Sinn Féin says it does not accept findings on paramilitary groups

Sinn Féin has said it does not accept the findings of two reports published this week on republican and loyalist paramilitary groups.

A British government-appointed panel found IRA structures still existed but in much reduced form.

A Garda report concluded some former Provisional IRA (PIRA) members were engaged in organised crime in the Republic.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the reports were a "serious piece of mischief making" and their findings were being seized upon by the party's political opponents.

“Nobody controls Sinn Féin but the Sinn Féin membership. There is a suggestion Sinn Féin is controlled by some outside body or group. We are not,” he said.

Mr Adams said it was very clear the IRA had gone away and the army council no longer existed.

Senior figures in the party also rejected the findings of the reports.

‘Overarching strategy’

The British government panel said IRA members believed the army council “oversees both PIRA and Sinn Féin with an overarching strategy”.

Sinn Féin's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the suggestion that the party was dictated to by the army council was "ludicrous and laughable".

He said: “I am in the leadership of this party. I know who runs this party. I know who is on the ardchomhairle.

“I know where we make the decisions in terms of policy of this party. The suggestion that we are in some way controlled by a so-called army council is ridiculous.”

Mr Doherty told The Irish Times that the IRA was gone and that that had been the situation for many years.

Beyond credibility

Some of the British panel’s report was beyond credibility, Mr Doherty said.

“We don’t accept it. The communities we represent know the IRA no longer exists.”

The Donegal TD said he would not be losing sleep over the contents of the report and that it was primarily being used as a political football in an election season.

Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said he was confident the IRA no longer existed.

“It is my opinion and it is the opinion of republicans across the island that we are on a journey to peace. We are moving away from the heartbreak of failure and [the] past,” he said.

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said the contents of the two reports were very serious, adding: "It certainly would make you think in relation to Sinn Féin and the IRA and renews views there are linkages there that may not seem apparent upfront."