MINISTER WARNS OF DANGER IN STORING ARMS
Minister warns of danger in storing arms
THE Irish government warned yesterday that anyone agreeing to store paramilitary arms faced having their assets seized in addition to lengthy prison terms.
Justice Minister John O'Donoghue, right, spelled out Dublin's uncompromising message as efforts continued to blunt the activities of dissident republicans, responsible for last year's Omagh bomb attack.
Targeted groups include the Real IRA, elements within the Irish National Liberation Army and the Continuity IRA, the only terror faction not to have declared a ceasefire after the Omagh outrage, when 29 people died and more than 200 were injured.
In recent weeks, gardai have made dozens of arrests, resulting in a number of suspects being charged in Dublin's anti-terrorist special criminal court, and seized arms, ammunition and potentially incriminating documents.
The ongoing Garda activity followed intelligence information, relayed to forces on both sides of the Irish border, that rebel republicans opposed to the present political strategy of the Sinn Fein-IRA alliance were planning a new campaign of violence aimed at wrecking the entire Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr O'Donoghue, speaking at a Dublin conference, said those believing they could subjugate the will of the majority of the Irish people "should think again."
He pointedly underscored a section of the amended legislation extending to the confiscation of farms where paramilitaries were found to have stored their arsenals.
THE Irish government warned yesterday that anyone agreeing to store paramilitary arms faced having their assets seized in addition to lengthy prison terms.
Justice Minister John O'Donoghue, right, spelled out Dublin's uncompromising message as efforts continued to blunt the activities of dissident republicans, responsible for last year's Omagh bomb attack.
Targeted groups include the Real IRA, elements within the Irish National Liberation Army and the Continuity IRA, the only terror faction not to have declared a ceasefire after the Omagh outrage, when 29 people died and more than 200 were injured.
In recent weeks, gardai have made dozens of arrests, resulting in a number of suspects being charged in Dublin's anti-terrorist special criminal court, and seized arms, ammunition and potentially incriminating documents.
The ongoing Garda activity followed intelligence information, relayed to forces on both sides of the Irish border, that rebel republicans opposed to the present political strategy of the Sinn Fein-IRA alliance were planning a new campaign of violence aimed at wrecking the entire Northern Ireland peace process.
Mr O'Donoghue, speaking at a Dublin conference, said those believing they could subjugate the will of the majority of the Irish people "should think again."
He pointedly underscored a section of the amended legislation extending to the confiscation of farms where paramilitaries were found to have stored their arsenals.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0333
Published Date: 19-Nov-99
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