SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell says dissident groups' emalgamation will only harm the communities they claim to represent

Reports in The Guardian and Irish News that 3 armed dissident republican groups have merged into one. The Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs aka RAAD and the group responsible for Constable Ronan Kerr's murder have now come together as one. They say they will intensify attacks on security forces and other British-related targets. SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell says he would be willing to meet with dissident republicans and says that this reported emalgamation will only damage and further impoverish the communities the groups claim to represent as they will scare off investment