Government responds to rise in violence

In the Commons today the government outlined a series of measures designed to reduce the rise in paramilitary violence which had culminated in the murder of Catholic father-of-one Gerard Lawlor on Sunday.

The Northern Ireland secretary John Reid revealed there would be over 250 more soldiers and police deployed in contentious interface areas, meaning that there were now more security force personnel in north Belfast than at any time since the signing of the ceasefires in 1994.

He said that the attorney general would undertake a review of police powers, bail arrangements and possible changes in criminal legislation in order to increase arrests and tackle paramilitary financing.

Also in his statement to the House following Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) this afternoon, Dr Reid said that increased security force activity had made some headway into tackling paramilitarism as since May 4, 21 loyalists were arrested with 15 charged and 12 republicans were arrested and all were charged.

Dr Reid added that he had also written to all the north's parties urging them to "reaffirm their total and absolute commitment" to the Mitchell Principles on non-violence.

Previously, during PMQs the Prime Minister repeatedly stressed that violence should not destabilise the peace process. He reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement, saying that the agreement had brought "enormous benefits" and he would "defend it to the uttermost".

The Prime Minister then demanded that paramilitary groups be "stood down as soon as possible" as there had been "appalling breaches of security". He said that the secretary of state would now give particular weight to information relating to paramilitary groups pursuing training, targeting, acquisition of materiel and development of their infrastructure and weaponry. He added that "no level of violence can be tolerated".

However, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Kilclooney (former Unionist MP Ken Maguinness) dismissed John Reid's speech as containing "absolutely nothing new".

He said that the solution to the violence carried out by "parochial thugs" would only occur when there was support for the police from both communities.

Reacting to the speech in the Commons, the leader of the Alliance Party, David Ford, said: "This statement by itself will resolve nothing. It is now incumbent on the government to turn these fine words into tough action, otherwise the Government risks even further damaging its credibility in Northern Ireland."

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness presaged the Commons statement with an appeal to Tony Blair not to censure groups at the "behest of David Trimble", but to "defend the Agreement".

(GMcG)