IMC reports IRA 'radically' changed

The Twelfth Independent Monitoring Commission report has today been released and has stated that the IRA has 'radically' changed and that some of its most important structures have been dismantled.

Today's report has been the IMC's most positive report so far in regards to the IRA, which has said that it no longer wishes to continue with violence and has added that it no longer has the capacity to do so.

However, the report said that although some of the paramilitary organisation's members are still involved in violence, they are acting against the authority of the group's leadership.

The 12th annual report also mentioned the murder of British agent and Sinn Fein leader Denis Donaldson in April this year, and added that there was not yet enough evidence or intelligence information to establish who carried out the killing.

The IMC further stated PIRA:

• has taken further steps to run down its paramilitary war machine
• has disbanded "military" structures including the general headquarters and departments responsible for engineering, training and procurement
• has stood down volunteers and stopped allowances
• capability has been further eroded by inactivity
• there has been no recruiting (appears to have directed those seeking to join to Sinn Fein) and no indications of illegal intelligence gathering
• there has been no PIRA shooting in the past six months, and no sanctioned "punishment" attacks although there were two unsanctioned assaults
• individual members remain involved in serious crime including smuggling, fuel laundering and money laundering but this does not call into question the leadership's stance against criminality

Commenting on the report's findings, Prime Minister Tony Blair today said that he he hopes that today's findings will help efforts to restore devolution by the November 24 deadline.

He said: “The government thanks the members of the Independent Monitoring Commission for their 12th report, and acknowledges the painstaking, methodical and objective way in which they have conducted their assessments of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland during the past three years.”

“As they themselves note the situation now has been transformed from what it was three years ago – particularly in regard to the IRA.

“As the report concludes the IRA is not the same organization it was three years ago.

“Three years ago it was the most sophisticated and potentially the most dangerous of the (paramilitary) groups, possessed of the largest arsenal of guns and other material. It is now firmly set on a political strategy, eschewing terrorism and other forms of crime. In this process there has been a loss of paramilitary capability. The leadership has taken a firm stance against the involvement of members in criminality, both through public statements and internal directions.”

He welcomed that conclusion that the leadership of the IRA “does not consider a return to terrorism in any way a viable option” and that it “continues to direct its members not to engage in criminal activity” and its statement that in the period since Gerry Adams’ April 2005 statement “the Sinn Fein leadership has delivered on the intent set out in it.”

Mr Blair added: “The government also acknowledges the report’s conclusion that some members of the UDA and UVF continue to try to move their organizations away from violence and criminality – though, like the IMC, we believe there is much more to do if the loyalist organizations are to match the profound change brought about by the IRA.

“Given that change, we agree with the report’s conclusion that there is now “convincing evidence of the IRA’s continuing commitment to the political path” and believe that it is no longer credible to suggest otherwise.”

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern added: “These positive and clear-cut findings are of the utmost importance and significance. They are evidence that the security landscape in Northern Ireland has been radically altered. It is now clearly apparent that the IRA has neither the intent nor the interest in restarting its paramilitary campaign.

“Prime Minister Blair and I will meet the parties in Scotland next week for intensive discussions aimed at achieving the restoration of the devolved institutions by the 24 November deadline.

“It is time to make decisions and for Northern Ireland to look to the future.”

The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004 to monitor both paramilitary activity and the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.

(EF/SP)