About 100 people from Britain, the US and both sides of the Border attended a conference in Dundalk at the weekend for anti-agreement republican prisoners. In a sign that the dissidents are expanding, plans were discussed for setting up support groups in nationalist areas, organising pickets outside jails and fund-raising campaigns.
The meeting of the Irish Republican Welfare Association was held in Dundalk Town Hall. The Special Branch was outside the meeting.
The welfare association is supporting what it calls "Oglaigh na hEireann" prisoners. "Oglaigh na hEireann" is the name used by the new paramilitary group which comprises "Real IRA" and some former Continuity IRA members.
Mr Paddy Kavanagh of the welfare association's Derry branch said: "Nobody should think there is no support for the prisoners. People are joining us week in, week out. Others want to smash and silence something that cannot be smashed or silenced. We are marching on."
Among those at the conference were former Provisional IRA hunger-striker Ms Marion Price, and Ms Bernadette Sands McKevitt and Cllr Francie Mackey of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.
It was claimed "Oglaigh na hEireann" prisoners in Maghaberry jail, Co Antrim, were discriminated against in terms of home leave and were in constant danger because they weren't segregated from loyalists. It was claimed prisoners in England were denied access to books and newspapers.
Mr Rory Dougan of the welfare association said: "I hope the authorities know the fire they are playing with." Mr Dave Rupert of the Irish Freedom Committee in the US said: "There is growing support for the prisoners in Boston, New York and Chicago."
In an indirect reference to Sinn Fein, Mr Michael Holden of the Irish in Britain Representation Group said: "Those currently engaged in implementing the Stormont agreement/surrender were, and still are, defeating by their silence and are ever eager to forget the struggle for political status and hunger-strikes of 1980 and 1981."
In a statement read out, the "Oglaigh na hEireann" prisoners in Portlaoise, said another generation had "taken up the mantle of the physical force tradition".