HAVE they also stolen the peace process? In the light of last week's revelations, the sum of stg£26m may not have been all that was stolen by the Provisional IRA in the Northern Bank robbery before Christmas. It appears now that the peace process itself was stolen and is now hostage to the developments that are still flowing from that criminal act.

HAVE they also stolen the peace process? In the light of last week's revelations, the sum of stg£26m may not have been all that was stolen by the Provisional IRA in the Northern Bank robbery before Christmas. It appears now that the peace process itself was stolen and is now hostage to the developments that are still flowing from that criminal act. And it may not be possible to rescue it until after the perpetrators are caught and convicted.

Because, as appears increasingly likely, it is only then that we will be able to get the clarity and honesty from Sinn Fein in relation to its own role and that of the Provisional IRA, which has been sought by the Taoiseach and the British prime minister. The demand for truth and clarity was echoed in the past week by no less a person than one of their own self-confessed supporters - Margaret Quinn, a Northern nationalist from the Republican Strand Road area in Belfast and the grieving aunt of Robert McCartney, the man allegedly murdered by members of the Provisional IRA a few weeks ago.

She told Sean O'Rourke on RTE that "people are now expert in Sinn Fein doublespeak" and that all the community were interested in is "the truth, justice and freedom from fear".

And so say all of us! The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, have both made it clear that what is required of the Provisional Republican movement is a clear and unambiguous rejection of paramilitary activity and criminality, including decommissioning of all weapons, and the use of exclusively peaceful and democratic means as a way of achieving their aims.

The analysis of both governments is still that trust and confidence can only be restored by a comprehensive approach that will lead to the implementation of all of the outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. The so-called "incrementalism" and "constructive ambiguity", which had been a feature of the process since April 1998, are no longer an option. We are no longer prepared to accept the farce that Sinn Fein and the IRA separate. They are indivisible. The two governments will not indulge in the pretence of treating Sinn Fein and the Provisional IRA as two separate organisations, while trying to inch their way forward towards a comprehensive settlement. The people of Northern Ireland want to see a genuine democratic process yield the government they were promised in the Good Friday Agreement.

The Northern Bank robbery and the money-laundering operation uncovered by the Gardai last week, have brought into sharp relief the necessity for the leadership of the Provisional republican movement to decide to end paramilitarism and all forms of criminal activity, once and for all.

In that context it may be timely to remind Sinn Fein, who are wont to regularly declare their continued support for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, precisely what they committed to in that document, namely: "to partnership, equality and mutual respect" and "absolute commitment to exclusively democratic and peaceful means of resolving differences". Perhaps they might also remember the old adagethat "actions speak louder than words".

It is still possible for Sinn Fein to salvage something positive from the debacle that is the IRA money-laundering operation, but only if they can now use it as a catalyst to convince the Provisional republican movement to finally abandon criminal activity and move immediately towards the "acts of completion" that have been sought by the two governments since the collapse of the devolved institutions in October 2002.

They have now reached the crossroads alluded to by Martin McGuinness in a recent television interview. Denial, evasion or attempting to blame others for the predicament they now find themselves in, will not solve anything. They are in imminent danger of losing the political momentum and support that they have gained in recent years from the positive role they have played in advancing the cause of peace on this island.

And for an organisation that lectures others regularly about the issue of equality, they must now realise that the principle of equality must apply to how they operate vis-a-vis other political parties and politicians in an open and democratic society.

The time for fudge and obfuscation is over. Now is the time for truth and transparency. Sinn Fein owe no less to those who have voted for them.

- Willie O'Dea