Saoirse na hÉireann
Encyclopedia
Saoirse na hÉireann abbreviated SnaÉ, is a small Irish republican
paramilitary
group that formed in 2005 and mainly contains young republicans from the Belfast
area.
In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission
(IMC) reported that a new republican group, styling itself Saoirse na hÉireann (SnaÉ), had been formed, along with another organisation, Óglaigh na hÉireann
, after a split from the Continuity IRA. The report claimed the SnaÉ was responsible for a number of hoax
devices
.
In April 2006, the IMC reported that the group was recruiting members and the SnaÉ was behind a hoax bomb scare at Down Royal
racecourse in December 2005.
The IMC stated that they did not know how long the group would last and Derry
man Richard Walsh, a member of the Ard Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin
, claimed he was not even aware of the group's existence; "We don't pay much attention to the IMC reports. To be honest, I have never heard of a group called Saoirse na hÉireann and I don't think that many other people have heard of them either."
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
group that formed in 2005 and mainly contains young republicans from the Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
area.
In February 2006, the Independent Monitoring Commission
Independent Monitoring Commission
The Independent Monitoring Commission was an organization founded on 7 January 2004, by an agreement between the British and Irish governments, signed in Dublin on 25 November 2003...
(IMC) reported that a new republican group, styling itself Saoirse na hÉireann (SnaÉ), had been formed, along with another organisation, Óglaigh na hÉireann
Óglaigh na hÉireann (CIRA splinter group)
Óglaigh na hÉireann was the title taken by a small dissident republican paramilitary group that formed in 2006 as a splinter group from the Continuity IRA. According to Martyn Frampton this faction has ceased operations since 2009...
, after a split from the Continuity IRA. The report claimed the SnaÉ was responsible for a number of hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
devices
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
.
In April 2006, the IMC reported that the group was recruiting members and the SnaÉ was behind a hoax bomb scare at Down Royal
Down Royal
Down Royal is a horse racing venue near Lisburn in Northern Ireland. The most valuable race run there is the JNwine.com Champion Chase, run at the Northern Ireland Festival of racing in November...
racecourse in December 2005.
The IMC stated that they did not know how long the group would last and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
man Richard Walsh, a member of the Ard Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
, claimed he was not even aware of the group's existence; "We don't pay much attention to the IMC reports. To be honest, I have never heard of a group called Saoirse na hÉireann and I don't think that many other people have heard of them either."