Saoradh national chairman Brian Kenna stopped by the PSNI in Dungiven last Monday
Saoradh, based at Junior McDaid House in Derry’s Chamberlain Street, said the Dubliner was stopped by six armed police officers in Dungiven last Monday, April 8.
Saoradh said in a statement on its website: “Another day. Another case of Crown Force Harassment.
“Last Monday, Saoradh members from Dublin, Tyrone and Belfast were returning from a meeting in Derry, our party chairman, Brian Kenna, was stopped by six heavily armed and masked British Crown Forces members.
“These men refused to identify themselves or state what barracks they were based in contrary to draconian stop and search procedures.
“These masked individuals spoke with Scottish and English accents so it was clear they were not local Crown Force personnel despite logos and badges on their baseball hats and black uniforms.
“This aggressive stop and search lasted for over an hour in a college car park in Dungiven and was witnessed by local Sinn Fein councillor Sean McGlinchey.
Saoradh National Executive member Paddy Gallagher hit out at what he described as the “continued harassment and intimidation of Saoradh members”.
He said “Despite the deafening silence of former comrades and those who have now been eloped by the very system they once claimed they would never be part of, Saoradh stand firm in our opposition to the current harassment, intimidation and political repression of our party membership.
“Its clear that British Crown Forces are following a policy of censorship towards Saoradh. This is simply because they are fearful of our growth and realise that our political narrative is being accepted by the community.
“We, as Republicans, have become accustomed to the daily onslaught of abuse, intimidation and harassment meted out by British Crown Forces.
“These tactics have failed in the past and will continue to fail today.”
