A former leading member of the Provisional IRA in the Republic has disappeared amid concerns that he has joined anti-Belfast Agreement republicans and may be involved in planning acts of terrorism.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the man was heavily involved in organising IRA bombing campaigns in England and was regarded as one of the most important figures in the IRA.
The man, originally from Belfast, was the "OC" (officer commanding) of the IRA's "Southern Command" for about a decade until 1996, when he was replaced in a reshuffle of the IRA leadership in the Republic following the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.
Gardai learned that the decision of the IRA leadership to dismiss the man led to differences in the movement, particularly among the Dublin members loyal to the former commander. He was replaced by another man who is involved in the security business in Dublin.
When the "Real IRA" broke away from the Provisionals in late 1997, it is known that a proportion of the Dublin Provisional IRA left and aligned themselves with the dissidents.
In recent months the Garda and RUC Special Branches have been devoting considerable resources to uncovering the identities of "Real IRA" members suspected of carrying out two small bomb attacks in London during the summer.
The bombs, at Hammersmith Bridge and Ealing Broadway, caused disruption but little damage and no injuries. However, that fact that the bombers, believed to be from the Republic, were undetected led to concern at senior security levels.
During their investigations over the summer, gardai discovered that the former IRA commander had disappeared. It is known that he had been associating with dissidents.
The fact that he was so closely involved in previous bombing campaigns in England and that he is known to be opposed to the Provisional IRA leadership's position on the Belfast Agreement has contributed to suspicions that he could be involved in organising a new bombing campaign.
The man's disappearance has led to concerns that he may be more closely affiliated to the dissidents than previously suspected. His switch of allegiance is also likely to be seen as a coup for the dissidents.
While still small in numbers the dissidents are reported to be growing in strength and have established themselves in the Border areas and in Dublin. It is also believed they have been recruiting young people with no previous involvement in republican political or paramilitary activity.
