The republican group Action Against Drugs has denied making threats against a criminal gang linked to the murder of Vincent Ryan.
The brother of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan was shot dead as he sat in a car in Dublin earlier this week.
Action Against Drugs has been linked to the murder of Kevin McGuigan in Belfast last year, weeks after leading republican Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison was gunned down in the Markets area.
A statement issued by the group, using a recognised codeword, said reports linking it to threats this week were false.
The group claimed it has no intention of becoming involved in the Ryan dispute and issued a threat against anyone making statements in its name, or anyone attacking its members or supporters following the reports.