Free Derry: The IRA Drug War
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Published 2014-03-14
In February 2014, letter bombs were sent to nine British Military recruitment offices over the course of three days. Londonderry postmarks, a coded message sent to a Northern Irish newspaper, and security forces at Downing Street all pointed to the New IRA as the main suspects.
Last Summer, VICE News visited Derry and heard from Gary Donnelly - the most prominent dissident republican in Londonderry, accused of leading operations for the Real IRA - that these attacks on Britain were to be expected as part of "strategic attacks on high profile targets," as "it's England that's occupying Ireland."
In 'Free Derry: The IRA Drug War', VICE News investigate how, sixteen years after the Good Friday peace agreement and on the eve of the first major loyalist parade through the city in four years, dissident republican activity in Derry is increasing thanks to the merger of the Real IRA with anti-drugs vigilantes.
VICE News reporter Alex Miller speaks to members of the Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD), who formed the coalition with the Real IRA, and meets supporters as young as thirteen who are being armed with petrol bombs to combat criminal gangs and intervening police.
For the first time, Paul Stewart, a close friend of slain Dublin Real IRA leader Alan Ryan, speaks on camera about witnessing the murder, as well as sharing insights on Ryan's war against drug dealers.
Miller also interviews the mother of Andrew Smith, a man who she says was murdered by the Real IRA despite no affiliation with drugs related crime, before hearing from a Derry ex-drug dealer who now claims that, if the New IRA didn't fight drugs, "this town would be filled with ecstasy and rat poison and kids would be dying."
VICE encounter a city where kneecappings and shootings are rife, walls are branded with anti-UK slogans, and where a policeman can scarcely walk down the street - according to Gary Donnelly - "without being killed".
In "Free Derry: The IRA Drug War", VICE unmask the farcical veneer of the UK's 'City of Culture' 2013.
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All Comments (21)
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Watch Next: Florida’s still picking up the pieces from hurricanes past and some question whether living in areas vulnerable to climate change makes sense. In coastal communities governments are using "managed retreat," but it's a controversial approach for residents.- https://youtu.be/HUQrdFAVV4w
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One thing i understood is that Irish people really like Adidas
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Fun Fact: Derry is the only city in the world with 6 silent letters
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The question, "How many young lives need to be ended by drugs before 1 drug dealer execution seems reasonable?" is on point. I totally agree.
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"I wouldn't like to be a drug dealer in this city one little bit" That's the best advertisement for a community ever
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there's not a thing wrong with people fighting for their freedom and homes
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Today's lesson: Yes you can take back your community.
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I spent three weeks in Ireland three years ago with my oldest son . The best time we had was in Derry . I bought some shirts for my grandsons at The Irish Political Review store on Chamberlain street and the men there treated us great . We really enjoyed Derry.
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“NO JESSIE DONT START THAT CAR JESSIE”
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Are my ears deceiving me or did this man just say londonDerry
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You pronounced it wrong, the "London" is silent
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It’s nice to know that somewhere in this world drug dealers are being dealt properly. It would be excellent if this could become the norm in my country.
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"He wasn't a drug dealer, proof of that is I was always giving him money." Oh? Like how drug addicts are ALWAYS short of money no matter how much they make???
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Americans: “ugh the drug war failed, we gotta legalize it all now!” Irish: “hold my beer...”
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In a different time, the idea of policing your own community wasn't as strange as this all seems. People and communities are usually better at solving their own unique problems than an outsider is.
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Good on these brave lads. The US needs groups like this.
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Very interesting. Wish we heard more from this community including the young lad at the end who has been stopped & searched so many times.
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I sympathize with you guys, in my country we're fighting the most powerful drug cartels in the world. Keep up the good work and long live Eire!
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"We're so scared this is so dangerous and intense standing next to these terrorist psychopathic criminals!!!" proceeds to shove cameras in their faces and attack them with bold back biting questions Oh vice. Never change
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I feel like drugs in particular are very connected to poverty and destitution which always makes me always question violent actions as most drug dealers often start with goals of achieving a normal goal
