New IRA chiefs were ‘divided' over riot plans at Easter Rising parade in Derry
The dissident organisation is locked in ceasefire talks with the government
The uniformed and masked men passing one of the famous Battle of the Bogside murals at Free Derry Corner
The New IRA leadership was divided over riot plans in Derry on Easter Monday, the Sunday World has learned.
The dissident organisation is locked in ceasefire talks with the government and it is understood elements of the leadership were adamant that Monday's event should pass off peacefully.
The annual Easter Rising parade in the city, which has a history of violence, involved a colour party of people carrying flags and wearing paramilitary-style uniforms with their faces covered.
It started in the Creggan estate and concluded with speeches at Free Derry corner in the Bogside area.
A crowd of mostly young people threw petrol bombs and fireworks at police vehicles stationed close to the city's historic walls overlooking the Bogside.
It has been claimed the violence was orchestrated to hinder a police investigation into a parade but the Sunday World understands there was dissent at the head of the organisation.
According to dissident sources, ceasefire talks are at an advanced stage and that it is only a matter of time before cessation is announced.
Veteran members are believed to be advocating a political strategy, bringing to an end their campaign of violence which has seen the organisation carry out seven murders since its inception in 2012.
It was a continuation of the Real IRA, the organisation that carried out the Omagh Bomb in August 1998, and was an amalgam of dissident groups including Republican Action Against Drugs.
The first indication of the movement taking a political direction was the formation of Saoradh in 2016, which is seen as the political wing of the New IRA. Monday's violence was low scale and involved young people some of them barely into their teens.
Elements of the leadership were keen for the event to pass off peacefully rather than rock the boat when it comes to ceasefire talks.
'They want to show that they are capable of controlling their organisation, but there are still plenty of hawks who advocate violence,' said our source.
The disruption is unlikely to derail any talks but it shows the leadership is far from being in a place where they can sell the idea of a ceasefire to their members.
'Those who are advocating a ceasefire are the older heads, many of them have been through the process with the IRA back in the day,' said our source.
'The hawks are the younger ones who have no experience of a political process and who still see an advantage in waging a campaign of violence.'
On Thursday two men appeared in court to face charges in connection with Monday's disruption. The Magistrates Court in Derry was told the violence was an attempt by the New IRA to prevent police from investigating the parade.
A man charged with offences under the Terrorism Act was at the parade in a 'professional capacity' providing security, his lawyer said.
Thomas Joseph Moore (55), from Farren Park on Buncrana Road, has provided security at several events in the city, including a visit by former US President Bill Clinton, his solicitor said.
Moore has been charged with assisting in arranging a meeting which he knew to be supporting a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA.
He was further charged with aiding and abetting unknown persons in wearing paramilitary clothing in support of a proscribed organisation and aiding and abetting unknown persons in failing to comply with conditions imposed by the Parades Commission.
When charged with the three offences, each of which carries a maximum jail sentence of six months, the defendant replied: 'This is all nonsense. All I was doing was stewarding.'
A PSNI detective inspector said that he could connect the defendant to the offences.
The detective said that at Monday's parade, after which 50 petrol bombs were thrown at the PSNI, the defendant was seen liaising with masked men.
The officer said the Derry parade was an annual event which 'traditionally results in significant public disorder'.
He said that on Monday a number of the participants were masked and observed to be wearing paramilitary-style uniform.
'This was a direct failure to comply with the first condition set by the Parades Commission,' he added. The officer said Moore was identified by an air support unit directing a group of masked men.
Granting bail, Judge Archer said the defendant did not have a relevant record, the last entry being more than 30 years ago. The case was adjourned until May 22.
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