REAL HOPE
REAL HOPE
By JOE GORROD
Prisoners call off 'war' as security forces target last rebel terror gang
SECURITY chiefs have vowed to put the last renegade republican gang out of business after the Real IRA announced it was disbanding.
Officers from both sides of the border will team up to fight the Continuity IRA.
A senior security source said: "We obviously welcome any group disbanding. But we're afraid the fanatics will move over to the Continuity IRA and lash out with catastrophic results.
"We'll put all our resources on both sides of the Irish Sea into breaking them up."
The Real IRA's statement admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb in 1998 which killed 29 people, unborn twins and injured 200.
The statement came from a group of about three dozen prisoners at Portlaoise jail in the Republic.
The Real IRA said: "On Friday, September 27, in a written communication to the Army leadership, the (Real) IRA unit in Portlaoise prison took the unprecedented step of calling the Army Council to stand down with ignominy.
"We will not demean our struggle or provide succour to our enemies by revealing the comprehensive catalogue of evidence which has exposed this leadership.
"However, we do feel duty-bound to state that this Army leadership's financial motivations far outweigh their political commitment to our struggle at this time.
"IRA prisoners find this morally and politically unacceptable. We believe that the current Army leadership has forfeited all moral authority to lead the (Real) IRA.
"To date, the leadership has failed to respond to our demand. Thus we feel we are left with no option but to withdraw our allegiance from this army leadership.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to republican principles and reiterate our steadfast opposition to the Belfast Agreement and British rule in Ireland."Furthermore, in order to dispel recent, mischievous leaks to the media, we would like to state that no IRA prisoners' representative has entered negotiations with any government regarding the early release of political prisoners."
However, the order to disband could lead to a further split - mirroring the split which formed the Real IRA five years ago. Real IRA members outside the prison have yet to respond.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the statement could have "many interpretations". But he added: "Any group that's declaring their disengagement from any kind of violence in any form, I welcome."
A Government spokeswoman said they had heard the reports about disbandment but added: "It's a bit early to comment."
She insisted that the Government did not know about the announcement before it was made. The Real IRA statement came as the Provisional IRA rejected calls for it to disband.
A spokesman for the terror group said: "There is real anger at the attempt to present the IRA as a threat to the peace process.
"The IRA is not a threat to the process and will not accept the imposition of unrealistic demands."
British and Irish governments meet this week in a bid to find a way to rescue the Assembly, which was suspended last week.
Secretary of State John Reid is having his first face-to-face talks with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen since the restoration of direct rule.
Mr Ahern yesterday said re-negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement was not on the agenda.
He added his voice to the call for all paramilitary organisations to go out of business, and urged the political parties to intensify efforts to restore the suspended devolution.
Mr Ahern said: "We will not negotiate backwards and unpick an agreement that is the product of long and difficult negotiations that has been solemnly endorsed by the people of Ireland, North and South." He urged people not to panic, adding: "The important thing for everybody to do is stay calm in this.
"The Good Friday Agreement stands and we have to find a model of trust and confidence.
"The alternative doesn't bear thinking about."
Dr Reid is also set to organise a series of meetings with political parties in Belfast.
But round-table discussions involving all the parties appear unlikely after Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said they would have no impact on whether the IRA would disband - his key requirement for a return to the power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein.
Mr Trimble used his keynote address to his party annual conference on Saturday to insist IRA disbandment, not promises, was needed.
By JOE GORROD
Prisoners call off 'war' as security forces target last rebel terror gang
SECURITY chiefs have vowed to put the last renegade republican gang out of business after the Real IRA announced it was disbanding.
Officers from both sides of the border will team up to fight the Continuity IRA.
A senior security source said: "We obviously welcome any group disbanding. But we're afraid the fanatics will move over to the Continuity IRA and lash out with catastrophic results.
"We'll put all our resources on both sides of the Irish Sea into breaking them up."
The Real IRA's statement admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb in 1998 which killed 29 people, unborn twins and injured 200.
The statement came from a group of about three dozen prisoners at Portlaoise jail in the Republic.
The Real IRA said: "On Friday, September 27, in a written communication to the Army leadership, the (Real) IRA unit in Portlaoise prison took the unprecedented step of calling the Army Council to stand down with ignominy.
"We will not demean our struggle or provide succour to our enemies by revealing the comprehensive catalogue of evidence which has exposed this leadership.
"However, we do feel duty-bound to state that this Army leadership's financial motivations far outweigh their political commitment to our struggle at this time.
"IRA prisoners find this morally and politically unacceptable. We believe that the current Army leadership has forfeited all moral authority to lead the (Real) IRA.
"To date, the leadership has failed to respond to our demand. Thus we feel we are left with no option but to withdraw our allegiance from this army leadership.
"We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to republican principles and reiterate our steadfast opposition to the Belfast Agreement and British rule in Ireland."Furthermore, in order to dispel recent, mischievous leaks to the media, we would like to state that no IRA prisoners' representative has entered negotiations with any government regarding the early release of political prisoners."
However, the order to disband could lead to a further split - mirroring the split which formed the Real IRA five years ago. Real IRA members outside the prison have yet to respond.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the statement could have "many interpretations". But he added: "Any group that's declaring their disengagement from any kind of violence in any form, I welcome."
A Government spokeswoman said they had heard the reports about disbandment but added: "It's a bit early to comment."
She insisted that the Government did not know about the announcement before it was made. The Real IRA statement came as the Provisional IRA rejected calls for it to disband.
A spokesman for the terror group said: "There is real anger at the attempt to present the IRA as a threat to the peace process.
"The IRA is not a threat to the process and will not accept the imposition of unrealistic demands."
British and Irish governments meet this week in a bid to find a way to rescue the Assembly, which was suspended last week.
Secretary of State John Reid is having his first face-to-face talks with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen since the restoration of direct rule.
Mr Ahern yesterday said re-negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement was not on the agenda.
He added his voice to the call for all paramilitary organisations to go out of business, and urged the political parties to intensify efforts to restore the suspended devolution.
Mr Ahern said: "We will not negotiate backwards and unpick an agreement that is the product of long and difficult negotiations that has been solemnly endorsed by the people of Ireland, North and South." He urged people not to panic, adding: "The important thing for everybody to do is stay calm in this.
"The Good Friday Agreement stands and we have to find a model of trust and confidence.
"The alternative doesn't bear thinking about."
Dr Reid is also set to organise a series of meetings with political parties in Belfast.
But round-table discussions involving all the parties appear unlikely after Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said they would have no impact on whether the IRA would disband - his key requirement for a return to the power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein.
Mr Trimble used his keynote address to his party annual conference on Saturday to insist IRA disbandment, not promises, was needed.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/177
Published Date: 21-Oct-02
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