Speaking after the terrorism threat level in the North was raised due to a rise dissident republican activity, SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP said:

“Those who continue to choose violence in the pursuit of constitutional change in Ireland have been defeated politically. They have no support, they will never win and they now need to disband for good.

“The peace we have built is imperfect because it has failed to deal with the insidious influence of paramilitaries on predominantly working class communities across the North.

“We must all commit ourselves vocally and publicly to supporting the efforts of the PSNI to disrupt and dismantle these groups. They have no place in the inclusive Ireland we are trying to build together.”