Sinn Féin will resist any attempt to penalise it following Chief Constable Hugh Orde's claim that the IRA carried out the £26.5 million sterling Northern Bank robbery, Mr Gerry Adams warned today.
Mr Adams warned republicans to remain calm if the Irish and British governments moved to punish Sinn Féin following the police chief's statement.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams
He also said comments at the weekend by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that the Sinn Féin leadership knew the IRA was responsible for the bank heist in Belfast had inflicted considerable damage on the process.
Mr Adams said: "If the Governments are going to go in the direction of discriminating against Sinn Féin Fein or to bash Sinn Féin , that leads us with no option but to defend our position.
"I am saying to republicans: let's not knee-jerk but reflect on the situation. . . . But let it be clear we will defend our electorate's rights and entitlement. It is only through dialogue and inclusivity that we are going to move this forward," he said.
Mr Adams was responding to calls in the House of Commons for some form of sanctions to be imposed on Sinn Féin following the robbery.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy hinted yesterday the British government was still considering a proposal to freeze Sinn Féin out of ministerial positions in a voluntary coalition government at Stormont if it could be formed.
PA