RIR must go for agreement, says McGuinness

The Northern Ireland based units of the Royal Irish Regiment must be phased out as part of an overall agreement, Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness insisted today.

With the British government under pressure from unionists to retain 3,000 RIR soldiers based in the province Mr McGuinness said nationalists would not stand for the retention of a “unionist militia”.

He said: “They represent the jack boot of unionism on the neck of nationalists and republicans in the north.”

Last week a leaked Ministry of Defence document suggested that the Home Service battalion of the RIR would be stood down once the threat of the IRA was removed.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble reacted with fury, saying that he had been assured during negotiations with the government at Hillsborough that the Home Service units would be retained in addition to a 5,000-strong peacetime garrison.

Ulster Unionists are set to debate the British government’s declaration on how to restore devolution when the party’s ruling council of 860 members meets on June 16.

Top of the agenda will be the future of the RIR.

Mr McGuinness said it was always his understanding that the regiment would go as part of the overall settlement.

He contrasted Unionist demands for the disbandment of the IRA with the bitter opposition to the end of the RIR.

“Unionist political leaders are prepared to articulate a view for the continuing existence of a murderous organisation which is called the RIR.

“You have to see them for what they are. They are first and foremost a unionist militia. It is our view that conflict resolution inevitably involves the removal of the RIR.”

The Democratic Unionists continued to berate the Ulster Unionists and the British government over the RIR.

Policing Board member Sammy Wilson said claims by UUP negotiator Michael McGimpsey that his party had not discussed the impact of security proposals on the regiment during the Hillsborough talks in March were “shocking”.

“The reality remains that Councillor McGimpsey and his negotiating colleagues have been caught red-handed in the destruction of the RIR and granting a host of other concessions to Sinn Fein/IRA,” the east Belfast councillor said.