Irish Republican Army (IRA) New Year Statement 2007, (4 January 2007)

Text of Irish Republican Army (IRA) New Year Statement 2007
4 January 2007.

"The leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann sends New Year greetings to our friends and supporters at home and abroad. We send best wishes, especially to republican prisoners and their families. We commend all those working for the early release of those prisoners and urge them to continue in their efforts.

We remain committed to our republican objectives and we support all those, especially our comrades in Sinn Féin, working for those goals.

Over the past twelve months republicans have celebrated and commemorated with dignity and pride, the lives and sacrifices of those who died on Hunger Strikes.

On this the 50th anniversary of the deaths, on active service, of our comrades Seán Sabhat and Fergal O’Hanlon we remember their sacrifice and that of all those comrades who fought or died during the Border Campaign.

We remain firmly committed to our objective of a free, united and independent Irish republic. We believe that our political objectives can now be achieved by political means and we will continue to pursue this course with energy in the year ahead.

We salute the commitment and discipline of IRA Volunteers and that of the republican activist base. The determination and unity that have sustained us all thus far are required now more than ever.

There are big challenges to be faced in the time ahead, republicans will not shy away from these challenges. We are very conscious that progress requires everyone to take risks.

A heavy responsibility rests on political leaders to make politics work so that conflict remains firmly in the past. We have demonstrated our commitment to this approach. We urge all others to do the same."

P O'Neill,
Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, Dublin.

The statement from the IRA was released through 'An Phoblacht' on 4 January 2007