Posted on 07/25/2006 1:37:51 PM PDT by Irish_Thatcherite
IRA 'has ceased its criminality' The IRA is no longer involved in any centrally organised criminality, the British and Irish governments believe. Speaking after meeting Irish ministers, NI Secretary Peter Hain said cross-border intelligence indicated the IRA was living up to its commitments.
Mr Hain said individual IRA members may still be involved in criminal activities, but that should not prevent political progress from being made.
However, the DUP's Nigel Dodds said Mr Hain was "living in fantasy land".
"This latest assessment from the secretary of state lacks credibility and will be treated by the vast majority of people in NI as yet another ham-fisted attempt to bluff the community and its political representatives into establishing an executive including Sinn Fein."
He added: "These comments that the IRA is not engaged in criminality fly in the face of the recent Northern Ireland Select Affairs Committee report on organised crime."
Mr Hain said that an "absolute state of perfection" from the IRA was not realistic.
"There probably is still some localised individual criminality by former and maybe existing Provisional IRA members for their own private gain," he said.
"What there is not is organised 'from the centre' criminality any more."
"To that extent the IRA are delivering on their commitments made last July, not just in respect of shutting down paramilitary activity but also shutting down criminality."
Assessment backed
Mr Hain was speaking after meeting Irish government ministers Dermot Ahern and Michael McDowell in Hillsborough, County Down.
Irish Justice Minister Mr McDowell, who has been strongly critical of republicans in the past, backed Mr Hain's assessment.
Asked if he believed the IRA's war was now over following its declarations and decommissioning last summer, he said: "The Irish government and British government are working on that assumption, based on the evidence we have."
BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said it was as firm a statement on IRA criminality as the two governments had made since it announced in July 2005 it was ending its armed campaign.
Alliance Party leader David Ford said the statement was "unhelpful".
"We have suffered in the past, when ministers have acted as cheerleaders for paramilitary organisations, and made positive comments when they have not been justified," he said.
"He needs to leave such statements to the IMC, as it is their role, and their role only, to report on paramilitary criminality."
The DUP are demanding more proof that the IRA has abandoned all violence and criminality before re-entering any power-sharing executive with Sinn Fein.
Devolved government was suspended over allegations of a republican spy ring.
The court case that followed collapsed and one of those involved, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since.
The British and Irish governments have given Northern Ireland's parties until 24 November to reach agreement on restoring devolution.
I wish the two governments would wake up!!
"the British and Irish governments believe."
Correction: WANT to believe
I can't believe warhorse politicians are so naive, but it seems they are! Of course, it's actually cynical - Blair will appease the IRA to AD Infinitum in order to keep the bombs from Great Britian - understandable, but misguided.
I can't figure Bertie Ahern's reasons, though...
Have there been recent terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland?
There have been a couple of recent attempts by splinter groups.
A lot of sectarian violence by both sides, still.
They're too busy selling drugs to do any terror at this time. Give them a while.
"in order to keep the bombs from Great Britian - understandable, but misguided"
You know, I wonder if that's the case. 30 years ago or so, people who now occupy senior public positions would have been at university (or not long left). From what I've read, those universities (hotbeds of the far left as usual) were sympathising with and encouraging support for PIRA's bombing campaign back then. And we also have a terrorist threat (including the most devastating one to date last year) from TROP.
Selling drugs mustn't be criminality anymore! ;)
(to carry on from my previous post)
In effect, they have always liked to be friendly with Sinn Fein/IRA
Now that you mention that - NI Secretary Peter Hain was (and still is) a moonbat in his youth.
But, it's probably for that reason that they have such an approach as appeasement!
Yeah, that's the way it is with the British Left - they see the 'Provos' as bosom buddies.
My thoughts on this lot are that their sympathies were those of moonbats but, having attained power, they see the way things really are (bit of realpolitic), and recognise that they can't do things the way they would have liked to on campus when (in the words of Henry Kissinger) the stakes were low.
Bit off thread but I've read the left described (Kevin Myers) as self haters - and it all clicks into place. Foreign countries and cultures seem to always be given priority above their own. They will always sympathise with anybody who operates against the UK's interest.
Still, I think events have changed things somewhat. PIRA have to confine themselves to gangsterism (if that's the right word) as terrorism went out of the window after 911.
That's true - something I've often wondered about, what happens to left-wing idealists when acquire political power. I guess they either grow up, or go mad!
Bit off thread but I've read the left described (Kevin Myers) as self haters - and it all clicks into place. Foreign countries and cultures seem to always be given priority above their own. They will always sympathise with anybody who operates against the UK's interest.
I like Kevin Myers - he usually hits it on the nail. Self hatred is the best explaination of the left's outlook - it explains why they are so willing to appease Islamofascists and Hibernofascists a like.
Still, I think events have changed things somewhat. PIRA have to confine themselves to gangsterism (if that's the right word) as terrorism went out of the window after 911.
I think the IRA has higher aims than mere gangsterism - they want to overthrow Irish democracy, I regard the 'ceasefire' as nothing more than a tactical retreat in order to gain respectibility in Irish politics - and it's working with a sizeable minority of the electorates both north and south of the border. The gangsterism is not an end, but a means to an end - acquire funds and power to put the squeeze on the Irish Republic.
Hain reached his level of incompetence vandalising cricket pitches in the 60s. Amazing how high some people go tho' of course we mustn't forget "something" floats.
Hehehe!
Blair has appointed increasingly incompetent NI Secretaries of State during his reign - it troubles me to say it, but Mo Mowlan was the best of a bad lot!
Or else what? Use harsher language?
They'll probably start calling them names WHILE wagging the finger!!
Bertie Ahern: Please, please, PLEASE, Gerry - don't overthrow Irish democracy - I'll offer you a coalition government if you promise! *puppy dog eyes*
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