The DUP leader, Dr Ian Paisley, has accused the Irish Government of funding the Provisional IRA in the 1960s, insisting that an inquiry should be launched into the "terrible deeds" of the Provisionals IRA similar to the investigation into Bloody Sunday.
Dr Paisley said the independent inquiry on Bloody Sunday ordered by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, yesterday "would not face the issue" of Dublin's role in setting the IRA on the road to terrorism.
"It was the Irish Government that brought about the IRA. This was the womb from which it came. And all of these events can be laid at the door of the IRA. We must find out how the Dublin Government financed the IRA and set it on its campaign of blood and terror. The Prime Minister is prepared to condemn the fruits of this, but he is not prepared to grapple with the roots." After the statement on Bloody Sunday a DUP delegation, including Dr Paisley, the deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, Mr Nigel Dodds and the former DUP MP, Dr William McCrea, met Mr Blair at Downing Street.
Dr Paisley raised the question of "balance" in the inquiry into Bloody Sunday, referring to the alleged relationship between the Irish government and the IRA in the 1960s. He also spoke of his concern about paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland. A Downing Street spokesman said last night that although the DUP remained outside the talks process, Mr Blair kept in "regular" contact with the party leadership.