No talks with Real IRA, says Ahern

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern insisted last night that no negotiations took place between the Government and the Real IRA after the Omagh bombing.

A report in a Sunday paper claimed his special advisor, Martin Mansergh, had asked a Catholic priest to act as a conduit between the Irish Government and the Real IRA leadership.

The report also claimed Mr Mansergh had made phone contact with the priest during his discussions with the Real IRA (RIRA) three weeks after the Omagh bombing.

A RIRA ceasefire was announced two days later and round-the-clock police surveillance was subsequently lifted, the newspaper report claimed.

These allegations prompted both Fine Gael and Labour to call on the Taoiseach yesterday to make a full statement on the matter.

But Mr Ahern dismissed the allegations and insisted that no negotiations took place between the Government and Real IRA after the Omagh bombing.“It is very easy to make a full statement if there was no contact between the Government and the Real IRA,” Mr Ahern said.

The Taoiseach did not comment on the claim that Mr Mansergh had any contact with the RIRA.

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen said it was a ludicrous contention to suggest any contacts were made between the Government and Real IRA after Omagh.

When contacted by the Sunday Business Post, Mr Mansergh would not comment on the talks, but he said it was ludicrous to suggest the Government agreed to drop its investigation into the RIRA’s role in the Omagh bombing in return for a ceasefire.

Asked why the blanket surveillance of the RIRA stopped when the ceasefire was in place, Mr Mansergh said. “Obviously, when there is a credible ceasefire in place, there comes a moment when saturation surveillance is no longer required quite as much.”

Both Fine Gael and Labour will continue to put pressure on the Taoiseach in the Dáil this week to make a full statement on the matter.

Labour Party leader, Pat Rabbitte, said the relatives of the victims of the bombing are entitled to an explanation from Mr Ahern.

He added that these events were taking place at a time when the Dáil had been recalled to enact legislation giving the gardaí extra powers to deal with the Real IRA.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was incumbent on the Taoiseach to explain to the Dáil if the Government offered any concessions to the RIRA after the Omagh bombing.

Last week, the Government denied claims in a Channel 4 report that an Irish Government Minister had struck a deal to get a ceasefire.