It has been apparent for some time now that dissident republicans have been spoiling for a fight with mainstream republicans as represented by Sinn Fein. The overnight attack on a Sinn Fein office in Derry was preceded by an attack on the home of Sinn Fein MLA Mitchel McLaughlin and the leaving of a hoax device near the former home of Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. Dissident republicans have also been blamed for the attempted murder of an Ardoyne man earlier in the week, though that incident is not being linked to the dissident targeting of Sinn Fein.
Given the day that’s in it, it is telling that Sinn Fein Chairman in Derry, Paul Fleming, noted,”The only thing that they succeeded in destroying last night was iconic pictures of Bobby Sands’ election victory announcement, portraits of the hunger strikers and other republican memorabilia.”
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