British report says PIRA still exists, controls arms

The future of the political institutions remains uncertain following an MI5/PSNI review of the status of the Provisional IRA and loyalist paramilitary groups which found that the PIRA continues to exist and control some arms caches, but in a “much reduced” form.

Speaking at Westminster, British Direct Ruler Theresa Villiers said the review, drafted by a three-person panel specially appointed to the task last month, was “evidence-based and credible”.

The assessment also found that leaderships of the PIRA and loyalist groups are “committed to peaceful means to achieve their political objectives” -- but some individuals still represent “a threat to national security”.

Regarding the IRA, it claimed that the “senior leadership, Provisional Army Council and departments with specific responsibility” all continue to exist, as well as some regional command structures. Some activity takes place at the local level, it said, but “without the knowledge or direction of the leadership”.

It said the PIRA organisation now had a “wholly political” focus, engaging in low-level efforts to identify informers, gather intelligence on other republican groups and monitor remaining arms supplies -- but it is no longer involved in “targeting” or “terrorist attacks against the state or its representatives”.

It is also neither recruiting, nor seeking a new source of weapons, the statement added.

The report endorses last month’s assessment by PSNI chief George Hamilton in which he said individual members of the Provisional IRA were involved in the recent murder of Kevin McGuigan, an east Belfast republican suspected of involvement in the murder of former IRA commander Jock Davison in May.

Regarding loyalists, the statement said that the UDA had broken into essentially autonomous units while some UVF structures remained intact. Both are engaged in organised crime and ‘paramilitary assaults’.

In his response, the DUP’s Nigel Dodds said the party would continue with talks but did not immediately promise to revive the institutions from the ‘zombie’ state in which it placed them last month.

He said the report ‘illustrates the hard work ahead’ in the current talks process at Stormont. The continued existence of the IRA and loyalist paramilitary groups is ‘unacceptable’ and must be ended, he added.

Speaking ahead of today’s report, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said that “whatever its conclusions Sinn Fein will not tolerate any undermining of the rights of citizens who vote for Sinn Fein. This party has a mandate, democratically achieved at the ballot box and we will not accept any infringement or erosion of that mandate by the British government or anyone else.”

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