NIO Boss Underlines Dissident Threat

There remains a "very real and serious threat from dissident republicans, intent on causing death and serious injury".

That's the view of the NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson who has just given his view on the 23rd Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report on levels of paramilitary activity.

The IMC report published today by the Government, acknowledged the serious threat with Owen Paterson commenting: "The IMC report that the criminal justice system offers a potent response to paramilitaries, particularly now it is owned by and accountable to the people of Northern Ireland.

"While dissident republicans remain highly active and dangerous, the IMC confirm that their activities are in no way a reappearance of something comparable to the old 'PIRA' campaign, not least because of community support for the political process and the devolution of policing and justice.

"The General Election showed that there is overwhelming support for parties who want to make the political process work," he continued.

"I agree that recent significant acts of decommissioning by both loyalist and republican paramilitaries mark a sea change in paramilitary activity.

"Northern Ireland still faces serious paramilitary challenges, but the decision by many to eschew violence, is a hugely important signal of change," he said, hopefully.

The IMC report underlined the capabilities of the dissident republican groups that have been responsible for a string of shootings and bombings, including a recent high-profile bomb attack on MI5's Northern Ireland headquarters.

But the IMC said the groups are incapable of derailing the peace process: "In particular, the range and nature of RIRA's activities in the six months under review were, by any yardstick, a very serious matter," said the IMC report.

"However it is important to point out that this is in no way a reappearance of something comparable to the Provisional IRA campaign."

Its latest assessment of paramilitary activity covers from 1 September last year to the end of February 2010.

(BMcC/GK)