THE IRA's return to violence and the recent bombings in London were condemned as "a tragedy and a betrayal" by the Labour TD for Sligo Leitrim, Mr Declan Bree, speaking in Dublin last night.
"While the behaviour of John Major and his Tory government and the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party has been inexcusable and indefensible, the reality is that there can be no political justification whatsoever for a return to an elitist military campaign," Mr Bree told a public meeting organised by the James Connolly Education Trust.
He said for the past 17 months all sections of "nationalist Ireland" including Labour, Sinn Fein, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the SDLP had worked to consolidate the peace process.
"While the Government was commencing an international campaign to win backing for proximity talks two weeks ago, which they hoped would take place before the end of this month, and while the Tanaiste, Dick Spring, was travelling to Washington to brief President Clinton on that campaign, the IRA Army Council was in fact planning to wreck the entire peace process by resuming its bombing campaign.
"There was no hint or suggestion that a return to the bombing campaign was imminent. Neither Gerry Adams nor Martin McGuinness nor indeed anyone else in the political leadership of, the republican movement was advised that the IRA ceasefire wash about to collapse.
"The militarists on the Army," Council of the IRA decided unilaterally that it was time to start the slaughter once again, and not", only have they treated the political leadership of Sinn Fein and the republican movement with derision, they have treated the people of nationalist Ireland with," contempt."
He claimed the fact that no body in the "political leadership of the republican movement was advised that the ceasefire was about to end "would clearly indicate that the militarists on the IRA Army Council, in effect, carried out a military, coup on the political leadership.
If Mr Adams was to retain his credibility, he must take the necessary steps to bring pressure to bear on the IRA to restore the ceasefire.
Despite John Major's "outrageous and indefensible" behaviour and the refusal of the unionists to enter meaningful talks, the task remained of achieving a lasting and permanent peace.
A return to the bomb and the bullet would be playing into the hands of "the most reactionary elements" both here and in Britain. "The search for Irish unity must become for all of us a search for unity of hearts and minds, for unity of purpose and not merely a search for unity of territory."