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Former head of Real IRA dies after shooting in Cork

Aidan O’Driscoll, 37, was shot in the back a number of times.

Updated 8pm

AN EX-CHIEF of Staff of the Real IRA has died following a shooting in Cork city this evening.

Dissident republican Aidan O’Driscoll, 37, has been named as the victim of the gun attack outside the Church of the Annunciation on Great William O’Brien Street, Blackpool at about 5pm today.

It is understood O’Driscoll – who is often referred to by his nickname The Beast – was shot a number of times in the back.

He was given medical assistance at the scene and taken to Cork University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem is to be arranged.

Gardaí are currently at the scene, which has been preserved for technical examinations.

Two partially burnt-out cars have been found in different locations nearby – one on Redemption Road in Blackpool and the other in Killeens, county Cork.

Gardaí in Mayfield have appealed for witnesses.

The Real IRA is a dissident republican organisation which has been heavily linked to criminality in recent years.

With reporting by Órla Ryan

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66 Comments
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    Mute Rourkey52.
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:26 PM

    Why do journalists gives these thugs positions ” like chief of staff “. He was a thug in a bloody gang. And now he’s dead. Goes with the territory. Please no more grandiose titles.

    943
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:40 PM

    @Rourkey52.:

    I wouldn’t take it too seriously – the use of the phrase “chief of staff” to describe the leader of a terrorist organisation is part of the standard terminology that is used in journalism in the western world. Slab Murphy was “chief of staff” of the Provisional IRA and he too is a thug.

    After all, referring to a crime boss’s senior followers as “lieutenants” is not approval of criminal activity.

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    Mute joe o hare
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    Dec 7th 2016, 9:31 PM

    @Ciarán Masterson: you can’t compare the Provo’s who brought one of the biggest armies to the table begging for mercy with the dissidents who consist mostly of undercover gardai/ruc, touts and criminals.

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    Mute Can't Think of One
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    Dec 7th 2016, 9:35 PM

    Excellent point joe.. excellent use of apostrophe’s as well. TOUTS OUT

    66
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:05 PM

    @Rourkey52.: Michael Collins was once the most wanted terrorist in Ireland before becoming a General.

    145
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:24 PM

    @Rourkey52.: It wasn’t outside the church either, a good bit from it .

    35
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:22 PM

    And what did the sneaky Brits do soon after Collins became a General? Set him up for assassination and blame the IRA. Collins did not accept the terms, he had plans for the North. That’s why they took him out.

    48
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    Mute Niall Binéad
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:52 AM

    Couldn’t of put it better myself Joe!

    14
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Dec 8th 2016, 9:48 AM

    @Jamie McCormack: Who are the Mock IRA guys fighting now Jamie, the Irish or British and are they just using this group to make themselves rich. NI, may rejoin the Republic some day and let them do it in their own time by peaceful means.

    12
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 9th 2016, 12:45 AM

    that’ll happen Stephen, and the IRA will remain undefeated. Which is important.

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:04 PM

    A bit of positive cleansing taking place this week. Keep it up lads.

    227
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:53 PM

    @Nick Allen: Northern Command coming down hard on some rascal from Cork who wants to act the cowboy?

    26
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    Mute Stephen
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:16 PM

    Why are the Guards even looking for witnesses, I mean wtf cares anyway

    219
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:28 PM

    @Stephen: Anyone who might be caught in the cross fire?

    72
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    Mute David Wool
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    Dec 7th 2016, 7:32 PM

    Hes dead. Former chief of staff of the Real IRA apparently

    174
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    Mute Padraig
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:17 PM
    88
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    Mute Matt Beaumont
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:34 PM

    @Padraig

    Thank god the job is finished now!

    Good riddance!

    237
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:16 PM

    @David Wool: Gardai believed him to be at one stage, after the killing of Alan Ryan. Probably never the case.

    11
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    Mute Micheal OLainn
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:50 PM

    Occupational hazard for these people. They don’t value or respect human life.

    It is still a murder, however reprehensible the victim.I hope that the killers are apprehended and eventually convicted.

    140
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    Mute Ulick McGee
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    Dec 7th 2016, 7:46 PM

    Jaysus some geezer is shot and you lot are argueing about what cop shop is open

    135
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    Mute Buster VL
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:06 PM

    What a loss to Ireland

    128
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:01 PM

    The Beast shot today, the Guinea Pig last week. Wonder if it’s connected. Maybe a spot of housekeeping. One thing’s for sure, fellas are getting shot left, right and centre lately and no-one really bats an eyelid. Sure that’s the way.

    85
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    Mute EdmundOrlando
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:22 PM

    We’re running out of creatures..

    68
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Giving these lads nick names helps sell newspapers.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:38 AM

    @Jamie McCormack: one less terrorist is a good thing surely

    33
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    Mute Dan Henry
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    Dec 7th 2016, 7:51 PM

    Lads there’s a man dead why worry which Garda Station is investigating yer a sad bunch()

    83
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    Mute Matt Beaumont
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    Dec 7th 2016, 8:23 PM

    @Dan

    Live by the sword die by the sword!

    No big loss! Just an ordinary criminal pretending to be a Republican!

    And life goes on…

    207
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 9:45 PM

    They ran up on him from behind and shot him three times in the lower back, he died two hours later in hospital. A shot to the head or a couple to the upper body would kill a man. I reckon they deliberately wanted him to suffer.

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    Mute Theunpopularpopulist
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:30 PM

    I’d say a few people have suffered at his hands.

    What goes around comes around

    72
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:36 PM

    Deffo, play with fire you’ll get burned.

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    Mute Colin O'Sullivan
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    Dec 8th 2016, 1:16 PM

    @Jamie McCormack: Sleep with dogs you wake up with fleas

    4
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    Mute Old Gordon
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:13 PM

    Every thug on the street probably considers themselves some sort of a Republican. It’s that transparent really.

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    Mute Niall Conneely
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:41 PM

    Whats that comment about?

    15
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    Mute declan burke
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:14 PM

    A man shot dead and it’s not in Dublin shocking!!

    54
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    Mute Finnster
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    Dec 7th 2016, 7:45 PM

    @kinsalable , isnt there protocol about working Gardai ( you ) not commenting on Garda matters or Garda related incidents on twitter or any social media outlets. Its in your handbook.

    46
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    Mute Kinsaleable
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:45 PM

    What handbook and protocol are you referring to?

    16
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    Mute Bryan De B'stard
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:32 PM

    Cork has always been a massive IRA town.

    44
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    Mute Rory
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    Dec 7th 2016, 9:18 PM

    Good

    31
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    Mute Liam Sheahan
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:19 PM

    Murder is murder.

    19
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    Mute declan burke
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:04 PM

    Shooting someone in the is and always will be a coward s act

    17
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    Mute declan burke
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:15 PM

    Back

    8
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:35 AM

    @declan burke: not at all like planting a bomb in a pub or shopping centre then?

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    Mute Mo
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    Dec 8th 2016, 2:27 AM

    He was running away!

    7
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    Mute Matt Beaumont
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    Dec 8th 2016, 10:01 AM

    @declan

    Cowardly or not who gives a feck?

    The thug is dead, mission accomplished!

    6
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    Mute ballbreaker
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:27 AM

    The one thing we should all Remember is the clock still ticks and life still carries on regardless.

    16
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:34 AM

    Might have to open a bottle of wine. In commiseration or celebration..one less murdering terrorist should make it a clear choice

    16
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    Mute Niall Connolly
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    Dec 8th 2016, 7:48 AM

    These guys are drug dealing thugs. Do they even know what the IRA was in the past?

    14
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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:58 PM

    “The beast”.hmm? I wonder why he was called that name?

    12
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    Mute Jasun Stiofán Ó Cearnaigh
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    Dec 8th 2016, 12:44 PM

    Because he was a beast of a gaa player apparently…. So ya… Now you know

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    Mute Can't Think of One
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    Dec 7th 2016, 10:12 PM

    Haaaa-haaa!

    11
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    Mute Upowthat Burke
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    Dec 7th 2016, 11:26 PM

    Bold boy me thinks ….it comes to most traiters good riddence

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    Mute Can't Think of One
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    Dec 7th 2016, 9:33 PM

    Oh dear.

    9
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    Mute Jonhjoe Murphy
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    Dec 9th 2016, 12:09 AM

    Sean next please, the beast is brown bread.

    1
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    Mute Jonhjoe Murphy
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    Dec 8th 2016, 10:35 AM

    Bang Bang brown bread

    1
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