Decommissioning - Final pieces of the jigsaw

The announcement that the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) has decommissioned the remainder of its weapons is another significant step towards the establishment of civil harmony in the North.

In 2004, the UDA announced that it would help create an atmosphere to eliminate violence and the last few pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place.

The spotlight must now focus on the tiny recalcitrant minority who are persisting on the so-called republican side.

Those elements do not speak for anybody other than themselves. They are patently anti-democratic and, as such, should be identified as a vile negation of real republicanism.

Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group recognised yesterday that those on both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland can create a new future and make sure that they do not repeat the tragedies of the past 40 years. He spoke in terms of real hope as he talked about creating the environment in which Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party can function effectively in government together.

Mr Gallagher was positively glowing in his attitude towards the part played by some people in the Republic, especially President Mary McAleese’s husband, Martin, who he said at times played a “critical” role.

The President also played her part in her initiative building bridges between the two communities in the North.

People here will not be surprised that hard-line loyalist visitors, who came to the Republic to further the peace process, were welcomed hospitably. But it was particularly refreshing to hear this being acknowledged.

The peace process was never about helping either side achieve a victory over the other; it was always about ending the lunacy of political and sectarian violence. Yesterday we witnessed another significant step forward towards achieving that worthy end.