Sinn Féin must distance from IRA says Bertie Ahern

The former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said Sinn Féin will suffer the most if they don't distance themselves from the IRA.

Yesterday's report by the PSNI and MI5 claims the IRA still maintains an army council and suggests that Provisional IRA members still believe the army council has influence over Sinn Féin policy.

The report said the group is committed to the peace process, but individual members are engaged in criminal activity including smuggling.

Bertie Ahern has said we need to move on from the days when the IRA remained in existence to help control the spread of dissident republicans.

“The biggest people who will suffer from that I would contend that is Sinn Féin," Mr Ahern said.

"Because if it continues on, that there are people close to Sinn Féin or people who are in the IRA close to Sinn Féin, who engage in these types of activities, that will continue to have them on the back foot.”