Coronavirus: Top officer says dissidents are a ‘disgrace’ who are exploiting pandemic following major security operation

A senior PSNI officer has slammed the suspected republican dissidents behind a major security alert, saying that it is particularly “hard to fathom” given the current coronavirus crisis.
By Adam Kula
Published 24th Mar 2020, 21:40 BST
Dissident republican graffitiDissident republican graffiti
Dissident republican graffiti

The alert in Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, which resulted in a significant public safety operation, ultimately turned out to be a hoax.

The PSNI said: “A vigilant member of the public discovered the suspicious device in the rural Clough Road area on Monday night (March 23).

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“Army technical officers attended the scene earlier today and, after examination, declared the object to be hoax.”

Superintendent Clive Beatty, the Fermanagh and Omagh District Commander, said: “We believe at this stage that this was the work of dissident republicans.

“Given the unprecedented challenges the PSNI is facing in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, it is hard to fathom there are individuals in our community who are intent on causing such disruption by exploiting this global emergency for their own ends.

“Dissident republicans are a small minority and we need to stand as a united community, to say loudly that they are a disgrace and a distraction.

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“It beggars belief that dissident republicans would want to exploit this situation for their own ends.

“Their selfish behaviour ended up diverting valuable police resources away from other community priorities for a significant number of hours.

This says so much about dissident republicans – that in the face of a national emergency their first thought is to use the opportunity to target emergency services and first responders – the very people who are doing all they can to help communities and take care of the vulnerable.

“I would like to thank the Rosslea community, who were disrupted today, for their patience and co-operation during the security alert.

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“The dissident republicans responsible for this senseless act went to great lengths to make this device appear viable and to plant it on Clough Road. They didn’t care about the consequences of their actions and how it would affect others.

“I am appealing to anyone who has any information which can lead us to those responsible, to please call us on 101, or Crimestoppers 0800 55 111.”