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Irish government to re-examine intelligence on Provisional IRA Irish government to re-examine intelligence on Provisional IRA
(about 3 hours later)
The Irish government is to reassess the activities of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said some of its members were still active.The Irish government is to reassess the activities of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said some of its members were still active.
Ireland’s ustice minister, Frances Fitzgerald, has asked the head of the Garda Siochána – the Irish Republic’s police force – to examine intelligence about PIRA’s structure and organisation.Ireland’s ustice minister, Frances Fitzgerald, has asked the head of the Garda Siochána – the Irish Republic’s police force – to examine intelligence about PIRA’s structure and organisation.
The order, to Garda commissioner Nóírin O’Sullivan, has come in the aftermath of the murder of former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan in Belfast on 13 August.The order, to Garda commissioner Nóírin O’Sullivan, has come in the aftermath of the murder of former IRA assassin Kevin McGuigan in Belfast on 13 August.
The PSNI chief constable, George Hamilton, said at the weekend that some PIRA members were involved in the vendetta killing of McGuigan in the Catholic Short Strand district of east Belfast.The PSNI chief constable, George Hamilton, said at the weekend that some PIRA members were involved in the vendetta killing of McGuigan in the Catholic Short Strand district of east Belfast.
On Tuesday a 47-year-old man was arrested in Belfast in connection with Kevin McGuigan’s murder. He is the 11th person to be arrested in relation to the killing.
Sinn Féin has denied any PIRA role in the killing and accused its political opponents north and south of the Irish border of seeking to exploit the murder for their own gain, particularly with elections scheduled for next year in both states.Sinn Féin has denied any PIRA role in the killing and accused its political opponents north and south of the Irish border of seeking to exploit the murder for their own gain, particularly with elections scheduled for next year in both states.
Related: PSNI: Provisional IRA leadership did not sanction Kevin McGuigan murderRelated: PSNI: Provisional IRA leadership did not sanction Kevin McGuigan murder
But reacting to Hamilton’s analysis of the murder, Fitzgerald said: “Recent developments are of considerable concern but what we need to do now is establish all the current facts and that is what is happening in the rigorous investigation being carried out by the PSNI.But reacting to Hamilton’s analysis of the murder, Fitzgerald said: “Recent developments are of considerable concern but what we need to do now is establish all the current facts and that is what is happening in the rigorous investigation being carried out by the PSNI.
“I have asked the Garda commissioner to liaise closely with the PSNI and carry out a fresh assessment of the status of PIRA in the light of any new evidence emerging during the PSNI investigation into the death of Mr McGuigan.”“I have asked the Garda commissioner to liaise closely with the PSNI and carry out a fresh assessment of the status of PIRA in the light of any new evidence emerging during the PSNI investigation into the death of Mr McGuigan.”
Fitzgerald, a member of the dominant coalition party in Dublin, Fine Gael, accepted that PIRA was still on a political rather than military path.Fitzgerald, a member of the dominant coalition party in Dublin, Fine Gael, accepted that PIRA was still on a political rather than military path.
However, she added: “To simply say PIRA continues to exist as if nothing has changed would be quite wrong.”However, she added: “To simply say PIRA continues to exist as if nothing has changed would be quite wrong.”
Her cabinet colleague and leader of the Irish Labour party, Joan Burton, said she did not believe Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ claim that the PIRA had “gone away”.Her cabinet colleague and leader of the Irish Labour party, Joan Burton, said she did not believe Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ claim that the PIRA had “gone away”.
Burton said: “When people leave the stage, that leaves the question where do they go? Are they at the side of the stage or at the back of the stage?”Burton said: “When people leave the stage, that leaves the question where do they go? Are they at the side of the stage or at the back of the stage?”
Meanwhile, Ed Moloney, an award-winning author and leading expert on the IRA, has written to the Garda commissioner asking about a supposedly ongoing investigation into alleged bugging and hacking at the home of a former PIRA member turned historical researcher.Meanwhile, Ed Moloney, an award-winning author and leading expert on the IRA, has written to the Garda commissioner asking about a supposedly ongoing investigation into alleged bugging and hacking at the home of a former PIRA member turned historical researcher.
Ex-PIRA prisoner Anthony McIntyre and his wife, Carrie Twomey, allege that her calls and emails to American diplomatic staff in Dublin were illegally intercepted. Some of the conversations Twomey had with US embassy officials in 2014 ended up appearing in the Ulster edition of the Sunday World newspaper, even though neither she nor any of her friends and family spoke to the tabloid.Ex-PIRA prisoner Anthony McIntyre and his wife, Carrie Twomey, allege that her calls and emails to American diplomatic staff in Dublin were illegally intercepted. Some of the conversations Twomey had with US embassy officials in 2014 ended up appearing in the Ulster edition of the Sunday World newspaper, even though neither she nor any of her friends and family spoke to the tabloid.
Related: Irish tabloid faces questions over report on Boston College tapes familyRelated: Irish tabloid faces questions over report on Boston College tapes family
At the time her husband was the subject of a hostile publicity campaign directed by senior Sinn Féin figures in Belfast over his role as a researcher in the Boston College Belfast Project. The controversial historical archive contained frank accounts by IRA and loyalist veterans about their roles in the Troubles including engaging in violence. However, their oral records were not to be released until their deaths.At the time her husband was the subject of a hostile publicity campaign directed by senior Sinn Féin figures in Belfast over his role as a researcher in the Boston College Belfast Project. The controversial historical archive contained frank accounts by IRA and loyalist veterans about their roles in the Troubles including engaging in violence. However, their oral records were not to be released until their deaths.
The PSNI pursued parts of the archive through the US courts and won access to some of that material. This led to the arrests of a number of prominent Belfast republicans, including Adams.The PSNI pursued parts of the archive through the US courts and won access to some of that material. This led to the arrests of a number of prominent Belfast republicans, including Adams.
As pressure mounted on her husband, Twomey wrote to and telephoned US embassy staff in Dublin to explore the possibility that he could travel with her for a family holiday in the US. After part of her communications to the embassy appeared in the Sunday World, Twomey alleged a non-state organisation was illegally hacking and intercepting these messages at the family home in Drogheda in the Irish Republic.As pressure mounted on her husband, Twomey wrote to and telephoned US embassy staff in Dublin to explore the possibility that he could travel with her for a family holiday in the US. After part of her communications to the embassy appeared in the Sunday World, Twomey alleged a non-state organisation was illegally hacking and intercepting these messages at the family home in Drogheda in the Irish Republic.
Moloney, the director of the Belfast Project, has again written to the head of the Garda asking what progress has been made in examining Twomey’s allegations.Moloney, the director of the Belfast Project, has again written to the head of the Garda asking what progress has been made in examining Twomey’s allegations.
In his letter to O’Sullivan, Moloney states: “I need hardly point out that if this allegation is shown to be have substance it is a very serious matter which amounts to a direct challenge to the authority of the state and its security arms.”In his letter to O’Sullivan, Moloney states: “I need hardly point out that if this allegation is shown to be have substance it is a very serious matter which amounts to a direct challenge to the authority of the state and its security arms.”