AN ARMED drugs gang operating in Omagh and headed up by murdered doorman Brian McGlynn, was masquerading as the INLA, it was claimed this week.

The group of young Omagh men had been convinced by 28-year-old McGlynn, who lived in the town for a number of years, that they were members of the illegal paramilitary organisation.

This week, INLA sources confirmed that McGlynn was killed by the paramilitary group and it was also revealed that INLA members came to Omagh to disarm and disband McGlynn's group.

The INLA said McGlynn was killed because he had used the name of the republican paramilitary group for his drug dealing activities.

"He was never a member of the INLA and he was not a republican; he was a drug dealer," a spokesman said. "He had been doing this for the last three or four years. He had formed a gang in Omagh made up of young people and he led them to believe they were members of the INLA. But they were not connected to the movement in any way.They were simply dealing drugs.

"He continued this when he came to Derry and his behaviour came to the attention of people in the republican socialist movement in Derry," the INLA source said.

It is understood that the group in Omagh had been armed with weapons and its members ranged in age from 20 -30. It is also understood that the group no longer exists, having been "disbanded".

Meanwhile, a West Tyrone spokesman for the IRSP said, "In the absence of a denial from the INLA we are assuming that the claims are true, particularly in light of the allegations made against McGlynn."

The Strabane-based party spokesperson added, "Some two years ago the INLA released a statement to the media on the back of the Fergal Toal case in the Moy and had warned then that anyone caught using its name in the drugs trade would be executed.

"With all of that in mind, and the allegations that have been made against McGlynn, I think it would be fair to assume that the INLA were involved."