A TUV delegation today met with the Chief Constable, to discuss the present status of the IRA and the ongoing security concerns surrounding republican terrorism.
Jim Allister MLA was accompanied by Party Vice- Chairman Richard Cairns from South Antrim and Cllr Stephen Cooper from Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Party Leader Jim Allister commented:
“We had a full and forthright discussion dealing with the many issues which have arisen since the most recent IRA murder.
“On several issues the Chief Constable took refuge in the ongoing assessment being prepared for the Secretary of State, though it is clear the PSNI is not resilling at all from the involvement of the IRA in the McGuigan murder, nor the continued existence of organisational infrastructure and control. We conclude there is an identifiable leadership of the Provisionals and that the PSNI know the people involved.
“It was also clear that the PSNI stands by all arrests to date in the McGuigan murder and that sufficient reasonable cause existed to warrant the arrests.
“We highlighted the fact that since 1998 there have been numerous murders which bear all the same hallmarks of IRA modus operandi and the need to bring those responsible to justice.
“It is vital the public know the truth about the ongoing capability and structures still clearly in existence of the Provisional IRA.
“We pressed the Chief Constable on the IRA continued involvement in other aspects of criminality such as fuel laundering, and tobacco smuggling. We put to him Seamus Mallon’s assertion of “sanctioned racketeering”, which was denied, causing us to stress the need at all times for policing to trump politics and “the process”.
“Famously a Prime Minister described Sinn Fein as “inextricably linked” to the IRA, presumably on the basis of intelligence information. It is evident from recent events that linkages between Sinn Fein and the IRA remain.
“It is imperative that the assessment delivered to the Secretary of State is not tempered to meet the convenience of its talks audience and that it is fully published so that we can all judge its veracity.
“We remain confident that our party’s position in opposing the representatives of the organisation responsible for a litany of criminality and murders continuing in Executive Government of Northern Ireland is in the best interests of society.
“I now urge the DUP to desist in sustaining the political wing of the IRA in government and hold them to account, instead of rewarding them for their ongoing campaign of terror.”