Doherty rubbishes 'timing' allegations

Sinn Fein has denied that the IRA's move on decommissioning today was a stunt to improve its chances at the forthcoming general election in the Republic.

The party's Pat Doherty said any suggestions that the move was timed with this intention are "complete rubbish".

"It's absolutely nothing to do with that, it's to do with republicans and the IRA giving evidence of their commitment to the peace process," he said.

"The election in the south hasn't even been called yet."