Support growing for United Ireland, says IRA

Support for a united Ireland is growing stronger each day, the IRA claimed today.

In its annual Easter message, the Republican terror group expressed its hope that electoral support for Sinn Fein in the Irish Republic would grow as it did in Northern Ireland last year.

The statement did not contain any confirmation that a second move by the organisation to put its arms beyond use is either imminent or has taken place.

The Easter message, which was carried in today’s edition of the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht/Republican News, said: ‘‘Since Easter last year, Sinn Fein has increased its electoral mandate in the six counties to unprecedented levels of popular support.

‘‘The army recognises that there is the potential to replicate this progress in the coming months in the 26 Counties.

‘‘It is the duty of all republicans and nationalists to support this project.

‘‘More and more people understand and embrace the republican analysis. Their voice and their demands for the reunification of Ireland grows stronger by the day.‘‘

The IRA leadership said it believed that Irish unity was the only way to secure justice and equality.

It also claimed that since 1994, its leadership and volunteers had demonstrated their commitment to ‘ensure that a lasting and durable peace settlement can be found’’.

The statement, under the pen-name of P O’Neill, added: ‘‘The securing of a democratic peace settlement is not solely a task for republicans and we are mindful of the primary obligation of the British government and of the unionist leadership.

‘‘The Irish government too has its responsibility.

‘‘The Leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) will not be deflected from our historic task and we pledge that our work will continue until we have achieved a democratic socialist republic.’’

The IRA statement was issued last night ahead of a series of rallies this weekend to mark the 1916 Easter Rising.

The rallies are due to be addressed by leading Sinn Fein figures such as Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and a number of the party’s candidates in the upcoming Irish General Election.