A BAND named after slain Real IRA chief Alan Ryan led an Easter republican commemoration in Derry yesterday while his brother addressed the crowd. PSNI vehicles were pelted by yobs throwing bottles and stones before the start of annual event in the City Cemetery while a petrol bomb was thrown at a Landrover. Leading the procession was the Alan Ryan Memorial Flute Band — named after the man who was gunned down by criminals he was extorting money from in Dublin last September. However, in general, the event organised by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement passed off without major incident and there were no reports of any injuries. Around 200 people attended the parade. However unlike previous years, there was no statement read by masked paramilitaries. One of the speakers was Ryan’s brother Dermot, who spoke on behalf of republican prisoners inside Maghaberry prison in Co Antrim. Another speaker, Francie Mackey, accused Sinn Fein of being a “unionist party” for supporting the Provisional IRA ceasefire. A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police will be making further inquiries following an illegal parade which took place as part of a small-scale event in the city cemetery this afternoon. “Officers issued two verbal warnings to those taking part in the illegal procession. While the event passed off without incident it was extremely concerning to see children, some of whom looked to be under the age of ten, throwing stones at police vehicles. “It is a sad indictment on those who organised and were in attendance that this was allowed to happen.” Dermot Ryan was arrested following his brother’s funeral but was released without charge. He is a leading member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Dublin. He was previously arrested following the protests at the Queen’s visit to Ireland in 2011 when charges against him were later dropped.
Addressing the crowd ... Dermot Ryan, the brother of slain RIRA chief Alan Meanwhile, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has said dissident republican groups are trying to outdo each other in the number of attacks they carry out. He said the “recklessness of their attacks is beyond measure”. The top cop made the comments in the wake of an explosion in Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Saturday. It is believed the explosion was an attempt to kill police officers. Baggott said: “All of these five attacks in the last month could have killed innocent members of the public. “There is a competiveness between these groups at the moment which is completely irrational but could end up in a very real tragedy indeed.”
