Commanders of IRA 'must disband to end impasse'

Tom Brady and Aine Kerr

September 03 2008 04:48 AM

Unionists warned yesterday that the continued existence of the Provisional IRA army council posed a major obstacle to political progress in Northern Ireland.

The DUP reaction dashed hopes that the findings of the Independent Monitoring Commission would help improve relations between the party and Sinn Fein, and break the current political logjam in the North.

The IMC report, as reported yesterday in the Irish Independent, says the council has not been formally disbanded but has effectively ceased to operate.

The Irish and British governments, who sought the report, had hoped that the findings would alleviate some of the unionist concerns about the IRA leadership.

But DUP leader Peter Robinson said yesterday that plans to devolve policing and justice powers to Stormont would be blocked until all IRA military structures were out of commission.

The findings were also dismissed by Sinn Fein's Dail leader Caoimhghin O Caolain, who said his party did not recognise the IMC as a legitimate representative voice and claimed its contributions to date had not been helpful.

After a meeting in Belfast with the PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, Mr Robinson said he was told the army council remained in place but was not involved in terrorist activity. He said his party had always demanded a final end to the IRA as the price for further political progress.

"I don't believe that we are in that position," he added.

Requirement

"I accept what the Chief Constable says that they are not meeting for any terrorist purpose. But we require the removal of the IRA army council and we've always made that clear."

At a two-day Sinn Fein think-in, in Dublin, Mr O Caolain was equally negative, saying the IMC's contribution had not been helpful, and noting that his party was trying to represent "an ever-growing electorate across the State and the island of Ireland".

The findings are to be published this afternoon.