IRA must sever all links with criminality, say PDs

THE Progressive Democrats last night said it would not support any peace deal in the North unless the IRA unambiguously committed itself to end its link with criminality.

A special meeting of the PD parliamentary party unanimously endorsed the position of party leader and Tánaiste Mary Harney that the issues which prevented a historic breakthrough went much wider and deeper than the sole question of photographic evidence. In particular, the party homed in on what it said was the failure of the IRA to state that it would uphold and not endanger the personal rights and safety of others. This committed the IRA to sever all links with criminality, an issue on which Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has been particularly outspoken.

The party argued that there were four other commitments that the IRA and Sinn Féin had failed to deliver and which remained outstanding before a deal could be struck. The party’s spokesperson last night said the criminality issue was “absolutely fundamental” for the PDs.