Ervine warns Unionists not to dismiss IRA statement

David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, which speaks for the Ulster Volunteer Force, said the IRA statement, released to the republican newspaper An Phoblacht and Dublin newsrooms, should not be dismissed out of hand.

‘‘It’s been a long time in coming and we should acknowledge the fact that it has arrived and hope that maybe it heralds a new attitude,’’ he said.