DUP express anger at RIR decision during Hain meeting

The DUP has expressed its anger at the Government's decision to disband the home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) during a meeting with NI Secretary of State Peter Hain on Wednesday.

Dr Ian Paisley said the majority of people in Northern Ireland were "angry" at the decision and that the IRA was "having it their own way" following its statement last Thursday saying that the organisation was to stand down.

Mr Hain said the DUP had put its views "extremely strongly and critically," something which he "understood." The NI Secretary of State said that there would be "full consultation" on the future of the home battalions.

Dr Paisley will now meet Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday. Speaking before today's meeting he said he would "lay it on the line" to the Government that there can be no place in any future government of Northern Ireland for Sinn Fein.

He said the "solemn undertakings" made by the Prime Minister about decommissioning, the end of IRA paramilitarism and criminality and the unequivocal adherence to democratic and peaceful means have been broken.

"There has been no such decommissioning even in the mind of the IRA," the North Antrim MP said. "They have instead sought to excuse all their murders, killings and criminal acts by stating that they fully justify the armed struggle.

"Yet, the Government joins hands with the leaders of murderers and the allies of thieves to carry out a plan which will leave Ulster an easy prey to terrorist activity when, at a whim, IRA/Sinn Fein chooses to go back to the same.

"The unionist people are not to be duped. It will be my business and the business of my colleagues to lay it on the line to both the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister that there can be no place in any future government of Northern Ireland for IRA/Sinn Fein and that as the representatives of the majority of the Ulster population, we will not be engaged in any negotiations with that aim."

DUP members are also set to join the relatives of victims killed in the Shankill bombing in a meeting with Mr Hain. They said wanted to voice their concerns about last week's release of the Shankill bomber, Sean Kelly, a month after he was returned to jail at the order of the Secretary of State.

(MB/SP)