Warning to republicans after IRA linked to bank raid

The British government will only promote a political settlement for the North in which the IRA gives up terrorism and all forms of criminality, republicans were warned today.

In his first House of Commons statement since last month’s £26.5m (€37.8m) Northern Bank raid in Belfast was blamed on the Provisionals, Secretary of State Paul Murphy said Sinn Féin and the IRA had to respond to this demand.