Caolin takes aim at rivals over pathetic ira claims

A Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Fein TD says recent claims about the Provisional IRA’s ongoing existence are “nakedly all about the upcoming elections”.
Caoimhghín Ó Caolain was speaking in the wake of PSNI claims that the Provisional IRA has not disbanded and is still in operation and was involved in the killing of Republicans Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison and Kevin McGuigan.
PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said the IRA exists but is not on a “war footing” - the PSNI is investigating both murders.
“The IRA is not a structure that exists today,” he told Morning Ireland earlier today.
“There is no evidence for any of the assertions they are making,” he said, adding that whatever evidence they may have should be put out to full public scrutiny.
The PSNI’s claim prompted Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan to issue a “reluctant” statement this morning.
“An Garda Síochána has been reluctant to comment on matters arising in relation to the investigation by our colleagues in the PSNI into the recent murder of Mr Kevin McGuigan as it was considered that it may not be helpful to them to do so.
“However, it has been asserted by some that An Garda Síochána has denied the existence of the Provisional IRA. These comments appear to be based on a letter issued by An Garda Síochána to a public representative last February.
“In fact, that letter did not deal with the question of whether PIRA continued to exist. Instead it dealt only with a specific question as to whether ‘the Provisional IRA still maintains its military structure and confines its criminal activities to fuel laundering, cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting’,” said O’Sullivan.
“It was stated in reply that An Garda Síochána held no information or intelligence to support that assertion. That reply was consistent with the findings of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) and An Garda Síochána’s own assessment of the intelligence. Indeed, the reply went on to cite other findings of the Commission, including the fact that some former members of PIRA engaged in crime for personal gain, but without sanction or support from the organisation.
“The IMC’s reports concluded, amongst other things, that the so-called ‘“military” departments’ had been disbanded and the former terrorist capability had been lost. The IMC has not indicated at any time that PIRA had ceased to exist; nor has An Garda Síochána.
“The position of An Garda Síochána is that there has been no evidence available in this jurisdiction to call into question the assessment made by the IMC,” she said.
Ó Caolain, however, was adamant about the disbanding of the organisation and that the IRA “can’t have a view”.

'Sad and pathetic' claims

“Many, many others have gone back into their private lives within their families, their communities, many again of those that I know in my own area of the country are involved in the community, giving very very important energetic, constructive contributions to a raft of organisations,” he said.
“This isn’t about questions. This is very, very definitely a concerted effort on the part of the political parties.
“It’s nakedly all about the upcoming elections in both the State and in the North and we have seen it all before.
“Make no mistake about it, in this situation, these irresponsible statements and charges have the potential to do real damage to all that has been achieved,” he warned.
“I am deeply, deeply concerned having invested a great part of my life and conjunction with colleagues the length and breadth of the country that what we’re seeing here has the potential to do serious damage to the political and peace processes that have been built on the powerful efforts of so many .
“These are not questions. Ask the question and we’ll answer the question.
“We have answered the question very, very clearly - that’s not what’s happening here.
“From the commentary of [Fianna Fail leader] Micheal Martin and his sad and pathetic efforts and utterances to thwart the development of Sinn Fein, to Alan Kelly, Richard Bruton, Joan Burton and now Frances Fitzgerald...” he railed.
“The IRA can’t have a view - Sinn Fein are telling it exactly how it is.
“Let’s see how the investigation proceeds into these murders.
“They are wrong not only in their assertions, but they’re fundamentally wrong in their motivation because their motivation behind all of what’s being said in the past couple of days and weeks is not about justice for the families of the two murdered [men] and the grieving families of the Davison and McGuigan families, it’s all politically and party politically motivated. It’s an absolute disgrace,” he said.