The shooting of Kevin Kearney by 'the IRA' has signalled a shift in the group's focus. Established more than 12 months
ago when the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs and independent republicans joined forces, the group had, until this week, targeted only members of the security forces and the prison service in the north.
It admitted killing prison officer David Black as he drove to work in Co Armagh on November 1 last year.
While the majority of republican paramilitary groups focus their attention on state forces, at various times they have also turned their attention to those they claim are drug dealers.
Two of the now defunct groups that make up 'the IRA' have waged such campaigns on both sides of the border. The Real IRA shot dead high-profile dealers in Dublin and Cork while Republican Action Against Drugs focused on alleged pushers in the north west.
In February last year the latter group admitted killing Andrew Allen at his home in Buncrana, Co Donegal. It was also responsible for so-called punishment attacks in Derry.
In September last year the newly formed IRA suffered a setback when senior Dublin-based member Alan Ryan was gunned down by suspected drug dealers as he walked close to his home.
In a statement later issued to The Irish News the organisation vowed to avenge his death. In recent months other republican groups have turned their attention to people they allege are drug pushers.
In August Oglaigh na heireann threatened to shoot 54 alleged dealers in west Belfast.
The group said it would use shotguns in so-called punishment attacks
to inflict injuries so horrific that they are known as "shark bites".
In the late 1990s Direct Action Against Drugs, believed to be a cover name for the Provisional IRA, also shot dead drug dealers in Northern Ireland.