Sunday Independent 'IRA fantasy’ slated by MP

» Mark Moloney

‘The IRA decommissioned, stood down its structures and left the stage many years ago. Anyone with any credibility in politics or journalism knows this’

A SUNDAY INDEPENDENT story by Jim Cusack claiming the IRA was responsible for a mortar bomb discovered in south Armagh last week has been slammed as “pure fantasy” by the Sinn Féin MP for Armagh and Newry, Conor Murphy.

Sunday Independent columnist Jim Cusack claimed the device was left near Cullyhanna by the IRA as “a warning to the PSNI to stay out of south Armagh”.

Cusack produced no evidence to back up his claim.

Responding to the story, Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy described it as “nonsense”, adding:

“It raises serious questions about the standard of journalism at the Sunday Independent.”

Conor Murphy reminded Cusack and the Sunday Independent:

“The IRA decommissioned, stood down its structures and left the stage many years ago. Anyone with any credibility in politics or journalism knows this.”