Sinn Fein leaders 'sanctioned IRA's £26m bank raid'

Telegraph ^ | 02/11/05 | Thomas Harding

[Pikamax]

Sinn Fein leaders 'sanctioned IRA's £26m bank raid' By Thomas Harding, Ireland Correspondent (Filed: 11/02/2005)

Senior members of Sinn Fein sanctioned the IRA's £26.5 million bank robbery, a hard-hitting report said yesterday.

While not publishing names, the Independent Monitoring Commission concluded that senior republicans had to share responsibility for IRA crimes.

Commander John Grieve, the former head of the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad and one of the report's authors, said: "The [intelligence] material is as strong as anything I have ever seen."

The report on the Northern Bank robbery just before Christmas, said: "Some Sinn Fein senior members, who are also senior members of PIRA [Provisional IRA] were involved in sanctioning the robbery."

The British and Irish governments are furious that some Sinn Fein leaders were allegedly aware of the theft being planned while involved in crucial negotiations to restore devolved government. The chances of resurrecting power-sharing are now extremely distant.

The IMC, which monitors paramilitary ceasefires, highlighted not only the IRA's Northern Bank raid but three other robberies that netted the terrorists more than £4 million in goods late last year.

The crimes had enabled the IRA "to gain very significant resources" it said.

Security sources suggest the money would be used for Sinn Fein's political campaigning, buying new weapons and "pensions" to retired IRA members and widows.

Sinn Fein, the IMC said, could not be regarded as committed to non-violence while links to the IRA remained.

Although the party said it was opposed to all criminality "it appears at times to have its own definition of what constitutes a crime".

Four men head the IMC: a former CIA chief, an Irish civil servant, a Northern Ireland politician and Mr Grieve. If the Northern Ireland Assembly had been sitting, it would have recommended Sinn Fein's exclusion, including its two ministerial posts.

It did say, however, that all Sinn Fein political salaries and financial assistance should be withdrawn.

Mr Grieve said: "Do I believe the denial of the IRA? Absolutely not. The people who deny on behalf of the IRA have got some brass neck."

David Lidington, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said it was a scandal that Sinn Fein MPs continued to have access to House of Commons facilities.

Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionists urged police to arrest and question Sinn Fein leaders.

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, called the findings rubbish. "The Taoiseach [Bertie Ahern] crossed a line. He accused Martin McGuinness and I of conspiracy to rob and withholding information," he said.

[leadhead]

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, called the findings rubbish. "The Taoiseach [Bertie Ahern] crossed a line. He accused Martin McGuinness and I of conspiracy to rob and withholding information," he said.

Truth hurts. Real big truth hurts real big.

Hey Gerry, got a few fivers ya could lend us?

[sean_og]

What's John Grieve's proof? Why is he being so vague?

[leadhead]

What's John Grieve's proof? Why is he being so vague?

Moles.

Internicene war between Republican factions fueled by jelousy and cash.

I think they (the monitors-which sounds so "Prisoner" like)have some hard evidence of the Adams/McGuiness connection to this.

Probably why Bertie flipped.Codded all along. First the girlfriend, then the Shinners...who can he trust?

[sean_og]

I still think there is more to this story. Bertie Ahearn would
be interested in seeing the growth of Sinn Fein stopped.
Something just doesnt seem right.