Exiled republicans 'must contact their communities'

Republicans banished abroad by the IRA are free to return but must first contact their communities, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said today.

The terrorist group has exiled scores of people in the North for engaging in anti-social behaviour in their localities.

But Mr Adams said today that the IRA no longer posed any threat to those republicans too fearful to return home.

“Take the recent IRA statement, as I do, in which it said it would cease all activity. Therefore the IRA is a threat to nobody.

“There is no threat as far as I can see from the IRA.

“Would I encourage people to come back? Let those who were committing offences within their communities contact their communities about that.”

Mr Adams urged everybody to use common sense when dealing with the matter.

“Let’s be serious about all of this and work this out in a therapeutic way.

“All of these matters are quite raw. We saw this yesterday from the television footage of the debate in the House of Commons so let’s deal with all of these matters in as gentle a way as possible.”

There were emotional scenes in the British parliament yesterday as legislation granting an amnesty to on-the-run (OTR) fugitives was given its second reading.

Under the controversial law, those wanted by police for offences committed before the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998 will be free to return home without any court charges.

The British government, which faced significant opposition to the proposal from Northern and opposition MPs, said it was necessary to kick-start the stalled peace process.

But Mr Adams said today that the original proposals agreed at Weston Park in a statement by the Irish and British governments did not involve members of the British Crown forces.

“The legislation which was brought forward by the British government was in breach of commitments made to us, going back seven years,” he said.

Speaking in Dublin, the West Belfast MP said he also wanted to see all uncompleted aspects of the Good Friday Agreement resolved.

“Hundreds of families have been bereaved through the direct actions of the British Crown forces and none of those soldiers have been held accountable.

“And hundreds more have been bereaved through the policy of collusion pursued as an administrative practice by British governments for a very long time.”