A SENIOR SDLP politician has accused the republican movement of "stabbing John Hume in the back" following the abandoning of a suspected IRA bomb in the grounds of Belfast Castle on New Year's Eve.
A British army bomb disposal team yesterday carried out a controlled explosion on the suspect - device which the IRA said it abandoned in a van in the grounds of Belfast Castle in north Belfast.
The alert began after 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve when a white Renault van was seen parked suspiciously on the main drive leading to the castle. About 40 minutes later, the IRA phoned a warning, claiming it had, been forced to abandon a land mine in the van because of activity by the British army and RUC in the area.
The area was sealed off as the bomb disposal team examined the scene over New Year's Eve and yesterday. Two wheeled bins were found in the van and a controlled explosion was carried out. The contents of the two bins was being examined last night.
The impressively located castle, situated under Cave Hill and overlooking the city, is run as a restaurant, reception and conference centre by Belfast City Council. About 350 people, some of whom were attending a wedding reception on New Year's Eve, had to leave the castle.
The guests at the wedding of Mr Sam Thompson and Ms Karen Thompson later continued their celebrations at a church hall.
Security at the castle was relaxed yesterday afternoon to allow another wedding reception to proceed.
Mr Alban Maginness an SDLP councillor in north Belfast, said the republican movement had delivered a new year's message of war.
"Once again the republican movement has broken faith with those who voted in the Forum elections for peace making, not war mongering," he said.
Calling for the restoration of the IRA ceasefire, Mr Maginness added: "Once again the IRA has stabbed John Hume and the SDLP in the back. This political hypocrisy must end soon.
The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, said the incident was consistent with other IRA actions in recent months and proved that it was planning further violence, rather than calling a new ceasefire.
Mr Jim Rodgers, a local UUP councillor, said the bomb alert was despicable. He called on Sinn Fein - some of whose Belfast councillors are members of the city council committee responsible for running the castle to condemn the IRA.
Investigations were continuing last night.
