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A dissident group blamed for grinding Dublin to a halt in September has threatened a series of large-scale disruptions next year.

Irish Republican Voice was formed in the summer when ex-associates of murdered Real IRA chief Alan Ryan came together to start a new splinter group.

The republicans have been recruiting over the past six months and its leader has outlined their plans for a series of protests.

James McDonagh, 35, said: “IRV is a political pressure group and civil disobedience is the No1 priority for IRV – but in a peaceful manner.

“IRV is there now and it’s there to fight austerity and British rule and it will be carrying out national protests in relation to austerity.

“We hope there will be similar events to what happened on O’Connell Bridge in September.

“We want to see a 24-hour national strike where we will bring this Government down once and for all.”

IRV is the political wing of a new armed group calling itself Saoirse na hEireann.

The organisation elected an army council recently and vowed to carry out an armed campaign.

A series of shootings in Coolock, North Dublin, has been linked to the mob.

McDonagh denied any association with the group but added it is the only legitimate armed body.

He said: “We don’t recognise the PSNI, Stormont or Leinster House. We don’t recognise the gardai, the courts system. The only army we recognise is Saoirse na hEireann.”

McDonagh was a close pal of RIRA chief Ryan and was regularly seen by his side at 32 County Sovereignty Movement protests.

Ryan was linked to a series of murders in Dublin and chopped off the fingers of a criminal rival.

Despite this McDonagh claims the 32-year-old was a “kind gentle person”.

He said: “Following the murder of Alan Ryan, things evaporated within the 32 CSM.

“Alan was a personal friend of mine. He was a true republican. Alan Ryan is held in very high regard within the republican movement.”

The leadership of the 32CSM said they booted McDonagh and others out of the group but he claims he left of his own volition.

But he said: “The membership of IRV resigned from other organisations, they weren’t expelled. I did not get kicked out from any other organisation.

“I resigned from the 32 CSM back in April.”

In September IRV took to the streets during an anti-austerity march in Dublin city centre.

The group protested at the Dail and then staged a sit-down protest on O’Connell Bridge – grinding traffic to a halt for up to three hours.

McDonagh, a settled Traveller, is no stranger to protests and has fought a legal battle to return his daughter to a speacial needs school attended.

cathal.mcmahon@irishmirror.ie