The political wing of the so-called New IRA marched outside the GPO in Dublin on Saturday - less than 48 hours after journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead.
In a show of defiance up to 150 men and women in military fatigues, their faces covered by berets and sunglasses, took over the capital’s busiest street.
Demonstrators from the group Saoradh, which issued a statement following the fatal shooting, shocked shoppers with their paramilitary display in the 23C Easter heat.
A security source said: “This is a blatant insult to the memory of the young woman shot dead for doing her job.
“This group Saoradh cancelled their planned parade in Derry because they knew they’d be ran out of the city.
“They should have been ran out of Dublin too.”
The march came as two men aged 18 and 19 were being quizzed by the PSNI in connection with Thursday night’s shooting during riots in the Creggan area of Derry.
One disgusted bystander tweeted: “A day after Lyra McKee is shot dead in Derry, Saoradh march on O’Connell Street/Bridge.
“The same Saoradh who have defended the action’s of Lyra’s shooter. They wouldn’t even let us have Pride on O’Connell Street last year, how is this remotely okay?”
Another wrote: “A fistful of hate mongering curs should not be marching on O’Connell St ever, but especially not this weekend.”
Saoradh organisers used Twitter to advertise ‘#The UnfinishedRevolution Easter Commemoration’ which assembled at the Garden of Remembrance at 3pm.
The source said: “They carried flags and marched three abreast from Parnell Square down O’Connell Street and gardai from the Special Detective Unit monitored them at every stage.”
A statement issued by Saoradh on Friday claiming 29-year-old Lyra was “accidentally killed” prompted a ferocious backlash.
Two men arrested in connection with murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee in Derry
The group said the celebrated journalist died after an armed “republican volunteer” fired shots at the PSNI who were in the area conducting a search of a house.
When contacted at 4pm today a garda spokesperson said: “A peaceful demonstration is currently under way at O’Connell Street in Dublin.
“No incidents have been reported. Gardai are at the scene.”
