Suspected 'UVF dissident' Jamie Bryson warns republican dissidents over threats to loyalists

Activist responds to republican statement at anti-Protocol rally. 

LOYALIST Jamie Bryson has warned dissident republicans that any "attack" on his community "would have significant, and ultimately unwanted consequences, but consequences nonetheless". 

       LOYALIST ACTIVIST: Jamie Bryson               counter-attacks dissident republicans                 at a recent anti-Protocol rally in                                     Newbuildings. 

                     April 24th, 2022. 

The sabre-rattling statement was made at an anti-Protocol rally in Newbuildings, Co Derry, attended by DUP leader MP Jeffrey Donaldson, TUV leader Jim Allister, PUP councillor Russell Watton, and a crowd of around 500. A band parade made its way through the village before speeches by Bryson and the politicians. 

BRYSON - who denies any links to the UVF - is understood to have been responding

 to threats made over Easter by dissident republican group ÓNH (Óglach na hÉireann), which vowed to target loyalist leadership figures if republicans are attacked. 

      ÓNH STATEMENT: Threaten to target                     loyalist leadership figures. 

Masked and armed members of the gang told a commemoration in Belfast: "We continue to monitor the activities of the UVF and UDA in light of recent actions, and if loyalists target republican and nationalist communities, we will target loyalist leadership figures."

In his Newbuildings speech on Saturday evening at the North West United Unionist event, Bryson described ÓNH as "delinquents", who "armed with automatic weapons, issued threats towards the unionist and loyalist community". 

He added: "These people should stop issuing threats not only against loyalists and unionists, but against their own community who they seem to torture and bully more than anything else. 

"These so-called dissidents, so prevalent in Co Derry and beyond, are little more than thugs, drug dealers, petty criminals and informers. 

"Unionism and loyalism has made no threats to anyone from the nationalist community, and indeed any such threat would be wrong." 

Bryson's warning, coming just days after the ÓNH threats, will cause further concern in government and security circles. The dissident gang ÓNH - which has said it could target the loyalist leadership - remains active despite being officially on ceasefire. As are the UDA and UVF also both loyalist gangs remain active. 

Last year it murdered former member Danny McClean in north Belfast. The killing came less than 12 months after ÓNH gunned down Kieran Wylie - another ex-member - at his west Belfast home. 

In his speech at the anti-Protocol rally, DUP leader MP Jeffrey Donaldson ( took the time to mention the election) urged unionists to "vote in strength" in the Stormont Assembly election to send a message of opposition to the Protocol. 

Follow these link: Wee Sammy gets it with both barrels!

He warned those gathered in Newbuildings: (elections mentioned again) "Make no mistake, Sinn Féin winning this election will send a message to Dublin and Brussels, that it's business as usual with the protocol. Unionists must use their transfers to support other pro-union candidates. 

"Unionists need to vote in strength and for strength when it comes to the protocol". 

Mr Allister urged unionists to "come out in strength" on polling Day. 

"For decades unionists have lived with the fear of constitutional change. That was what the IRA's campaign of terror was all about. Rightly unionists resisted these violent and anti-domocratic efforts," he said. 

"With the protocol, however, we now have the reality of constitutional change. As the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal shows, the Acts of Union have been 'subjugated' by the protocol. 

"There has been a transfer of sovereignty with laws made not in London or Belfast but in Brussels. Laws we do not make and cannot change. Particularly on the mouth of an election that is something which should cause all democrats to pause and think. 

"Unionists need to come out in strength on polling day and vote in strength and for strength in opposing the protocol." 

With many thanks to the: Sunday Life and Ciaran Barnes Sunday Life  for the original publication. 

Follow these links to find out more on this story: ÓNH THREAT TO LOYALIST LEADERS

On Polling Day Let Them Know the Usual Scare Tactics Failed

Empey criticises 'lack of self-awareness' at anti-Protocol rallies!

Jamie Bryson warns Dissidents over threats to loyalists

ÓNH THREAT TO LOYALIST LEADERS

ON-CEASEFIRE republican group Óglaigh na hÉireann has threatened to target loyalist leadership figures if nationalist or republicans are attacked as part of their anti-Protocol campaign.

STATEMENT: Masked and armed members       of ÓNH during oration at a republican           commemoration in Belfast yesterday. 

The threat comes just weeks after the UVF and UDA were linked to several security alerts arising from (their own) tensions around the *orthern Ireland Protocol - after Brexit put a border down the Irish Sea. In one incident the Republic's Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was forced to abandon a peace building event in north Belfast after a hoax security alert later blamed by police on the UVF.

At an Easter commemoration in Belfast yesterday masked and armed members of ÓNH, which called a halt to its armed campaign in 2018, singled out loyalist leadership figures.

"We continue to monitor the activities of UVF and UDA in light of recent actions and, if loyalists target republican and nationalist communities, we will target loyalist leadership figures," the statement said.

The threat was issued during an Easter commemoration organised by Republican Network for Unity at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast. 

The memorial event, which featured an all female colour party with their faces covered, was also addressed by three masked republicans dressed in dark clothing. A man who read the statement was flanked by a man who appeared to be armed.

The statement also said the group has taken "lethal action" against former members. While no-one was identified ÓNH has been linked to several killings in recent years.

Kieran Wylie, who had previous links to ÓNH, was shot dead in west Belfast in 2020 while Danny McLean was gunned down in north Belfast in February last year.

The paramilitary group added it has also taken "lethal action" against drug dealers.

Again, while no-one was identified, several alleged drug dealers have also been shot dead in Belfast in recent years.

ÓNH emerged from a split with the Real IRA more than a decade ago. 

Dr Dieter Reinisch, a researcher at the National University of Ireland in Galway who closely follows the dissident republican group, said he believed some of the weapons on display yesterday were "newly acquired".

"I understand that ÓNH acquired a significant amount of modern, automatic and semi-automatic weapons and their Easter statement indicates that they are willing to use them, not in offensive actions but in defence" [actions] and retaliation," he said.

"Their statement acknowledging that they took 'lethal action' against former members and drug dealers is also significant because, while not providing the names of those they targeted, it is the first statement that they took responsibility for armed action since their ceasefire announcement.

"At the same time, they reiterated that it was not the time for an armed campaign, and they called on other republican groups to cease their actions." West Belfast SDLP councillor Brian Heading, however, condemned the ÓNH threat as "dispicable" and said the group had no support.

"Threats of violence, whether from loyalists or republicans, is not what people want, especially when members of both communities are in some cases trying to work out how to pay for next weeks groceries," he said.

"All such despicable threats are to be condemned, while people need to also face up to reality that the Protocol is a done deal. It may be improved in the future, but is here to stay."

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Connla Young - SECURITY CORRESPONDENT

Follow these links to find out more on this story: DON'T LET EVERYTHING JEFFERY AND THE DUP TELL YOU ABOUT THE BREXIT SEA BORDER AND THE PROTOCOL AND TAKE IT AS GOSPEL!

CHOOSE YOUR UNIONIST PARTY WISELY - FORWARDS WITH BEATTIE AND THE UUP OR BACKWARDS WITH BRYSON, DONALDSON AND ALLISTER - HOW WILL YOU VOTE ON 5TH MAY?

THE Good Friday Agreement (GFA) will 'NEVER' be Renegotiated and UVF Intimidation will not Achieve the Removal of the Protocol