McCrea: IRA have no intention of disarming

Democratic Unionist Assembly member the Rev William McCrea said it was clear from the latest de Chastelain report that the IRA had no intention of disarming.

He claimed unionists would not tolerate any watering down of the decommissioning process, insisting weapons must actually be destroyed.

‘‘If you listen to David Trimble what he has been calling for is a gesture on arms but a gesture is insufficient,’’ the South Antrim MLA said.

‘‘The IRA and the de Chastelain Commission talk about putting arms beyond use. What exactly does it mean? Does it mean the sealing of a bunker which can be removed by blasting it off?

‘‘That is unacceptable. The DUP believes in full decommissioning - the actual destruction of IRA and other paramilitaries’ weapons.’’

Mr McCrea said there should be moves to exclude Sinn Fein from the Stormont Executive.

He also claimed the de Chastelain Commission had ‘‘had its day.

‘‘A lot has been spent on an exercise which never really was going anywhere on the arms issue.

‘‘There was never any intention on the IRA’s part to resign. This has been a very costly exercise at a time when hospitals are being closed and heart operations are being cancelled.’’