Kennedy tells Sinn Féin to end links to IRA

Mary Dundon, Political Reporter, Washington

Following a meeting with the family of murdered Belfast man Robert McCartney, Mr Kennedy said their presence in Washington sent a powerful signal that it was time for the IRA to end all criminal activity and cease to exist.

“No political party in the democratic west could or should have a private army and should not be involved in criminality. This is a golden opportunity for Sinn Féin to indeed once and for all separate themselves from that type of support in terms of the IRA and criminality,” Mr Kennedy said.