We'll pursue IRA's illegal assets - McDowell

The recent wind-down of IRA criminality will not stop the British and Irish governments hunting down its illegal assets, it was claimed tonight.

The recent wind-down of IRA criminality will not stop the Irish and British governments hunting down its illegal assets, it was claimed tonight.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the terrorist group remains an unlawful organisation and the Belfast-based Assets Recovery Agency and the Criminal Assets Bureau in Dublin would continue to pursue it.

Echoing the general findings of yesterday’s Independent Monitoring Commission report, the minister told the Dáil parliament that no IRA-sponsored crime had occurred since it announced an end to its armed campaign on July 28.

But he said he wanted to stress that the IRA was still an illegal, treasonable organisation under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.

“Until it changes its rules and constitution and becomes a lawful organisation, membership of it and all its assets are unlawful,” he said.

“All of the proceeds of IRA crime, of smuggling and robberies over many years are forfeitable to the state.”

The minister said the ARA and CAB would pursue those proceeds inside and outside the state.

“There is no question of a line being drawn across the page in relation to IRA criminal proceeds,” he added.

Mr McDowell said he refused to believe that the IRA had nothing to do with last December’s £26.5m Northern Bank robbery in Belfast.

“This House would be well advised to pay no attention to those denials,” he said.

He said he was unaware of any IRA criminality committed by the IRA’s 1,100-1,500 members in Northern Ireland and the Republic since July 28.

But he added: “I have no doubt that some of them were capable of sadistic and thuggish activities in the past and they may be tempted to do these things on their own account again in the future.

“They cannot adhere to the July 28 statement and engage in any breaches of the law of any kind whatsoever.”

On the subject of election funding, he told Opposition justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe: “In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin claims to have spent less in recent elections than the Alliance Party – only a child would believe that from the evidence on the ground.”