Reid to rule on IRA ceasefire after Derry shooting

The Northern Ireland secretary is expected to rule later today on whether the IRA was involved in the shooting of a bus driver in Co Londonderry last weekend – and so breach its ceasefire.

Dr Reid is expected to rule on the matter after the police submitted a report pointing to an IRA connection in the shooting of 51-year-old Danny McBrearty on Sunday.

A ruling of IRA involvement could have significant implications on the peace process, as it would lead to the disbarment of the IRA's political wing – Sinn Fein – from government. It would also be the first real test of Dr Reid's pledge to the House of Commons in July, and repeated at the Labour Party Conference this morning, that republicans will not be allowed to indulge in politics and paramilitary violence.

This spotlight has fallen on the IRA after Mr McBrearty, who was driving a group of pensioners back to Londonderry after a day trip to Co Donegal, was stopped in the Creggan and beaten with a hammer before shooting him in both legs by three masked men.

From his hospital bed, Mr McBrearty blamed the republican terrorist group for the shooting, claiming it was in retaliation for an incident last year when he and his nephew beat off an IRA attack on their home. His nephew has since moved to England fearing IRA reprisals.

Sinn Fein have denied any knowledge of who may have carried out the attack on Mr McBrearty.

However, Sinn Fein's Derry councillor Barney O'Hagan went further and accused the PSNI of involving itself in politics by allegedly discrediting republicans through "private briefings".

"We understand that the PSNI has been giving private briefings that there is forensic evidence to link the IRA to this attack," he said. "I find this strange as on a number of occasions, in respect of killings in the Belfast area over the past 12 months, we have asked for ballistic reports on weapons used. On each occasion the PSNI refused.

"I can only draw from this that there is clear political agenda at work here from the PSNI."

Reacting to the shooting incident, First Minister David Trimble said: "Sinn Fein leaders ask to be trusted. How much trust can they expect when this is how republicans treat members of the Catholic community?"

(GMcG)