IMC asked to prepare special report on IRA activities

The Irish and British Governments have asked the Independent Monitoring Commission to prepare a special report assessing how far the Provisional IRA has gone towards winding up its activities.

The surprise request is believed to have been made as part of efforts to push ahead with the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Stormont.

The move was supposed to have happened last May, but the DUP is continuing to block it, saying unionists still need time to assess the IRA's future intentions.

The DUP has repeatedly said it will not contemplate the devolution of policing and justice until the IRA Army Council has been disbanded.

The last report from the IMC said the IRA was honouring its vow to end illegality, with no evidence of intelligence-gathering or any violent activity by the organisation.