Saor Éire

Compiled: Martin Melaugh ... Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this page may change Saoirse na hÉireann (SNH) A short-lived Dissident Republican grouping first mentioned by the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC ) in its eighth report published in February 2006 and again in its tenth report in April 2006. It was thought to have operated largely in republican areas of Belfast and have been responsible for number of bomb hoaxes. [Entry added by Brendan Lynn, September 2011] Saor Éire (Saor Éire is an Irish term for 'Free Ireland'.) synonyms: Saor Éire Action Group A minor Republican paramilitary group which was active in the 1960s and 1970s. Initially established in 1931 as left-wing Republican group. The group reappeared in the 1960s when it was believed to be involved in bank robberies in the Republic of Ireland. In 1975 SE made threats against both the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) and the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) at a time when both organisations were engaged in a feud in Belfast. Saor Uladh (SU) (Saor Uladh is an Irish term for 'Free Ulster'.) In its 21st report the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC ) noted the emergence in Belfast of Saor Uladh (SU), consisting largely of former members of the Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA). Although the IMC concluded that SU had not yet conducted any paramilitary operation, it would be kept under review. [Entry added by Brendan Lynn, September 2011] Saoradh was formed on 24 September 2016 by Republicans who were opposed to the peace process. It is a left-wing political grouping which views itself as a Revolutionary Irish Republican Party and seeks to end "Britain's illegal occupation in the six counties" and to establish a 32-county Irish Socialist Republic. The group has members in Ireland and the north. Saoradh is led by a 12-person National Executive and its chairperson is Brian Kenna. Saoradh has its head office in Belfast, and also offices in Derry and Dublin. Various media outlets have referred to Saoradh as the political wing of the [new] Irish Republican Army (IRA) but this is denied by representatives of the group. Saoradh's constitution allows for the organisation to contest elections for Westminster, Stormont and Leinster House but only on an "abstentionist ticket". Following the killing of Lyra McKee by the [new] IRA in Derry on 18 April 2019, Saoradh came under a lot of pressure over some statements it made about the incident and its alleged connections to the paramilitary group. On 22 April 2019 friends of McKee held a protest outside the Saoradh office in Chamberlain Street, Derry during which they placed red handprints on the wall of the building and on Saoradh murals (Belfast Telegraph ). On 28 April 2019 it was reported (by Sunday Life) that the owners of the building had given Saoradh one month to vacate the premises. Saoradh's social media accounts also stopped working in the aftermath of the killing of McKee. Saint Columb's Park House (SCPH) synonyms: Saint Columb's Reconciliation Trust Sain Columb's Park House in Derry is a day and residential centre focusing on community relations and community development. The house was opened in1994 but the Trust had been established in 1992. [additional information ] Scottish Unionist Party (SUP) A small political party established in April 1986 in Scotland to support the campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The SUP was supported by the Orange Order in Scotland. Shankill Defence Association (SDA) A Loyalist vigilante group which was set up in the summer of 1969. The group was led by John McKeague and at its height claimed a membership of 1,000. Many members of the SDA were believed to officers in the Ulster Special Constabulary (the 'B-Specials'). The Scarman report found that the SDA had 'encouraged' Catholic families to leave Protestant areas of Belfast. McKeague was cleared, in Novemb