Amnesty Deadline For Paramilitary Groups

The people at the heart of Northern Ireland paramilitarism have been given until St Valentine's Day 2010 to hand over all illegal weaponry, it has been revealed.

Dubbed as the 'last chance' for loyalist and republican paramilitaries, the Government has laid down an amnesty deadline for terrorists, across the province, still holding on to guns and explosives.

The NIO Secretary of State warned those who choose to defy instructions would face legal charges.

Shaun Woodward's announcement came the same week that loyalists planted four blast bombs close to a children's play park in south Belfast.

Mr Woodward said he would seek Parliamentary approval to extend legislation introduced before the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in a bid to persuade all the terrorist organisations to hand over guns and explosives.

IRA leaders agreed to decommission more than three years ago, however, loyalist factions, including the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), have retained their arms.

Guns, ammunition and explosives surrendered to the international decommissioning body, headed-up by General John de Chastelain, are not subject to forensic testing or criminal proceedings, as stipulated in the 1997 Northern Ireland Decommission Act.

Yesterday, Mr Woodward said those still holding weapons had "hit the end of the track".

"The recent political progress towards devolution of justice and policing is a further clear demonstration that society in Northern Ireland has moved on," said the Secretary of State.

"It is time that those holding illegal weapons moved on as well.

"They have tested the patience of the community for long enough.

"This is their final opportunity to join the rest of society in building a shared future for Northern Ireland or else face the consequences," he added.

See: SF Demands Disclosure Over Loyalist Blast Bombs

(PR)