Give credence only when the IRA fulfils its promises with deeds

THE IRA formally called off another campaign on Thursday. Sinn Féin leaders have basically got the IRA to affirm what they promised when they signed the Good Friday Agreement more than seven years ago.

The statement should be welcomed, because it is clear and unambiguous. All members of the IRA have been ordered to dump their weapons and "assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means".

The IRA has also authorised its representatives to engage immediately with the decommissioning body to put IRA weapons beyond use in a verifiable way that will enhance public confidence as quickly as possible. Two church representatives one Catholic and the other Protestant are to be invited to verify the decommissioning process.