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IRA 'changed radically', says IMC IRA 'changed radically', says IMC
(20 minutes later)
The IRA has changed radically and some of its most important structures have been dismantled, the body monitoring paramilitary activity has said.The IRA has changed radically and some of its most important structures have been dismantled, the body monitoring paramilitary activity has said.
The government hopes the report by the Independent Monitoring Commission will help its efforts to restore devolution in NI before the 24 November deadline.The government hopes the report by the Independent Monitoring Commission will help its efforts to restore devolution in NI before the 24 November deadline.
It is the IMC's most positive report about IRA activities to date.It is the IMC's most positive report about IRA activities to date.
It said the IRA does not want to go back to violence and no longer has the capacity to mount a sustained campaign.It said the IRA does not want to go back to violence and no longer has the capacity to mount a sustained campaign.
The IMC's 12th report, published on Wednesday, indicates that a number of key parts of the IRA's structure have been dismantled or substantially reduced.The IMC's 12th report, published on Wednesday, indicates that a number of key parts of the IRA's structure have been dismantled or substantially reduced.
It said some IRA members remain involved in crime, but that they are not acting with the authority of the organisation's leadership.
The report said there was not enough evidence or intelligence information for it to say who killed Denis Donaldson, the self-confessed British spy and former head of Sinn Fein's office at Stormont, who was shot dead in County Donegal in April.
READ THE REPORT Independent Monitoring Commission 12th report [912KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT Independent Monitoring Commission 12th report [912KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The IMC further states PIRA: Presenting the report commissioner Lord Alderdice outlined how the IRA leadership was "clamping down" on criminal activity by its members.
  • has taken further steps to run down its paramilitary war machine
    		•  "That doesn't mean that criminal activity by all members has stopped but the leadership has made public statements and internal directions, investigated incidents of breach of the policy, even expelled some members and has emphasised the importance of ensuring that business affairs are conducted in a legitimate way," he said.
  • has disbanded "military" structures including the general headquarters and departments responsible for engineering, training and procurement
    		• The report said there was not enough evidence or intelligence information for it to say who killed Denis Donaldson, the self-confessed British spy and former head of Sinn Fein's office at Stormont, who was shot dead in County Donegal in April.
  • has stood down volunteers and stopped allowances
  • capability has been further eroded by inactivity
  • there has been no recruiting (appears to have directed those seeking to join to Sinn Fein) and no indications of illegal intelligence gathering
  • there has been no PIRA shooting in the past six months, and no sanctioned "punishment" attacks although there were two unsanctioned assaults
  • individual members remain involved in serious crime including smuggling, fuel laundering and money laundering but this does not call into question the leadership's stance against criminality
    • IMC REPORTS The IRA has disbanded "military" structures including the general headquarters IMC report Real IRA 'still a threat' Loyalists 'slower to change'
    DUP leader Ian Paisley said the report showed pressure from the DUP was working.DUP leader Ian Paisley said the report showed pressure from the DUP was working.
    "As I have indicated on numerous occasions, the days of pushover unionists are gone and Sinn Fein/IRA know that they can no longer expect to be engaged in terrorist and criminal activity and be in government in Northern Ireland," he said."As I have indicated on numerous occasions, the days of pushover unionists are gone and Sinn Fein/IRA know that they can no longer expect to be engaged in terrorist and criminal activity and be in government in Northern Ireland," he said.
    IMC REPORTS The IRA has disbanded "military" structures including the general headquarters IMC report Real IRA 'still a threat' Loyalists 'slower to change'
    Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said: "The DUP are desperately scrambling to find a way out of this.Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy said: "The DUP are desperately scrambling to find a way out of this.
    "There are no excuses not to engage with other parties on the basis of their mandate.""There are no excuses not to engage with other parties on the basis of their mandate."
    In a statement, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern "warmly welcomed" the report's findings.In a statement, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern "warmly welcomed" the report's findings.
    "These positive and clear-cut findings are of the utmost importance and significance," he said."These positive and clear-cut findings are of the utmost importance and significance," he said.
    Referring to talks due to take place in Scotland next week aimed at restoring devolution he said: "It is time to make decisions and for Northern Ireland to look to the future."Referring to talks due to take place in Scotland next week aimed at restoring devolution he said: "It is time to make decisions and for Northern Ireland to look to the future."
    The SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell said: "What's very clear is that the Army Council has moved forward and dismantled the war machine.The SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell said: "What's very clear is that the Army Council has moved forward and dismantled the war machine.
    "I welcome the moves the IRA have made.""I welcome the moves the IRA have made."
    HAVE YOUR SAY The only thing that will bring N Ireland's problems to an end is the total disarmament of all paramilitaries Martyn Leman, Wigan, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The only thing that will bring N Ireland's problems to an end is the total disarmament of all paramilitaries Martyn Leman, Wigan, UK Send us your comments
    Speaking earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it was now up to politicians to move forward. PUP leader David Ervine said he did not accept that the IMC was independent.
    "People need to make their minds up, has Northern Ireland changed fundamentally? The answer's yes," Mr Hain said. "There is a trend that suggests that our war is over," he said.
    "Is there now a security threat from the IRA? The answer's no. And that's an astonishing change, absolutely fundamental change. The UUP's Dermot Nesbit said that while "IRA terrorism and paramilitary activity" has ceased the "organisation remained".
    On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said he hoped the IMC report would indicate that the "conflict" in Northern Ireland is over. "The IRA is still an illegal organisation and it is using illegally gained funds for political purposes," he said.
    The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.
    Most of its reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.Most of its reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.
    However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.
    Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.