IRA no threat to ‘exiles’

Mr Adams said those told to leave the North of Ireland by the Provisional IRA were free to return home but first should contact the communities from which they were ‘exiled’.

The banning orders were normally issued by the IRA as a means of dealing with serious anti-social behaviour in republican areas. Informers were also told to leave or face more severe punishment.

Speaking in Dublin, Mr Adams said that the IRA no longer posed any threat to those republicans too fearful to return home.

“Take the recent IRA statement, as I do, in which it said it would cease all activity. The IRA is a threat to nobody,” he said.

“Would I encourage people to come back? Let those who were committing offences within their communities contact their communities about that.”

His comments came the day after legislation granting an amnesty to on-the-runs’ was given its second reading.

At Westminster, former British Direct Ruler Paul Murphy called for republican acceptance of the North’s policing arrangements, and the return of so-called “exiles”.

Victims group Wave said it welcomed Mr Adams’s remarks but said many exiles would still be fearful of returning.

“Trust needs to be built up be-fore people feel confident about coming back to this country,” a spokesman said.

Infamous IRA informer, Sean O’Callaghan said that no matter what Mr Adams promised, he believed he would be murdered if he returned to Ireland. And he claimed that the IRA would still have the last say on anyone’s return.

The former leading IRA member said: “If you’re in the nicer end of Andersonstown what is your local community? What he really means is that you should talk to ‘the boys’ [the IRA].”

Urgent Appeal