The newspaper reports that party chairman Declan Kearney came into direct contact with Saoradh – widely considered the political wing of the New IRA – in late 2020. According to the Sunday Times, Mr. Kearney wrote to Brian Kenna, who is acting president of Saoradh, offering to arrange a meeting to promote a “commitment to developing a common strategy and cooperation” around a referendum. He also called for a “delegation” from the opposition group to “meet with me and other members of the Sinn Féin leadership.” Sinn Fein defended the move in the newspaper, arguing that “dialogue and commitment” is “a vital part of the peace process”. The New IRA team had previously claimed responsibility for the murder of journalist and writer Lyra McKee in Londonderry in April 2019, as it observed riots in the Creggan area. Sinn Fein previously condemned the murder “in the strongest way” in 2019, just a year before the reported approach to the group. According to the Sunday Times, the partnership proposal was rejected by Kenna. In a letter to the group, Mr Kearney wrote: “While the pending Brexit imposition and its implications for Ireland underscore the persistent anti-democratic nature of the division, the Covid-19 pandemic has also brought the contradiction of dividing our country into even sharper focus. “It is clear that these two factors have had a significant impact on the minds of many citizens beyond the broader democratic base. “The prospect of securing a referendum on Irish unity is very real, but we must make it a reality. “Sinn Féin believes that such a referendum should be an immediate political priority for all Irish Republicans … in order to advance the commitment to develop a common strategy and cooperation to achieve this result, I also invite a party delegation. to meet with me and other members of the Sinn Fein leadership. “ The New IRA gang told the Sunday Times in response: “Those who are negotiating this approach are bipartisan and reformist and only serve to extend the life of Stormont and its institutions. “Nothing reported by any party to date has given Saorad any reason to participate in the poll call.” Last month, six men from the group were arrested during a Saoradh-themed Easter celebration in Derry, with PSNI being attacked while in the area. The men – who were being held under the Terrorism Act – were later released pending a report to the PPS. In a statement to the Sunday Times, Sinn Féin said: “We have always stated that dialogue and engagement — even with those who support armed factions — is a vital part of the peace process and the removal of these groups from peaceful and democratic way to end the division provided for in the Good Friday agreement “. The party has been approached for comment.
