IRA 'must stand down and embrace democracy'

The forthcoming IRA statement must clearly show the terrorist group is committed to “stand down” and embrace the democratic process, it was claimed today.

Former US Congressman Bruce Morrison said that unionist politicians must then be ready to take their place in the wider political spectrum in Northern Ireland.

The ally of former US president Bill Clinton said of the expected IRA declaration: “Everybody is asking for a clear statement they they will stand down as a military army and pursue their republican ideals through the political process.

“They must also cease from engaging in criminal or anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Morrison, who was part of a US delegation that met republicans in Belfast before the IRA’s 1994 ceasefire, added that a definitive statement from the terrorist group would encourage unionists to embrace power-sharing with Sinn Féin.

“I cannot speak for the unionist community, but if unionist politicians want to become involved in the government of Northern Ireland, they need to find a way to engage in the wider political representation process.”

Mr Morrison, who secured 48,000 “Morrison Visas” for Irish illegals in the US in the 1980s, was speaking in Dublin at an event organised by the Immigration Council of Ireland on the Government’s proposals on immigration and residency.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today that he hoped the long-awaited IRA statement would come “some time in the second half of July”.

He added: “If it goes longer than that, it won’t be good for the process. It wouldn’t be the end of the world but it would certainly help us if we get the statement.”