Dissidents are resorting to social media to try and ‘Drumm’ up new recruits.
Once again Thomas Ashe Mellon is being blamed for another embarrassing episode after a Facebook group he runs called on people to ‘join the IRA’.
In a post last week on the Saoradh-linked Irish Revolutionary News page, there was a ‘call to arms’ of sorts with a post remembering murdered republican Máire Drumm – who was seen by many, including former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, as an icon to the republican cause.
Drumm was the vice-president of Sinn Féin and a commander in Cumann na mBan but was assassinated by loyalists while recovering from an eye operation in the Mater Hospital in Belfast in 1976.
Monday marked the 48th anniversary of her murder, and Derry dissident Mellon posted a tribute which included a quote from Drumm which called on people to join the IRA.
The Facebook post reads: “OTD – October 28th 1976 – Máire Drumm was assassinated in her hospital bed by loyalist gunmen while recovering from an eye operation in Belfast’s Mater Hospital.
“Over 30,000 people attended her funeral at Milltown cemetery as her coffin was escorted by members of Cumann na mBan.
“‘It isn’t enough to shout up the IRA. The important thing is to join the IRA’ – Máire Drumm.”
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Though it may appear innocuous, it’s the exact same quote issued by his fellow dissident Stephen Murney in April 2023 which he now is due to stand trial for – accused of inciting support for a proscribed organisation and making a speech which encouraged support for it.
During a bail hearing in May 2023, Murney’s own barrister said that all his client had done was quote Máire Drumm.
And Saoradh made reference to his charge after he appeared in court and was initially denied bail.
They wrote: “Following an Easter commemoration in Derry organised by the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, a number of prominent republicans spoke at the platform at the sacred Republican Plot. One of those speaking was Saoradh National Chairperson, Stephen Murney.
Dissident Facebook post
“Yesterday, 11th May, Stephen found himself in front of a British judge. His crime – repeating an historical quote by Máire Drumm.”
It comes after MI5 claimed there were only a few dissidents republicans left who they view as having the capabilities of posing a risk to national security.
Now republicans are slating Ashe Mellon for resorting to Facebook to recruit new members to his terror ranks.
“It’s not a very sophisticated effort for the latest recruitment drive, calling for people to join the New IRA on a public forum such as Facebook – it’s just embarrassing,” said a source.
“Especially given the fact that Stephen Murney is facing a trial for this exact thing. Thomas Mellon is pushing this, as numbers have dwindled to the point where outside of Derry the New IRA essentially exists in name only.
“MI5 said recently there are only 30 dissidents in the whole country, across all three groups, capable of committing acts of terrorism so in the wake of that this is amateurish and scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
Earlier this month the Director General of MI5 gave his annual security briefing to journalists.
Northern Ireland did not even feature in the final breakdown of the urgent threats to UK security.
There was only one reference to Northern Ireland made, confirming MI5 believes there are around 30 active dissident republicans capable of threatening national security.
Republicans praised Máire Drumm as a figurehead of their movement. Gerry Adams has held her up as an icon, penning a biography of her life entitled Máire Drumm: A Visionary: A Rebel Heart, as well as unveiling a portrait of Drumm, hung in the Mayor’s Parlour in Belfast City Hall in March 2020.
Mellon is still reeling after it emerged he was being ridiculed by fellow republicans for a recent appearance in court.
Sunday World revealed a fortnight ago how the beleaguered dissident was returned for trial to the Crown Court on two charges linked to the same dissident republican parade in Derry which landed Murney in trouble.
Mellon’s behaviour towards the court raised some eyebrows among hardliners across the country as he previously refused to recognise the British court and has slated other republicans for not doing the same.
“He refused to stand, which is supposed to mean he’s not recognising the court, yet he applied for legal aid, employed a solicitor, applied for bail and bail variations and even bound himself to abide by his court bail!
“All this to a court he doesn’t recognise! Everyone is making fun of him for it. People used to look up to him but he’s being viewed as a complete joke at the minute.”