SF dismisses report while parties raise funds issue

Reaction in North: The IMC report highlights what everyone in Northern Ireland already knows, the DUP said, "namely that the…

Reaction in North:The IMC report highlights what everyone in Northern Ireland already knows, the DUP said, "namely that the IRA is completely hostile to the forces of law and order".

Responding to the publication of the report, party leader Ian Paisley warned: "Such a continuing attitude is not the hallmark of an organisation that is fit to serve in government."

He said: "All those who have the interests of democracy at heart should be disturbed at the continuing benefits Sinn Féin/IRA derives from the proceeds of 'discreetly laundered assets which were previously gained illegally'.

"Political parties in the Republic of Ireland should pay particular attention to the wealth at Sinn Féin/IRA's disposal and the IMC's description of it as a 'strategic asset'."

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Dr Paisley warned there would be "no tolerable level of paramilitary and criminal behaviour".

"It is for republicans to give it all up and irreversibly get on to the democratic path.

"At the present rate of transition it will be some considerable time before they can be said to have embraced that path."

Sinn Féin dismissed the document as a worthless and "meaningless report from spooks and spies".

In Derry, Martin McGuinness said: "I couldn't care less about the report. I am not giving any weight whatsoever to what the spooks and the spies and the securocrats are saying about a peace process which they are hostile to."

The IRA had fulfilled its commitments made last July, he added.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain greeted the report. "The [British] government believes that it should make a helpful contribution to the rebuilding of trust and confidence in Northern Ireland which is necessary for a return to full devolution," he said.

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey recognised that the report signalled progress where the IRA was concerned.

"However, the dog that didn't bark is the IRA-authorised Northern Bank robbery and the failure of republicans to return the money. The UUP calls for an immediate return of these funds," he said.

The SDLP said it was concerned that "the provisional movement is still using laundered money as a strategic asset".

Party leader Mark Durkan added: "Given that the IRA is dismantling as a military structure, what need is there for such criminal funds? Is it to be used to give advantage to a political party? In an Ireland of equals nobody can be allowed to buy democracy with the proceeds of crime."

Alliance leader David Ford said criminality associated with a political party was a political problem and could not just be left to the criminal justice system.

"The two governments need to keep up pressure on republicans," he said, "to address the remaining criminality and to work with the police".