THE North of Ireland’s largest unionist party has said normal business “cannot continue” in Stormont until the ongoing debacle about the existence of the Provisional IRA is resolved.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers this afternoon for crisis talks.
Party leader Nigel Dodds said prior to the meeting that he and his party were willing to move to exclude Sinn Féin from the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) over claims the PIRA is still in existence.
Following his meeting with Ms Villiers today, Mr Dodds said: “If other parties do not step up to the plate with us, or if the Government does not take sufficient action to deal with this matter, then we will bring about the circumstances to create the time and space in which this matter will be resolved.”
He also revealed Ms Villiers supported his party in putting a stop to Stormont affairs until the matter is resolved, saying: “I'm glad that the Secretary of State recognises that it cannot be business as usual.”
Last week a senior PSNI officer drew a link between the shooting of former PIRA member Kevin McGuigan and the PIRA themselves – which caused widespread discussion on the existence of the organisation.
Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) George Hamilton later revealed that his force believes the PIRA are still in existence but not for “paramilitary purposes”.
He added that there was no evidence to link the organisation to the murder.
But this has now led to doubt over the future of the North of Ireland’s Government.
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) yesterday announced its intention to form an opposition by pulling out of the NIE, with leader Mike Nesbitt saying a “lack of trust” was the reason behind the move.
Sinn Féin have been the only ones to rubbish the claims so far, with Gerry Adams saying: “The IRA is gone and not coming back.”
But Ireland’s Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald did not mince her words when she spoke of Sinn Féin.
Speaking on behalf of the Irish Government yesterday, Minister Fitzgerald said: “To be blunt, making organisational judgements is complicated by the fact that many, if not all, members of PIRA were members of Sinn Féin.”
“Will Gerry Adams apologise for the dreadful legacy of crime and lawlessness left in the wake of the brutal campaign which PIRA waged and say what steps he takes to ensure there is no place in Sinn Féin for people who engage in serious crime?”
Neither an Taoiseach Enda Kenny or British Prime Minister David Cameron have spoken out on the Stormont political fallout yet – but Mr Dodds added that he and his party would be seeking a meeting with Mr Cameron.
