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IRA 'army council' still exists IRA 'army council' still exists but has 'wholly political focus'
(34 minutes later)
The IRA's ruling body, the 'army council' still exists, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers tells MPs. The IRA's ruling body, the 'army council' still exists, but has a "wholly political focus", says the Northern Ireland secretary.
Ms Villiers was detailing the findings of an official assessment of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland to the House of Commons. Theresa Villiers was detailing the findings of an official assessment of paramilitary activity in NI.
The report was commissioned after the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr in Belfast in August.The report was commissioned after the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr in Belfast in August.
The police's belief that current IRA members may have been involved in the killing led to a political crisis.The police's belief that current IRA members may have been involved in the killing led to a political crisis.
Sinn Féin insists that the Provisional IRA has gone away and no longer exists.Sinn Féin insists that the Provisional IRA has gone away and no longer exists.
The report was compiled by the police and the security service, MI5.The report was compiled by the police and the security service, MI5.
Ms Villiers said the security assessment is that the Provisional IRA's 'army council' had a "wholly political focus". Speaking in the House of Commons, she said the assessment showed the IRA and other main paramilitary groups that operated during the Troubles still existed.
The Northern Ireland secretary said that even if these groups wanted to return to terrorism "they would be unable to resurrect the capability demonstrated at their peak".
Key points of the report
Ms Villiers said while the security assessment states that Provisional IRA members believe that the 'army council' oversees both the IRA and Sinn Féin with an overarching strategy, it judges this has a "wholly political focus".
The Northern Ireland secretary told MPs the police and MI5 assessment showed that the IRA "is not involved in targeting or conducting terrorist attacks against the state".The Northern Ireland secretary told MPs the police and MI5 assessment showed that the IRA "is not involved in targeting or conducting terrorist attacks against the state".
She added that some individual IRA members remain involved in criminal activity, such as large scale smuggling.She added that some individual IRA members remain involved in criminal activity, such as large scale smuggling.
Responding to the assessment, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin is now the only organisation involved in the republican struggle.
In respect of loyalist paramilitaries, Ms Villiers said the assessment showed the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force had access to some weapons, despite both organisations decommissioning in in 2009 and 2010.
She said members, including some senior figures were involved in organised crime.
The DUP MP, Nigel Dodds, said the continuing existence of the IRA was "totally unacceptable".
"It is beyond high time that it was ended in all its forms - terrorism and criminality," he said.