Defiant IRA withdraws offer to scrap all weapons

THE IRA last night dramatically withdrew its commitments to decommission its weapons in an act of defiance that will have serious implications for the future of the peace process.

In a hard-hitting statement, signed P O’Neill, the Provisionals rejected the assertion of the two governments that the IRA was involved in continuing paramilitary and criminal activity. The statement went on to unequivocally say that its offer to destroy all its weapons was off the table.

In a clear reference to the continuing fallout from the Northern Bank robbery and punishment shootings, the IRA said the claims pointing the finger at the Provisional movement had “tried our patience to the limits”.

It claimed the reason it was withdrawing its offers to disarm was because the British and Irish Governments had withdrawn their commitments and obligations.

“We do not intend to remain quiescent within this unacceptable and unstable situation,” said the statement. “It has tried our patience to the limit.”

The tipping point for the statement was said by reliable sources last night to be the joint press conference given by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Wednesday when they said that IRA criminality remained the one outstanding obstacle to achieving a settlement on devolution in the North.

While the IRA statement had not been signalled, it followed angry denials by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and its chief negotiator Martin McGuinness that the IRA remained the major stumbling block.

Last night, Mr Adams said: “The IRA statement is obviously a direct consequence of the retrograde stance of the two governments. It is evidence of a deepening crisis and I regret that very much.

“The two governments have opted for confrontation. They are engaging in the sterile politics of the blame game without any regard for the consequences.”

The statement launches an angry broadside against the Government for becoming complicit in what it claims is a sustained campaign to ostracise and criminalise the IRA.

“We will not betray the courage of the hunger strikers either by tolerating criminality within our own ranks or false allegations of criminality against our organisation by petty politicians motivated by selfish interests, instead of the national need for a successful conclusion to the peace process,” it said.

The IRA statement comes after a month of recrimination and accusation where Sinn Féin has found itself increasingly isolated, amid continuing allegations that the Provisionals were behind the £26 million December 20 raid as well as four documented incidents of punishment shooting in the past two months.

It has led to a huge deterioration in Sinn Féin’s relationship with the Government.

Mr Ahern contended that the Sinn Féin leadership must have had prior knowledge of the raid, comments that drew angry responses from Mr Adams.

While the statement will further deepen the divide between Sinn Féin and the two governments, informed Government sources downplayed the implications for the peace process.

Seen as a gesture of reprisal following the removal by the Government of commitments made during the failed negotiations last December, the sources said, while disappointing, it would not fatally undermine the process.

Last night a Government spokesperson said it had no response to the statement.