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| Kevin McGuigan murder: Provisional IRA still exists, says PSNI chief | Kevin McGuigan murder: Provisional IRA still exists, says PSNI chief |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said the Provisional IRA still exists. | |
| George Hamilton added that some of its members were involved in the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last week. | George Hamilton added that some of its members were involved in the murder of ex-IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last week. |
| But he said there is no evidence at this stage that the killing was sanctioned by the organisation. | But he said there is no evidence at this stage that the killing was sanctioned by the organisation. |
| The police assessment, he said, is that the Provisional IRA remains committed to politics and is not engaged in terrorism. | |
| Mr McGuigan Sr, 53, died after he was shot at his home in east Belfast last week. | Mr McGuigan Sr, 53, died after he was shot at his home in east Belfast last week. |
| Mr Hamilton said that "some of the Provisional IRA structure from the 1990s remains broadly in place, although its purpose has radically changed since this period". | |
| He said that the PSNI's assessment was that although the Provisional IRA was an illegal organisation the "continuing existence and cohesion" of its hierarchy has "enabled the leadership to move the organisation forward within the peace process". | |
| "Some current Provisional IRA and former members continue to engage in a range of criminal activity and occasional violence in the interest of personal gain or personal agendas," he added. | |
| Mr Hamilton said the PSNI had no information to suggest that "violence, as seen in the murder of Kevin McGuigan, was sanctioned or directed at a senior level in the republican movement". | |
| The main unionist and nationalist parties met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday to discuss the killing. | The main unionist and nationalist parties met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday to discuss the killing. |
| Senior Sinn Féin member Gerry Kelly said the chief constable needed to "follow the evidence". | Senior Sinn Féin member Gerry Kelly said the chief constable needed to "follow the evidence". |
| He added that his party would support the investigation. | He added that his party would support the investigation. |
| Committed | Committed |
| On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder. | On Friday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the IRA was not involved in the murder. |
| Mr Kelly said the chief constable had agreed that Sinn Féin is in support of the police. | Mr Kelly said the chief constable had agreed that Sinn Féin is in support of the police. |
| "We rejected any suggestion the IRA was involved in the killing of Kevin McGuigan. The IRA stood down over 10 years ago," the North Belfast MLA said. | "We rejected any suggestion the IRA was involved in the killing of Kevin McGuigan. The IRA stood down over 10 years ago," the North Belfast MLA said. |
| "Sinn Féin's commitment to peaceful and democratic progress is beyond question." | "Sinn Féin's commitment to peaceful and democratic progress is beyond question." |
| He added that the party had raised with Mr Hamilton "concerns about a number of speculative and unhelpful comments made recently". | He added that the party had raised with Mr Hamilton "concerns about a number of speculative and unhelpful comments made recently". |
| The DUP's Gregory Campbell said his party would be meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers about the alleged role of IRA members in the killing. | The DUP's Gregory Campbell said his party would be meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers about the alleged role of IRA members in the killing. |
| He added that there was no surprise among his party at the suggestions of IRA involvement. | He added that there was no surprise among his party at the suggestions of IRA involvement. |
| Implication | Implication |
| The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday. | The Ulster Unionist Party also met with Mr Hamilton on Saturday. |
| Party leader Mike Nesbitt said afterwards it was "clear the IRA still exists". | Party leader Mike Nesbitt said afterwards it was "clear the IRA still exists". |
| He said Sinn Féin's credibility was "in tatters" and that it needed to "accept some responsibility" for Mr McGuigan Sr's killing. | He said Sinn Féin's credibility was "in tatters" and that it needed to "accept some responsibility" for Mr McGuigan Sr's killing. |
| "They continue to insult our intelligence by claiming no IRA involvement in this latest murder," Mr Nesbitt said. | "They continue to insult our intelligence by claiming no IRA involvement in this latest murder," Mr Nesbitt said. |
| After the SDLP's meeting with the chief constable, its leader Alasdair McDonnell said the "skeleton" of the IRA remains in existence. | After the SDLP's meeting with the chief constable, its leader Alasdair McDonnell said the "skeleton" of the IRA remains in existence. |
| But he said the evidence was not there to collapse the assembly. | But he said the evidence was not there to collapse the assembly. |
| That came in response to comments from First Minister Peter Robinson, who said he would discuss the prospect of excluding Sinn Féin from the executive with other Northern Ireland parties. | That came in response to comments from First Minister Peter Robinson, who said he would discuss the prospect of excluding Sinn Féin from the executive with other Northern Ireland parties. |