Finger points to dissident republican group

CHIEF suspicion for the Enniskillen bombing was last night falling on the Irish National Republican Army (INRA), the purported military wing of Republican Sinn Fein, according to security sources in Dublin.

While unionist politicians treated with great scepticism the IRA's denial of responsibility for the explosion which ripped apart the Killyhevlin Hotel, the security sources were more sanguine in their appraisal of the IRA denial.

The bombing, the first in Northern Ireland since the IRA ceasefire, has heightened fears of a loyalist paramilitary backlash. Political representatives of the UDA and UVF said the explosion was stretching the loyalist ceasefire of October, 1994, to breaking point.

There has been no admission of responsibility so far but last night attention was focusing on the INRA.

The organisation, linked to Republican Sinn Fein, has already demonstrated it has the capacity for such destruction. In November last year, two massive INRA bombs, one weighing 1,000 lb and the other more than 600 lb, were discovered by the Garda near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. It is believed the bombs were intended for a British army base in south Armagh.

The discovery of the bombs prompted increased Garda activity against dissident republicans associated with Republican Sinn Fein.

While the main suspicion was falling on the INRA, there were also concerns that dissident IRA members might have planted the 1,200 lb home made bomb or that the IRA might have planted the device but tactically denied admission.

It is not believed that the other main republican paramilitary group, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), would have the paramilitary wherewithal to carry out such an attack.

There were two telephone warnings about the Enniskillen bomb.

In one of these, the caller made some reference to the IRA, although the RUC was unclear whether the caller was actually claiming the IRA was responsible.

RUC intelligence, it is understood, was not expecting any such attack from the IRA.

The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, was yesterday guarded in his assessment of who was to blame, and adverted to Republican Sinn Fein. Sir Hugh said he had previously warned that a bombing in Northern Ireland was a possibility.

"I would not, as yet, attribute this to the Provisional IRA. The real key is, who placed the bomb? ... There have been other attempts to bomb Northern Ireland during the ceasefire.... So, at this stage I am keeping an open mind," said Sir Hugh.

If it was the IRA then the current situation was "very serious".

The loyalist paramilitaries were to be commended in maintaining their ceasefire. "I do hope that they will keep their ceasefire. And with all the conviction I can muster, I would ask them to do so. The consequence of not doing so would be to return us to the hell whence we came," Sir Hugh added.

The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, who said he was greatly relieved that no one was seriously injured, suggested "dirty tricks" involvement in the attack. "The bomb came at a time when the British Prime Minister, John Major, and the unionist leader ships are in the dock for their disgraceful behaviour over the past week. Whoever claims responsibility for this attack, I will remain suspicious as to the real authors."

The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said he was unsure about the IRA's denial of involvement. Previous statements from the organisation were "fairly accurate".

"They tend to admit - or statements emanate from their organisation - if they are responsible for bombings or other activities," he said.

Irrespective of the IRA denial, the loyalist fringe parties, the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), which respectively represent the UDA and UVF, were not drawing distinctions over which suspected republican group was to blame.

Mr Gary McMichael, the UDP leader, said the loyalist ceasefire was at "breaking point". He added: "Every time there is a republican action in Northern Ireland, it gets worse. I think we have probably reached a watershed.

"I think this is the most serious development in the history of the peace process. The government must put in place adequate security measures to protect the communities from the republican movement."

Mr David Ervine, of the PUP, said the bomb had been the culmination of an absolutely tragic week. "It sends the message that violent republicanism had a choice - light the blue touch paper or not. I am afraid they chose to light the paper.

He would continue to appeal for loyalist paramilitary restraint. He believed, however, the bombing was likely to get a response".

He added: "Frankly, my honeyed words of the benefits and merits of peace are wearing somewhat thin."

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) were dismissive of the IRA's denial.

. Republican Sinn Fein last night denied it has a military wing; or that members were involved in the Killyhevlin hotel bomb blast.

A Bundoran urban district councillor, Mr Joe O'Neill, a member of RSF ard comhairle, said that he had no idea who was behind the bomb.

He said: "Republican Sinn Fein is a political organisation and we have no military wing. Has anyone any proof that we have? I am a member of the party's ard comhairle and I do not know who is responsible for the bomb. However, things like this are inevitable in any country being occupied by a foreign force. To those who are pointing fingers at us, I would say that they should wait until an organisation claims it."