IRA statement believed to end war

THE IRA’s historic statement ending its armed campaign was yesterday widely hailed as a clear and unambiguous confirmation that its war is over.

The 531-word statement, made public shortly before 1pm, stated that all IRA units had been ordered to dump arms and instructed to embrace peaceful and democratic means.

The response to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adam's request in April also gave an undertaking that the IRA would "not engage in any other activities whatsoever."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he accepted this phraseology as a commitment to sever links with criminality and punishment beatings.

The statement, read out on DVD by ex-prisoner, Seánna Walsh, confirmed that it is also engaging with the decommissioning body to "complete the process to verifiably put its arms beyond use... as quickly as possible."

The Irish Examiner understands that could take place within the next 36 hours.

Mr Ahern's ringing endorsement was echoed by political leaders in Ireland, in Britain and in the US. In contrast, the UUP and the DUP, reacted with a mix of caution and scepticism.

Mr Ahern said the peace process was the most important work of any Irish politician.

"Tonight will be the first night since 1969 that we don't go to our beds feeling that same threat lies over our heads," he said.

Likewise, Tony Blair's reaction was one of unbridled optimism: "This may be the day on which, finally, after all these false dawns and dashed hopes, peace replaced war, politics replaces terror on the island of Ireland."

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Adams, flanked by 15 SF colleagues described the development as a "momentous" and courageous initiative that was a defining moment in Irish history.

He said it offered an unprecedented opportunity to revive the peace process. He called on unionists to fully embrace the principles of the Good Friday Agreement.

"If Ian Paisley does not engage then the rest of us cannot sit waiting, and hanging about until the DUP comes to terms with the need for equality on this island."

The joint statement issued by both governments stressed the need for words to be borne out by actions.

To that end, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) which assesses paramilitary activity will report in October and again in January 2006, two months earlier than expected. If the report is favourable, all-party talks to restore devolution could commence in March.

Foreign Affairs minister Dermot Ahern yesterday said he expected the IRA's final decommissioning acts to proceed rapidly.

Northern secretary Peter Hain defended his decision to release Shankill Road bomber Sean Kelly from prison on the grounds of a changed political context created by the IRA decision.

US special envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss said he was hopeful there will be a major act of decommissioning soon.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan also welcomed the statement but said it was long overdue.

DUP leader Ian Paisley reacted with scepticism. "We will judge the IRA's bona fides over the next months and years," he said.

Likewise, UUP leader Reg Empey said that unionists, having had been burnt before, needed convincing that it was more than rhetoric.