Sinn Fein and IRA crime: a pattern of denials

The Sinn Féin leadership of Mr Gerry Adams, Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Gerry Kelly have gone out on a limb in saying they accept the word of the IRA that it did not carry out the £26.5 million (€37.7 million) Northern Bank robbery.

This denial was issued by an IRA source shortly after the Christmas-week robbery but did not carry the formal P O'Neill imprimatur. In its New Year message, which did carry the P O'Neill signature, the IRA made no specific reference to the robbery.

Throughout the troubles the IRA has been generally upfront in admitting killings, bombings and other attacks - but there were occasions when it responded ambiguously, pleaded ignorance, or denied involvement in particular incidents only to be later forced to admit involvement.

Frank Kerr - shot dead November 1994

On November 10th, 1994, just over two months into its ceasefire, the IRA murdered Frank Kerr (53) from Camlough, Co Armagh, during a £131,000 robbery of the Royal Mail sorting office in Newry. The postal worker struggled with one of the armed IRA gang and was shot in the head, dying two hours later.

The IRA's first, short response on the day of the killing appeared to be a denial of involvement despite assertions by RUC and Garda sources that the IRA was responsible. "In our statement of August 31st [ announcing its ceasefire] a complete cessation was called of all military operations and all units were instructed accordingly. That position has not changed," the IRA said in a statement.

Party president Mr Adams that day as well said his party shared the sense of shock at Mr Kerr's killing. "Many people will be concerned also at the way in which the RUC has sought to blame republicans for this killing. The RUC is engaged in a transparent attempt to damage the peace process," he said.

Ten days later, however, the IRA admitted the murder and robbery, and said there had been a breakdown in the IRA's chain of command which had been "rectified".

Det Garda Jerry McCabe - shot dead June 1996

Det Garda Jerry McCabe (52), married with five children, was shot dead by an armed IRA gang in Adare, Co Limerick, in June 1996. He and a colleague - who was wounded - were escorting an An Post truck when they were attacked. The IRA almost immediately issued a statement in the name of P O'Neill denying involvement despite the initial finger of suspicion pointing at the organisation. But eventually, as well-known republicans were arrested in connection with the killing, the IRA admitted it was involved.

The Government said the men were not entitled to early release under the Belfast Agreement. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, accepted last month, however, that had a political deal in the North been struck they would have been freed.

Colombia Three - Arrested August 2001

James Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly were arrested on August 11th, 2001, as they entered Colombia through Bogota with false passports. They were charged with training FARC guerrillas although their defence was that they were studying the political situation in Colombia and also travelling as eco-tourists.

In December the men received heavy fines and 17-year prison sentences. They have skipped bail, however, and so far their whereabouts are not known although Interpol is assisting the Colombian authorities in trying to trace the men.

In August 2001, less then a week after they were arrested, Sinn Féin denied that one of the men, Niall Connolly from Dublin, was an accredited Sinn Féin representative in Havana. But two months later Mr Adams admitted Mr Connolly was the party's representative in Cuba. He said the original denial was issued in good faith. Two Sinn Féin representatives visited Cuba and conducted a thorough internal investigation, he explained.

"It had emerged that one of the party's senior members had asked Mr Connolly to represent Sinn Féin in Cuba," said Mr Adams. "This decision was taken without the knowledge or authorisation of the international department or any other party structure including the party chairperson and myself."

Beating and attempted abduction of Bobby Tohill - February 2004

On February 20th last year four masked men dressed in white forensic suits, balaclavas and surgical gloves entered Kelly's Cellars pub in central Belfast where they severely assaulted maverick republican figure Bobby Tohill. They then dragged him outside to a waiting vehicle but before they could properly abduct him they were intercepted by a PSNI patrol.

Four men were arrested and charged. Mr Tohill claimed the IRA was behind the attack. PSNI chief constable Mr Hugh Orde also blamed the IRA. The Taoiseach said if the police had not rescued Mr Tohill he would have been killed. Mr Adams characterised the incident as a row in a pub while the IRA told the republican magazine, An Phoblacht that "the IRA did not authorise any action against Bobby Tohill". In April last year the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) said the attack on Mr Tohill was "one planned and undertaken by the Provisional IRA".