The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (IRPWA) is an Irish republican organisation which supports republican prisoners. It has ties with the political party Saoradh[1] and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement. [2]

IRPWA poster in Dublin
Graffiti in Limerick in support of the IRPWA, of Liam Campbell, and of Paul McIntyre (accused in the shooting of Lyra McKee).

In May 2016 an unknown member of the IRPWA interrupted a ceremony to commemorate British soldiers who were killed during the Easter Rising. In response the Canadian ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers grabbed him and dragged him away. The event gained international attention.[3]

In October 2016 the DUP criticised the organisation saying it was promoting violence due to a mural at an IRPWA office saying "unfinished revolution" with two republican paramilitaries.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "IRA Volunteer 'Junior' McDaid's wife hurt by Saoradh snub". Derry Journal.
  2. ^ Sophie A. Whiting (1 July 2015). Spoiling the peace?: The threat of dissident Republicans to peace in Northern Ireland. Manchester University Press. pp. 144–. ISBN 978-0-7190-9868-0.
  3. ^ "Irish protester tackled by Kevin Vickers in cemetery had no idea who he was: 'I was just trying to hold him back'".
  4. ^ "DUP Assembly member claims Bogside mural in Derry is glorifying violence". Irish News. 8 October 2016.