Murphy, McDowell to discuss drive against IRA

NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Michael McDowell meet today to discuss their joint drive against the IRA, 24 hours before Mr Murphy tells the House of Commons what sanctions he will take against Sinn Féin over the bank robbery.

His statement follows a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission that the IRA carried out the robbery and leading members of Sinn Féin knew of and sanctioned the heist.

Mr Murphy is being pressed by unionists to set in motion the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and exclusion of Sinn Féin. But he is more likely to take financial sanctions.