ARMS HAND-IN PRIORITY
Arms hand-in 'must be priority': McCartney
By Noel McAdam
UNITED Kingdom Unionist leader Robert McCartney today warned there was no hope of First Minister David Trimble taking office with Sinn Fein without substantial decommissioning.
And he called on Sinn Fein to co-operate fully with the security forces to remove those responsible for the Omagh outrage from society.
Mr McCartney broke off from his holiday yesterday and visited Omagh - but missed meeting Tony Blair after the Prime Minister left the province.
"I wanted to ask Mr Blair what is the difference between this group which is now doing what Sinn
Fein/IRA was doing for the last 25 years," he said. "After all, it worked for Sinn Fein/IRA, since it looks as if they will be going to take part in matters of government man. Why should these people now be different?
"There is no difference between Sinn Fein/IRA and this group, in terms of their objectives or their attitude to violence as it is required. The only difference is that the Provisional IRA is saying that, for the present, they will achieve more by political means but retain the means to return to violence."
The North Down MP said he would also be asking Mr Blair and Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan how they hoped to hunt down the Omagh killers when those responsible for Enniskillen, La Mon, Greysteel and other atrocities remained free.
"Mr Blair should also be saying to (Gerry Adams that since the people behind Omagh are former intimate associates of Sinn Fein/ IRA he should be helping with any information about dumps, whereabouts and also actively beginning decommissioning," he added.
"Mr Trimble had difficulties before this, but I do not think now he has a hope in hell of persuading his Assembly members to allow him to sit in government with Sinn Fein without substantial decommissioning having started," said Mr McCartney.
By Noel McAdam
UNITED Kingdom Unionist leader Robert McCartney today warned there was no hope of First Minister David Trimble taking office with Sinn Fein without substantial decommissioning.
And he called on Sinn Fein to co-operate fully with the security forces to remove those responsible for the Omagh outrage from society.
Mr McCartney broke off from his holiday yesterday and visited Omagh - but missed meeting Tony Blair after the Prime Minister left the province.
"I wanted to ask Mr Blair what is the difference between this group which is now doing what Sinn
Fein/IRA was doing for the last 25 years," he said. "After all, it worked for Sinn Fein/IRA, since it looks as if they will be going to take part in matters of government man. Why should these people now be different?
"There is no difference between Sinn Fein/IRA and this group, in terms of their objectives or their attitude to violence as it is required. The only difference is that the Provisional IRA is saying that, for the present, they will achieve more by political means but retain the means to return to violence."
The North Down MP said he would also be asking Mr Blair and Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan how they hoped to hunt down the Omagh killers when those responsible for Enniskillen, La Mon, Greysteel and other atrocities remained free.
"Mr Blair should also be saying to (Gerry Adams that since the people behind Omagh are former intimate associates of Sinn Fein/ IRA he should be helping with any information about dumps, whereabouts and also actively beginning decommissioning," he added.
"Mr Trimble had difficulties before this, but I do not think now he has a hope in hell of persuading his Assembly members to allow him to sit in government with Sinn Fein without substantial decommissioning having started," said Mr McCartney.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0041
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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