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27/09/2005
Paisley expresses 'shock' at IICD declaration
DUP leader Ian Paisley has expressed his "shock" at information given during discussions with Independent International Commission for Decommissioning (IICD) chief General John de Chastelain.
Dr Paisley requested the meeting following yesterday's announcement that the IRA had decommissioned all of its weapons. During the discussions it was revealed that the Government had no part in the appointment of the two so-called independent witnesses, ex-Methodist moderator Rev Harold Good and Belfast priest Father Alex Reid.
Speaking after the meeting, which he described as "serious", the North Antrim MP said: "Before we went into the meeting we had some very serious questions which needed to be answered and on leaving the meeting there are still issues which need to be clarified. I would be putting it mildly when I say that we were shocked with the information, or indeed the lack of it, which we received in today’s meeting.
"The two witnesses have continued to maintain that they were independent and that they were not appointed by the IRA. However, when we raised this matter with the General, we discovered that the two witnesses arrived on site accompanied by the IRA.
"This is in contradiction to what we were led to believe by yesterday’s announcement, when it was said that the witnesses were appointed by the Commission.
"The General made it very clear the witnesses were not appointed by the Commission. The witnesses have also been very forthright in stating that they were not appointed by the IRA, however I have grave doubts in my mind about this.
"If both the Government and the Commission had no part in it, this only leaves the IRA, and we have already had it confirmed that when they were introduced to the Commissioners, both men were in the company of the IRA."
Dr Paisley said he would be requesting a meeting with Rev Good and Father Reid in "the coming days" to explore a number of issues.
(MB/SP)
Dr Paisley requested the meeting following yesterday's announcement that the IRA had decommissioned all of its weapons. During the discussions it was revealed that the Government had no part in the appointment of the two so-called independent witnesses, ex-Methodist moderator Rev Harold Good and Belfast priest Father Alex Reid.
Speaking after the meeting, which he described as "serious", the North Antrim MP said: "Before we went into the meeting we had some very serious questions which needed to be answered and on leaving the meeting there are still issues which need to be clarified. I would be putting it mildly when I say that we were shocked with the information, or indeed the lack of it, which we received in today’s meeting.
"The two witnesses have continued to maintain that they were independent and that they were not appointed by the IRA. However, when we raised this matter with the General, we discovered that the two witnesses arrived on site accompanied by the IRA.
"This is in contradiction to what we were led to believe by yesterday’s announcement, when it was said that the witnesses were appointed by the Commission.
"The General made it very clear the witnesses were not appointed by the Commission. The witnesses have also been very forthright in stating that they were not appointed by the IRA, however I have grave doubts in my mind about this.
"If both the Government and the Commission had no part in it, this only leaves the IRA, and we have already had it confirmed that when they were introduced to the Commissioners, both men were in the company of the IRA."
Dr Paisley said he would be requesting a meeting with Rev Good and Father Reid in "the coming days" to explore a number of issues.
(MB/SP)
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