Northern Ireland

Republican 32 County Sovereignty Movement claims to pose 'no danger' after Facebook page ban

Facebook has banned the 32 CSM from its platforms
Facebook has banned the 32 CSM from its platforms Facebook has banned the 32 CSM from its platforms

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement (CSM) has accused British intelligence of directing "black propaganda" and "political censorship" after a number of its Facebook pages were closed down.

The claim was made after the social media giant Facebook confirmed that the 32 CSM has been banned from the platform.

In a statement to the Irish News, a spokeswoman said it had "reviewed this organisation and determined it violated our dangerous organisations policy," she said.

"Groups that proclaim a violent mission or are engaged in violence have no place on Facebook," she said.

She added that the organisation has been banned from its platforms and "and we will remove any praise, support or representation of the group and its activities".

Initially known as the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, the group was formed in 1997 by members of Sinn Féin opposed to the political direction adopted by the party as the peace process developed.

In the past it was linked to the Real IRA, which ceased to exist in 2012 after a merger with others to form the New IRA.

In a statement last night a spokesman for the movement also added: "We would like to state on record now that we are not a dangerous organisation, we are in no way whatsoever engaged in violence of any kind and we are not proclaiming any violent mission."

He said the "spurious accusations are defamatory and designed to fit the narrative being pushed by Britain and their collaborators here in Ireland.

"What this essentially boils down to is black propaganda and political censorship, directed by British intelligence in their efforts to thwart anyone still upholding traditional Republican values," he added.