IRA leadership has delivered on transition from conflict to peace – Martin McGuinness

RESPONDING to the MI5/PSNI security report announced on Tuesday by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers in the House of Commons, Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness said it is a matter of historical fact that the IRA instructed its members in 2005 “to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means” and “not engage in any other activities whatsoever”.

The former IRA figure said:

“It is clear the IRA leadership has successfully delivered on this transition from conflict to peace.

“Let me be absolutely clear and unequivocal – Sinn Féin is now the only organisation involved in the republican struggle and in republican activism.”

Urging everyone to be mindful of the grief and personal tragedies of the families of Gerard 'Jock' Davison and Kevin McGuigan, the Sinn Féin MLA said:

“Republicans who support the Good Friday Agreement support the political institutions, support the Peace Process and do not represent a threat to anyone in the community.”

He said there are enormous and urgent issues to be dealt with around the existence of armed groups, paramilitaries and criminality.

“We all have a responsibility to deal with these issues to tackle criminality and bring paramilitarism to an end, and Sinn Féin will play a full part in this important work.

“We now need to get on with the pressing issues facing the community and the economy, Tory cuts to essential public services and attacks on working families and those on welfare, and dealing with the legacy of the past.

“We will work positively and constructively with all the political parties and the two governments to achieve all of this.”