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30/10/2003
McGimpsey hits out at IRA criticism
Leading Ulster Unionist representative Michael McGimpsey has reiterated that Republicans were aware of the need for transparency in the weapons decommissioning process.
His comments follow a statement from the IRA in which it said it would not be involved in further decommissioning because of the breakdown of last week's agreement.
The South Belfast Assembly candidate said: "We have made the point over and over and over again for about five years that we are not up for an invisible process.
"We still don't have a sense of when this is all going to be over. They may say now that they do not understand. They may say others have not stuck to the bargain but they knew very well and Bertie Ahern knew there were problems over transparency.''
However, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said there was anger amongst nationalists and republicans, "that once again it was republicans who delivered on their part of an agreement and once again others did not".
"The IRA played a key part in this agreement," the North Belfast Assembly candidate said. "They issued a statement, they engaged with the IICD and they put a large quantity of arms beyond use.
"It is remarkable that given the manner in which this agreement wasn't followed through on, that these comments are so measured. I believe that this is in line with the ongoing commitment of the IRA leadership to the peace process," he added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the IRA said it had honoured its commitments in an agreement and an agreed sequence. However, it hit out at the UUP for stalling the process "without a credible explanation" for doing so.
(MB)
His comments follow a statement from the IRA in which it said it would not be involved in further decommissioning because of the breakdown of last week's agreement.
The South Belfast Assembly candidate said: "We have made the point over and over and over again for about five years that we are not up for an invisible process.
"We still don't have a sense of when this is all going to be over. They may say now that they do not understand. They may say others have not stuck to the bargain but they knew very well and Bertie Ahern knew there were problems over transparency.''
However, Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said there was anger amongst nationalists and republicans, "that once again it was republicans who delivered on their part of an agreement and once again others did not".
"The IRA played a key part in this agreement," the North Belfast Assembly candidate said. "They issued a statement, they engaged with the IICD and they put a large quantity of arms beyond use.
"It is remarkable that given the manner in which this agreement wasn't followed through on, that these comments are so measured. I believe that this is in line with the ongoing commitment of the IRA leadership to the peace process," he added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the IRA said it had honoured its commitments in an agreement and an agreed sequence. However, it hit out at the UUP for stalling the process "without a credible explanation" for doing so.
(MB)
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06 May 2003
Empey challenges DUP to publish alternative proposals
Former Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey has challenged the DUP to publish their detailed proposals for ‘A Fair Deal’. In a statement, the UUP councillor said that now the Joint Declaration had been published - and with an IRA statement imminent - the time was right to see what alternatives the DUP could offer.
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Former Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey has challenged the DUP to publish their detailed proposals for ‘A Fair Deal’. In a statement, the UUP councillor said that now the Joint Declaration had been published - and with an IRA statement imminent - the time was right to see what alternatives the DUP could offer.
18 July 2001
BUSH CALLS FOR DECOMMISSIONING
US President George W Bush has called on the IRA and loyalist paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons in his most demonstrative statement regarding the Northern Ireland peace process to date. Mr Bush’s first public comments are widely regarded to increase pressure on the IRA and loyalists to break the deadlock in the political process.
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US President George W Bush has called on the IRA and loyalist paramilitary groups to decommission their weapons in his most demonstrative statement regarding the Northern Ireland peace process to date. Mr Bush’s first public comments are widely regarded to increase pressure on the IRA and loyalists to break the deadlock in the political process.
03 November 2009
Dissident Detained Leaving English Jail
An alleged police informer jailed for handling republican terrorist explosives has been arrested while leaving an English prison. Dissident Paddy Murray is being detained by PSNI detectives, with the support of English forces. The 47-year-old former IRA prisoner was handed a 25-year sentence in 1994 for possession of explosives.
Dissident Detained Leaving English Jail
An alleged police informer jailed for handling republican terrorist explosives has been arrested while leaving an English prison. Dissident Paddy Murray is being detained by PSNI detectives, with the support of English forces. The 47-year-old former IRA prisoner was handed a 25-year sentence in 1994 for possession of explosives.
09 August 2001
IRA statement offers lifeline for failing process
The IRA have dramatically revived hopes of a last minute breakthrough in the peace process by agreeing a method with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) that will see its weapons put arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
IRA statement offers lifeline for failing process
The IRA have dramatically revived hopes of a last minute breakthrough in the peace process by agreeing a method with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) that will see its weapons put arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
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