IRA may declare it’s to disband in next few weeks

THERE is growing expectation that the IRA may make the historic declaration that it is disbanding within the next few weeks.

With contacts between all parties intensifying in recent weeks, reliable sources told the Irish Examiner yesterday that the Provisionals will announce that it is standing down by the end of this month and not in mid-July as was widely expected.

While the Government yesterday refused to speculate on when it expects the organisation to give its response to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, recent public pronouncements by leading players hinted at an earlier date.