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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kevin McGuigan murder: Senior republican Bobby Storey one of three arrested | Kevin McGuigan murder: Senior republican Bobby Storey one of three arrested |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Well-known republican Bobby Storey has been arrested over the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. | Well-known republican Bobby Storey has been arrested over the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. |
| Mr McGuigan Sr was shot dead at his home in east Belfast in August, and police said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the killing. | Mr McGuigan Sr was shot dead at his home in east Belfast in August, and police said members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the killing. |
| Mr Storey was one of three men, aged 59, 45 and 58, arrested by police in north and west Belfast on Wednesday. | Mr Storey was one of three men, aged 59, 45 and 58, arrested by police in north and west Belfast on Wednesday. |
| The other two arrested, Eddie Copeland and Brian Gillen, are also well-known republicans. | The other two arrested, Eddie Copeland and Brian Gillen, are also well-known republicans. |
| Mr Storey, a former IRA prisoner, is the northern chairman of Sinn Féin. | Mr Storey, a former IRA prisoner, is the northern chairman of Sinn Féin. |
| In 2005, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP David Burnside told the House of Commons under parliamentary privilege that Mr Storey was the head of intelligence for the IRA. | In 2005, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP David Burnside told the House of Commons under parliamentary privilege that Mr Storey was the head of intelligence for the IRA. |
| Mr Storey is a close ally of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and has an office at Stormont. | |
| Defender | Defender |
| Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said he was "surprised" to learn about Mr Storey's arrest. | Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said he was "surprised" to learn about Mr Storey's arrest. |
| "Bobby Storey is a valued member of Sinn Féin's core leadership," the deputy first minister said. | "Bobby Storey is a valued member of Sinn Féin's core leadership," the deputy first minister said. |
| "He has played a leading role in the development of Sinn Féin's peace strategy and is a long-standing and loyal supporter, defender and advocate of the peace and political processes. | "He has played a leading role in the development of Sinn Féin's peace strategy and is a long-standing and loyal supporter, defender and advocate of the peace and political processes. |
| "We look forward with confidence to his early release." | "We look forward with confidence to his early release." |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said last month that Provisional IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said last month that Provisional IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. |
| But he added there was no evidence at that stage that the killing had been sanctioned at a senior level of the organisation. | But he added there was no evidence at that stage that the killing had been sanctioned at a senior level of the organisation. |
| Sinn Féin said the IRA no longer exists after it ordered an end to its armed campaign in 2005. | Sinn Féin said the IRA no longer exists after it ordered an end to its armed campaign in 2005. |
| Adjournment | |
| A total of 16 people have been arrested in connection with Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. | A total of 16 people have been arrested in connection with Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. |
| One person has been charged, while the others were released unconditionally. | One person has been charged, while the others were released unconditionally. |
| After Wednesday's arrests, First Minister Peter Robinson tweeted: "These events were predicted in my statement on Monday. | After Wednesday's arrests, First Minister Peter Robinson tweeted: "These events were predicted in my statement on Monday. |
| "No-one can be above the law. That is why we sought adjournment of the assembly. | "No-one can be above the law. That is why we sought adjournment of the assembly. |
| "We will do so again. Hopefully the UUP will support us this time rather than voting with Sinn Féin for business as usual," he added. | "We will do so again. Hopefully the UUP will support us this time rather than voting with Sinn Féin for business as usual," he added. |
| UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said the "political implications could not be more serious and profound". | UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said the "political implications could not be more serious and profound". |
| He said his MPs would meet Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday to discuss the arrests. | He said his MPs would meet Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday to discuss the arrests. |
| "That is how serious it is being treated in Downing Street," he added. | "That is how serious it is being treated in Downing Street," he added. |
| Sparked | |
| In 2001, Mr Robinson told the House of Commons Mr Gillen was a member of the IRA's ruling army council. | |
| Mr Copeland is a leading republican from north Belfast. | |
| He was seriously injured when he was shot by a soldier in 1993, and has survived a number of attempts on his life by loyalist paramilitaries. | |
| The three men are being questioned at Antrim police station. | |
| The murder of Mr McGuigan Sr sparked a crisis in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government after the police assessment of IRA involvement. | The murder of Mr McGuigan Sr sparked a crisis in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government after the police assessment of IRA involvement. |
| The UUP said Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed made it "impossible to do business with them" and left the Northern Ireland Eexecutive. | The UUP said Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed made it "impossible to do business with them" and left the Northern Ireland Eexecutive. |
| The Democratic Unionist Party said there would be no more meetings of the executive unless in "exceptional circumstances". | The Democratic Unionist Party said there would be no more meetings of the executive unless in "exceptional circumstances". |
| A fresh round of talks between the main political parties got under way on Tuesday. | A fresh round of talks between the main political parties got under way on Tuesday. |