Sinn Féin has no control over IRA money, says Ahern

SINN FÉIN has no control over IRA finances and can not be asked to return the paramilitary organisation’s “ill-gotten gains”, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern indicated yesterday.

He said the linking of Sinn Féin to the IRA “was not helpful to the (peace) process at this stage”.

Prior to the Northern Ireland talks at St Andrew’s last week, DUP leader Ian Paisley insisted that Sinn Féin not only had to endorse the PSNI, but ensure the proceeds of IRA crime were returned, referring to them as “ill-gotten gains”.