Blair under pressure over IRA activity
British prime minister Tony Blair was under fresh pressure to take action against Sinn Fein today following new disclosures about IRA activity.
Hundreds of people have been warned of a potential security risk from the IRA following a fresh discovery in computer files seized during police raids earlier this year.
Security sources confirmed more politicians as well as judges, forensic scientists, police and loyalists have been informed that their details were discovered on suspected IRA intelligence files following the break-in at the top security Castlereagh police station.
A further examination of a computer seized during a raid on a republican’s home in Belfast has uncovered some old material but other entries had been updated, with the word ‘‘target’’ typed against some of the entries, it emerged last night.
The hard line Democratic Unionist Party demanded Tony Blair act against republicans.
Assembly member Sammy Wilson said today: ‘‘We were told that should a scenario like this occur that action would be taken.
‘‘The Prime Minister promised that he would not allow people to stay in government if they were linked to an organisation which is carrying out a campaign of terror.
‘‘He promised that if people did misbehave when they came out of prison under licence, they would be put back in prison.’’
The latest disclosures had ‘‘huge implications’’ for Mr Blair, said Mr Wilson.
‘‘This is one in a long line of sins now put at the door of the IRA.’’
The allegations have been rubbished by Sinn Fein national chairman Mitchel McLaughlin.
The Foyle MLA said: ‘‘It is vitally important that everyone remembers that the source of this story and of other similar stories in recent months are the same people who planned and plotted and conspired with loyalist death squads to kill political opponents, hundreds of Catholics, Protestants and the lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson.
‘‘They have no integrity. They have no credibility. Their agenda is to destroy the peace process. They must not be allowed.’’
Mr McLaughlin said the production and timing of the latest revelation was ‘‘clearly linked to the concerted efforts of the spy masters and spooks within the British system who are determined to undermine the peace process and to further confuse Unionist opinion through the drip feeding of unsubstantiated allegations.’’
