This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34238430
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kevin McGuigan murder: Sinn Féin's Bobby Storey says IRA is 'not coming back' | Kevin McGuigan murder: Sinn Féin's Bobby Storey says IRA is 'not coming back' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A senior Sinn Féin member arrested last week over a murder linked to IRA members has said the organisation has "gone" and is "not coming back". | A senior Sinn Féin member arrested last week over a murder linked to IRA members has said the organisation has "gone" and is "not coming back". |
| Bobby Storey was one of three leading republicans questioned and then released without charge over the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. | Bobby Storey was one of three leading republicans questioned and then released without charge over the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. |
| And Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said he was concerned that "state agents" had a role in the killing. | And Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said he was concerned that "state agents" had a role in the killing. |
| Mr Storey's arrest intensified a political crisis in Northern Ireland. | Mr Storey's arrest intensified a political crisis in Northern Ireland. |
| On Thursday, First Minister Peter Robinson quit the ruling executive along with three other Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ministers. | On Thursday, First Minister Peter Robinson quit the ruling executive along with three other Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ministers. |
| Butterfly | Butterfly |
| Mr McGuigan Sr's murder caused a political row after Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had been involved. | Mr McGuigan Sr's murder caused a political row after Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had been involved. |
| Last month, Chief Constable George Hamilton said the organisation was still in existence but added that it was committed to politics and is not engaged in terrorism. | Last month, Chief Constable George Hamilton said the organisation was still in existence but added that it was committed to politics and is not engaged in terrorism. |
| But Mr Storey, Sinn Féin's northern chairman, compared the IRA to a caterpillar that had "become a butterfly" and had "flew away". | But Mr Storey, Sinn Féin's northern chairman, compared the IRA to a caterpillar that had "become a butterfly" and had "flew away". |
| "The IRA has gone. The IRA has stood down, they have put their arms beyond use," Mr Storey said. | "The IRA has gone. The IRA has stood down, they have put their arms beyond use," Mr Storey said. |
| "They have left the stage, they are away and they're not coming back." | "They have left the stage, they are away and they're not coming back." |
| Enemies | Enemies |
| He said the Police Service of Northern Ireland has "no basis" for arresting him in connection with the murder last month of Mr McGuigan Sr. | He said the Police Service of Northern Ireland has "no basis" for arresting him in connection with the murder last month of Mr McGuigan Sr. |
| "At no time during my detention did the police present a shred of evidence or intelligence, which, in either my opinion or the opinion of my solicitor, warranted my arrest," he said. | "At no time during my detention did the police present a shred of evidence or intelligence, which, in either my opinion or the opinion of my solicitor, warranted my arrest," he said. |
| "We have a lot of questions and we will go to the chief constable for answers." | "We have a lot of questions and we will go to the chief constable for answers." |
| Those involved in the killing are "criminals and enemies of peace", he added. | Those involved in the killing are "criminals and enemies of peace", he added. |
| Mr Martin McGuinness said he feared that elements opposed to the peace were involved in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder, and the killing in May of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison. | Mr Martin McGuinness said he feared that elements opposed to the peace were involved in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder, and the killing in May of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock' Davison. |
| Breakdown | Breakdown |
| The murders had caused "huge problems" for Northern Ireland's political institutions, the deputy first minister added. | The murders had caused "huge problems" for Northern Ireland's political institutions, the deputy first minister added. |
| "I think serious questions have to be asked about whose agenda was served by those murders, particularly as we all know that the prospect that agents were involved - people who are hostile to the peace process, who are hostile to Sinn Féin's involvement in the political institutions." | "I think serious questions have to be asked about whose agenda was served by those murders, particularly as we all know that the prospect that agents were involved - people who are hostile to the peace process, who are hostile to Sinn Féin's involvement in the political institutions." |
| Last month, the Ulster Unionist Party had said Sinn Féin's denial in the wake of Mr McGuigan Sr's murder that the IRA existed had caused a breakdown in trust and it left the executive. | Last month, the Ulster Unionist Party had said Sinn Féin's denial in the wake of Mr McGuigan Sr's murder that the IRA existed had caused a breakdown in trust and it left the executive. |
| The DUP then resigned its ministerial posts after the party failed to secure enough support for an adjournment of the Northern Ireland Assembly. | The DUP then resigned its ministerial posts after the party failed to secure enough support for an adjournment of the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| Mr Storey said unionists had used what he called his "wrongful detention" to threaten the devolved institutions. | Mr Storey said unionists had used what he called his "wrongful detention" to threaten the devolved institutions. |
| Responding to Mr Storey's comments, the DUP's Gregory Campbell said: "Unfortunately for republicans nearly everyone else believes the chief constable rather than Bobby Storey or Gerry Adams. | |
| "Action on what they intend to do about the IRA is what is needed as opposed to this latest idealistic nonsense. The murder of two men in recent weeks significantly contradicts the words of people like Bobby Storey." | |
| A fresh round of all-party talks is due to being on Monday. | A fresh round of all-party talks is due to being on Monday. |