Condemnation from across the political spectrum of video purporting to show a new armed Irish republican group opposed to immigration
There has been condemnation from unionist and republican quarters of a video that ostensibly depicts a new, right-wing armed republican faction.
It shows a trio of men bearing guns and threatening politicians at large in the Newry, Mourne and Down area over mass immigration and the “sexual indoctrination” of children.
It has not been confirmed whether the video is genuine, staged, or an AI creation.
Police have condemned it, and said they have “begun a criminal investigation into threats made to elected representatives” which the video contains.
Among the most prominent accounts circulating the video is Irish anti-immigrant X account called Real News Eire (@real_eire, 93,000 followers), which posted it on Monday night.
It has since been tweeted out by users including prominent anti-immigrant account Radio Genoa (1.4m followers) and English right-winger Tommy Robinson (1.7m followers), who wrote: “A ‘New Republican Movement’ has sprung up in Ireland. Armed and with a new mission, to protect the nation from the migrant invasion, taking on the traitors in power.”
An online poll run by Real News Eire about whether the video is real has resulted in roughly 62% of respondents (at time of writing) saying the video is fake.
WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE?
In the video, a man sits at a table with a semi-automatic pistol, flanked by another man with a similar weapon and a third man with a double-barrelled shotgun, and backed by a tricolour.
All are wearing balaclavas.
Reading from a page, the man at the table said, in a southern accent (in full): “To the people of Newry, Mourne and Down: we, the New Republican Movement, have watched our councillors and MLAs over the past 12 months.
“The level of disrespect shown to the people who put you into power, this cannot be ignored any longer.
“We are proud men of Ireland, we are patriots.
“Your policies and decision-making regards to flooding our communities with undocumented military-aged men is not acceptable.
“We will not sit back any longer and watch our culture and religion destroyed by the people we put in power.
“Also the sexual indoctrination of our children in schools has not went unnoticed either.
“The New Republican Movement will take immediate action against anyone who threatens our way of life and the safety of our women and children.
“We have your addresses and know your movements.
“Every one of you are legitimate targets as of today.
“The New Republican Movement, 28th of the 11th, 2025.”
It comes weeks after a video was circulated on X purporting to show a different Irish republican right-wing group, the Irish Citizen Army, which also depicted three men in front of a tricolour delivering a similar anti-immigration message.
WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN?
DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe said the New Republican Movement video is “vile and cowardly” adding: “Our children should not be seeing this on their newsfeeds. Republicans in the 70s, 80s and 90s tried these tactics and they failed.”
She added: “Of course, because some in elected leadership today celebrate the IRA’s actions in the 70s, it is no surprise that this generation is trying to use copycat tactics."
Sinn Fein Newry and Mourne MP Daire Hughes said: “The sinister threats issued by faceless thugs against elected members of Newry, Mourne and Down are an attack on democracy and on the mandate each of us as elected members receives from the public.
“Let me be crystal clear: these faceless individuals represent no one and they will not deter me or my party colleagues from carrying out our work, every day, representing our constituents.”
Pete Byrne, SDLP Newry, Mourne and Down District Council group leader, said: “The SDLP is deeply concerned at the poisonous discourse that has taken hold in politics, not just in Newry, Mourne and Down but across the North.
"We need leadership and too often those who should know better have emboldened this kind of behaviour rather than calling it out.”
Alliance deputy leader and Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson called the video “vile and reprehensible”.
Superintendent Lynne Corbett, PSNI District Commander, said: “It is completely unacceptable that anyone should face such threats and intimidation for carrying out the duties of the office to which they have been democratically elected.
"We have commenced an investigation to identify those responsible.
“Police in Newry, Mourne and Down will continue engaging closely with our local elected representatives and will do all we can to ensure they feel supported and safe in our communities, and that they can undertake their role free from intimidation."
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