British official says IRA is no longer involved in crime

A British government official has said he believes the IRA is honouring its commitment to cease all criminal and paramilitary activity.

Sean Woodward, a minister in the Northern Ireland Office, said today that the available information suggested the IRA was no longer involved in organised crime.

The organisation promised to end all non-political activity last July.

However, the Irish and British governments, as well as the other parties in the North, are waiting for a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission next month before deciding whether this assurance has been implemented.