15 June 2000 Edition
RUC comments slammed
Sinn Féin Assembly member and Party Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin has slammed a claim by RUC Chief Ronnie Flanagan alleging IRA involvement in the recent shooting of Eddie McCoy.
McLaughlin said:
``These comments are the latest effort by securocrats to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the efforts to create a new policing service.
``This is not the first time Mr. Flanagan has made such public allegations against the IRA. It was his claims that resulted in Sinn Féin being excluded from the talks in February 1998. Subsequently a number of young men had charges against them withdrawn. That intervention was clearly an attempt to scupper any chance of agreement being reached. This intervention is clearly designed to destroy the Good Friday Agreement and save the RUC.''
McLaughlin said:
``These comments are the latest effort by securocrats to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the efforts to create a new policing service.
``This is not the first time Mr. Flanagan has made such public allegations against the IRA. It was his claims that resulted in Sinn Féin being excluded from the talks in February 1998. Subsequently a number of young men had charges against them withdrawn. That intervention was clearly an attempt to scupper any chance of agreement being reached. This intervention is clearly designed to destroy the Good Friday Agreement and save the RUC.''