The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, came under renewed pressure last night when the RUC confirmed a report that five youths from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, had been ordered by the IRA to leave Northern Ireland or be killed. The report produced an angry response from both unionist and nationalist politicians.
The RUC last night confirmed claims made earlier by Mr Vincent McKenna, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau, that five boys, all from Dungannon, have until later today to leave the North.
Mr Ken Maginnis, Ulster Unionist MP for the area, said last night that the incident sent a "very clear message" to the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, that the republican movement was a law unto itself.
"With actions like this, Sinn Fein are doing their level best to get themselves freed of any possibility of having to answer at Senator Mitchell's review. They are trying to get themselves banned", Mr Maginnis said.
A Sinn Fein spokesman described Mr Maginnis's remarks as "nonsense" and said that the party was opposed to all forms of summary justice.
Mr McKenna told The Irish Times last night that a social worker had contacted him and asked if he could help some of the boys to leave the North.
Two of the boys, brothers aged 16 and 18, are currently being housed by Mr McKenna in Belfast until he can organise their departure to Britain.
The IRA warning was issued to the boys in Dungannon yesterday morning by a local Catholic priest.
The IRA members were dressed in paramilitary uniforms and armed when they instructed the priest to relay the message to the boys. They gave no explanation as to why the youths had to leave.
The RUC confirmed that young people in the area had been threatened that they would be shot dead unless they left the North.
Last night, Gerard Groogan (18), who has been ordered out of the North along with his 16-year-old brother, said that the incident had its origins in a dispute in their estate. He blamed Dr Mowlam for his predicament, saying that, by her ruling on the ceasefire, she had given the IRA the "go-ahead" to shoot whoever they liked.
"They told the priest the community was sick of us and we'd have to get out, otherwise we'd be shot. We fear for our lives and don't have any choice. We've never been threatened like this before", Mr Groogan said.
Four boys from one estate in Dungannon have been given a deadline of midnight tonight to leave the North. It is understood that a fifth boy has been given a deadline of 6 p.m. today.
The SDLP Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Mr Tommy Gallagher, said that the incident was "deeply disturbing" for the entire community. He described the IRA's behaviour as "fascist".
The leader of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party, Mr Cedric Wilson, said last night that paramilitary groupings across the board were re-establishing control in their areas.
"I told Sir Ronnie Flanagan at a recent meeting that Northern Ireland was on the brink of becoming ungovernable and he told me that my fears were well-founded", Mr Wilson said. "This recent incident shows how these groups have now been aided and abetted by the Secretary of State."
Mr McKenna last night repeated his call for the resignation of Dr Mowlam, saying that her statement about the ceasefire indicated that that this type of intimidation was acceptable to the British government. "These boys would definitely have been shot, there is no doubt about it. We've seen the IRA's ruthlessness before and the high-calibre weapons that they use. The killing of Andrew Kearney last summer proves even a punishment attack is potentially murder."