Tifosi
11th October 2009, 14:41
Official IRA starts talking to arms body By Barry McCaffrey
10/10/09
The Official IRA has begun decommissioning talks with General John de Chastelain, security sour-ces confirmed last night.
Although the group has been on ceasefire for more than 37 years, it is understood never to have given up weapons.
This summer General de Chastelain announced that the UVF had put all its weapons beyond use and the UDA had committed to destroying its arsenal by the British government’s deadline in February.
The Provisional IRA completed its decommissioning in 2005.
However, it has now emerged that the Official IRA has begun talks with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), led by General de Chastelain.
The Official IRA emerged from a split in the IRA at the start of the Troubles. It was responsible for 52 killings.
Although they called an end to their ‘armed struggle’ in 1972, the ‘Officials’ are thought to have stored dozens of rifles and handguns in secret arms dumps.
The group has sporadically used weapons during internal republican disputes or for so-called punishment attacks.
In 1997 it was blamed for shooting two Sinn Fein members during a dispute with the Provisional IRA in Newry.
In April 2001 it was accused after a gun attack on a sweet shop in west Belfast.
Four years later the Official IRA was blamed for shooting a teenager in the legs and hand in the lower Falls area of west Belfast after he was alleged to have been involved in a dispute with a leading member of the organisation.
A paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast the following year left an 18-year-old with serious head injuries.
The Official IRA has also been accused of criminal activity.
In October 2005 the organisation’s former leader, Sean Garland, was arrested at a Workers Party conference in Belfast after the FBI asked for his extradition to the US for questioning about a multimillion-dollar international counterfeiting operation.
He was released on bail for medical treatment in the Republic but failed to reappear in court.
The Officials’ decision to begin talks with the IICD has caused some surprise, as the group had never been mentioned in any of the commission’s 19 reports.
An IICD spokesman last night refused to confirm or deny that the commission was in discussions with the Official IRA.
“IICD doesn’t comment on its work,” he said.
“However, the IICD is to open to all organisations on ceasefire until the end of its mandate next February.”
The British government has insisted that it will not extend the deadline.
It is understood that General de Chastelain will return to Northern Ireland next week.
When contacted last night, John Lowry of the Workers Party, which had links to the Official IRA, said he was unaware of any decommissioning talks.
From the Irish News, just I can't post links
10/10/09
The Official IRA has begun decommissioning talks with General John de Chastelain, security sour-ces confirmed last night.
Although the group has been on ceasefire for more than 37 years, it is understood never to have given up weapons.
This summer General de Chastelain announced that the UVF had put all its weapons beyond use and the UDA had committed to destroying its arsenal by the British government’s deadline in February.
The Provisional IRA completed its decommissioning in 2005.
However, it has now emerged that the Official IRA has begun talks with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), led by General de Chastelain.
The Official IRA emerged from a split in the IRA at the start of the Troubles. It was responsible for 52 killings.
Although they called an end to their ‘armed struggle’ in 1972, the ‘Officials’ are thought to have stored dozens of rifles and handguns in secret arms dumps.
The group has sporadically used weapons during internal republican disputes or for so-called punishment attacks.
In 1997 it was blamed for shooting two Sinn Fein members during a dispute with the Provisional IRA in Newry.
In April 2001 it was accused after a gun attack on a sweet shop in west Belfast.
Four years later the Official IRA was blamed for shooting a teenager in the legs and hand in the lower Falls area of west Belfast after he was alleged to have been involved in a dispute with a leading member of the organisation.
A paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast the following year left an 18-year-old with serious head injuries.
The Official IRA has also been accused of criminal activity.
In October 2005 the organisation’s former leader, Sean Garland, was arrested at a Workers Party conference in Belfast after the FBI asked for his extradition to the US for questioning about a multimillion-dollar international counterfeiting operation.
He was released on bail for medical treatment in the Republic but failed to reappear in court.
The Officials’ decision to begin talks with the IICD has caused some surprise, as the group had never been mentioned in any of the commission’s 19 reports.
An IICD spokesman last night refused to confirm or deny that the commission was in discussions with the Official IRA.
“IICD doesn’t comment on its work,” he said.
“However, the IICD is to open to all organisations on ceasefire until the end of its mandate next February.”
The British government has insisted that it will not extend the deadline.
It is understood that General de Chastelain will return to Northern Ireland next week.
When contacted last night, John Lowry of the Workers Party, which had links to the Official IRA, said he was unaware of any decommissioning talks.
From the Irish News, just I can't post links