Empey says Arms Crisis distracting from McGuinness

A full investigation is needed into the Arms Crisis, according to Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey, who also believes the controversy is distracting attention from Martin McGuiness's expected admission of his role on Bloody Sunday.

I think that the focus needs not only to be on Mr McGuinness and the activities that took place in 1972, but I think there were activities that took place in 1969 and 1970 involving former Prime Minister Charles Haughey that need investigating Sir Reg Empey, Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister

Sir Reg, in Dublin today to announce the setting-up of a new Industrial Development Board office, said: "It is interesting, in many ways sad, at this time when we are enduring the whole Bloody Sunday Inquiry, that in the press here in Dublin the key issue on the front pages is the 1970s involvement of the then government in establishing the IRA.

"So I think that the focus needs not only to be on Mr McGuinness and the activities that took place in 1972, but I think there were activities that took place in 1969 and 1970 involving former Prime Minister Charles Haughey that need investigating."

He called for a "full investigation'' into the 30-year-old Arms Crisis which rocked the then government and led to the resignation of three ministers.

Four people, including former taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey, were tried and acquitted on charges of importing arms for the IRA.

PA