IRA begins destruction of weapons
By Barry O’Kelly and Pat Leahy
31 July 2005
The Provisional IRA is preparing to carry out a major act of arms decommissioning this weekend, according to informed sources.
The act is to be witnessed by two clergymen, a Protestant and a Catholic, and Canadian General John de Chastelain. Sources said it would be the most significant act of decommissioning to date.
IRA leaders are believed to have already begun the process of collecting guns from the organisation’s estimated 600 members. This process began five weeks ago, according to republican sources.
Last Thursday’s IRA statement, declaring an end to armed struggle, is expected to be reciprocated by the destruction over the next six months of the controversial British Army watchtowers in south Armagh. The joint police and army base at Forkhill is also to be closed. A similar base in Crossmaglen is to be dramatically scaled back, while British Army patrols in the area are to be withdrawn.
However, it is believed that the Garda Special Branch will continue to monitor IRA members around the country.” We will still be monitoring the same people as before to make sure they are playing ball,” a detective said. “There is also a worry that they could join the dissidents. But the primary focus now will be on monitoring the dissidents themselves.”
The Special Branch recently launched a review of its personnel resources in anticipation of the statement winding down the IRA.
About 300 officers are believed to be engaged in monitoring republicans. This figure will remain unchanged in the short term.
“There will be some changes down the road, and resources will be redirected to dealing with Islamic groups,” a source said.
Meanwhile, senior Fianna Fáil figures have played down recent statements by justice minister Michael McDowell, which suggested that the Criminal Assets Bureau would intensify its efforts to target the wealth of senior Provisionals.
“McDowell is capable of saying anything,” said one government source. Describing his input into Northern negotiations, the source said: “He’s a player, but he’s not a serious player.”
Other Fianna Fáil sources insisted that Northern policy was Fianna Fáil’s responsibility, and criticized McDowell for making statements with the potential to derail the painstaking work of the last few months.
“He appears to be unable to control his mouth,” said one source.
Government sources suggested that a timetable of events, including decommissioning in several stages, has been put in place, in the lead-up to elections in the North next year and the restoration of the devolved government.
Crucially, sources said the government was satisfied with the response of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to the events of last week. Dermot Ahern, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a telephone conversation with Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the DUP, last Thursday afternoon.
It has also been learned that gardai are unlikely to successfully prosecute members of the gang who took part in the €37.8 million Northern Bank heist last December.
