to kill a former prominent member.
Tensions have been simmering over recent months when members of the group’s leadership were “stood down” amid long-running differences over its the future direction.
One of those former leaders, a prominent Belfast based republican, has now been placed under death threat.
More: Dissident paramilitary group ÓNH replaces leadership in takeover move
It is understood the ex-prisoner has refused to relinquish his position within the paramilitary group and has the support of several associates, who are also under threat.
ÓNH declared a ceasefire in 2018 and at the time claimed it was suspending “all armed actions against the British state”.
The man now under threat is believed to have been a key figure in the ‘old’ leadership’s ceasefire strategy.
It was previously claimed that prior to the powershift, ÓNH members were unhappy that leadership figures were prepared to accept British government linked ‘peace’ cash.
In June a spokesman for ÓNH told the Irish News there had been no split in the paramilitary group and the majority of members support the new leadership.
It was also claimed that the new command structure retained control over the majority of the organisation’s weapons.
The recent death threat came as pictures emerged of armed and masked men and women holding a mixture of homemade 3D printed guns and commercial weapons.
It is understood those featured are aligned to the organisation’s new leadership and were taken in various parts of Belfast over recent days.
ONH has since been linked to a series of lethal gun attacks on suspected drug dealers and former members in recent years.
In statement using a recognised codeword, the ÓNH Army Council said the Belfast republican is “under the threat of death at the very first opportunity”.
“There’s only a very, very short window of opportunity for those around him to desist,” the statement said.
“If they don’t, they are going the same road.”
It is understood attempts of mediation have broken down.
“Anybody who does not adhere to ÓNH directives will find themselves in the same boat as (named person), and we will take them out,” the ONH statement said.
“Stand down, go away and stop using the name and whatever weaponry or ammunition you may still have, make arrangements to hand it over.”
“That way it will be seen as a gesture and thought of in a different way.”
Despite the threat against the former leadership figure and his close associates, ÓNH insist their ceasefire remains in place.
“The ceasefire as it stands at the minute is still intact,” the statement said.
“That’s something that is under daily, weekly and monthly review.”
The recent ÓNH show of firepower includes two homemade 3D printed guns known as FGC 9s and what is thought to be a powerful AK47 assault rifle.
The picture also features a man holding a 3D printed handgun.
One of two woman in the picture can be seen with an FGC 9 while she and another woman hold an ONH ‘Belfast Brigade’ flag.
During an Easter commemoration in 2022 a masked member of ÓNH threatened to target loyalists if nationalists or republicans were attacked as part of an anti-protocol campaign that was ongoing at the time.
The statement also said the group has taken “lethal action” against former members and drug dealers.
SDLP Policing Board member Mark H Durkan urged paramilitary groups to leave the stage.
“It’s time for groups like this to go out of business,” he said.
“The gun has no place in politics here, it has been shown that it doesn’t deliver progress politically.
“All violence does is create more victims and more violence.”
“I would implore these types organisations to desist from this type of activity to resolve their differences with each other and with the rest of society peacefully and progressively.”
