Police said it was very fortunate no one was killed or injured in an attempted mortar bomb attack on an RUC station in Belleek, Co Fermanagh on Saturday night, for which dissident republicans claimed responsibility.
There was some confusion last night over whether the attack was carried out by republicans calling themselves the "Real IRA", who are sympathetic to the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, or by the Continuity IRA.
A terse call was made to the media on behalf of "Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA)" admitting the attack. Suspicion last night was falling on the Continuity IRA, which has carried out previous attacks in Co Fermanagh.
One mortar exploded as RUC officers were leading people living in holiday homes past the area where the mortars were found. A police spokesman said "people were only metres away at the time".
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said dissident republicans responsible for an attempted bomb attack would not deter members from peace. "Obviously I feel that they are wrong," he told the BBC. "These people, the dissidents, will not simply melt away but if we create the political conditions then they will receive no support."
Mr Ken Maginnis, the UUP MP for the area condemned the "indiscriminate attack on a predominantly Catholic town with no regard for the safety of civilians".
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said those responsible were desperate people with nothing to offer. "The people of Northern Ireland - and not terrorist splinter groups of any sort - will decide democratically, the future of the peace process," she said.
Two mortar tubes aimed at the station were discovered at 11 p.m. on Saturday in the garden of the Carlton Hotel where the wedding of a Tyrone Gaelic footballer, Mr Damian Gormley, was taking place. The area was sealed off after 250 guests and 100 villagers had been evacuated by RUC officers and gardai, who were involved as Belleek is on the Border with Co Donegal. One device exploded at 11.50 p.m., causing no damage.
The SDLP councillor for Belleek, Mr Tommy Gallagher, said it was very "irresponsible to leave mortars beside a family home and a packed hotel. It has caused major disruption for the young and old of the area."
"The inclusive settlement offers everybody a chance but those responsible for this seem to be caught in a time-warp and determined to repeat the mistakes of the past," he added.
Mr Gormley's bride, Ms Paula Bradley, said the attack had "ruined the most important day of my life. I spent 18 months preparing for this day and now its all in ruins. My 93-year-old grandmother is here and it's awful that she has to be treated like this."
On Good Friday a number of shots were fired at Belleek barracks. In 1994, on the eve of the ceasefire, the IRA attempted to bomb the barracks.
