Sinn Féin row - McDowell must back up claims

IF either the Taoiseach or Justice Minister Michael McDowell have firm evidence that the Provisional IRA has been engaged in criminal activity at Dublin port, they should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the perpetrators are prosecuted.

In their respective roles as Government leader and Cabinet member with responsibility for maintaining law and order throughout the land, they have a bounden duty to see to it that such criminal elements are pursued relentlessly.

Blatant electioneering is the cynical if obvious explanation for Mr McDowell’s likening of Sinn Féin to the Nazis, together with his assurance that household names in the organisation are on the IRA army council.