Unionists react with scepticism to IRA announcement

Unionists have reacted with scepticism to news that the IRA has decommissioned all of its weapons.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said that while he accepted that some decommissioning had taken place, he did not know how much.

"We do not know how many guns, ammunition and explosives were decommissioned nor do we know how the decommissioning was carried out," Dr Paisley said.

"The so-called Independent International Commission for Decommissioning (IICD) could only say to the people of Northern Ireland that the proof that all the guns and material of the IRA were decommissioned was in an assurance given to them by the IRA.

Not one iota was given to verify that assurance. The IICD message was to trust the IRA as the IRA had indicated all weapons had been decommissioned."

The North Antrim MP also claimed that the two witnesses who were at the decommissioning process, former Methodist moderator Rev Harold Good and Belfast priest Father Alex Reid, were in no way independent.

"It must be clearly stated that both witnesses were approved by the IRA and therefore were accepted by the IRA and in no way could be independent," Dr Paisley continued.

"The fact remains that the promise made by the Prime Minister, that decommissioning must be transparent and verifiable and must satisfy everyone was broken.

"There were no photographs, no detailed inventory and no detail of the destruction of these arms. To describe today’s act as being transparent would be the falsehood of the century."

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey cautiously welcomed the moved but said that "the dismantling of the Republican movement’s criminal empire" must be completed.

"Unionism remains to be convinced of the Republican movement’s commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. The coming days and months ahead will be a crucial determinant of their bona fides," Sir Reg said.

More positive was Prime Minister Tony Blair's assessment of the news who described the announcement as an "important development".

"Successive British governments have sought final and complete decommissioning by the IRA for over ten years. Failure to deliver it had become a major impediment to moving forward the peace process," Mr Blair said.

"Today it is finally accomplished. And we have made an important step in the transition from conflict to peace in Northern Ireland."

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams described the IRA announcement as a "very full and positive response" to the appeal he made in April.

Commending the leadership of the IRA for their decision, Mr Adams said: "I know that today's announcement will be difficult for many republicans. I saw that myself as we watched the press conference of the IICD and the two independent witnesses.

"Both governments now need to be focused, decisive and creative. They need to implement the Good Friday Agreement as they have promised to do."

Related item: IRA weapons put beyond use – de Chastelain

(MB/SP)