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04/10/2002
NI Secretary 'must act' against republicans says Trimble
The First Minister has told Secretary of State John Reid that "he must act" against Sinn Fein following today's police raid on the party's assembly offices this morning.
Mr Trimble was speaking after news that police had arrested a Sinn Fein activist and a former messenger employed by the Northern Ireland Office during an operation into alleged "republican terrorist" activity.
Documents and computer disks were also seized during the raids, which began at 5am this morning and involved around 200 officers.
The UUP leader said: "The responsibility clearly and unequivocally still rests with the Secretary of State, Dr John Reid and Prime Minister Tony Blair to decide what steps need to be taken against Sinn Fein.
“On July 24 John Reid said in the House of Commons that if there was further evidence of activities incompatible with a ceasefire as he defined it he would act. So the challenge is to John Reid: fulfil your word, do what you said in July that you would do and take appropriate responses.
“He has a duty and a responsibility to act. We expect him to act. He must act. I will be conveying the same message to the Prime Minister when I go to see him next week.”
Mr Trimble said that today's revelations were a vindication of the motion approved by the Ulster Unionist Council last month, which ensured the party's withdrawal from the executive by January 18 if the IRA had not made significant progress toward disbandment.
Dr Reid is currently considering a report submitted by the PSNI that the IRA were behind an attack on a Catholic bus driver in Londonderry's Creggan estate last Sunday. Fifty-one year old Danny McBrearty has said that he was beaten with a hammer and shot in both legs because he helped defend his nephew against an IRA gang.
In Armagh the father of man who was badly beaten by a gang of masked men has also claimed that the IRA were behind that attack.
Peter Kelly has said that the IRA were behind the attack on his son Raymond who was left seriously ill in hospital after being assaulted with iron bars, sledgehammers and nail-studded baseball bats near Forkhill last month.
Dr Reid has already issued a warning to republicans at the Labour Party conference yesterday, saying that they "cannot continue to ride two horses at once – especially if the horses are as far apart as violence and democracy".
In view of the allegations being made against the republican movement, Dr Reid will have to decide which horse republicanism is backing – and so decide the future of the power-sharing executive in the process.
(GMcG)
Mr Trimble was speaking after news that police had arrested a Sinn Fein activist and a former messenger employed by the Northern Ireland Office during an operation into alleged "republican terrorist" activity.
Documents and computer disks were also seized during the raids, which began at 5am this morning and involved around 200 officers.
The UUP leader said: "The responsibility clearly and unequivocally still rests with the Secretary of State, Dr John Reid and Prime Minister Tony Blair to decide what steps need to be taken against Sinn Fein.
“On July 24 John Reid said in the House of Commons that if there was further evidence of activities incompatible with a ceasefire as he defined it he would act. So the challenge is to John Reid: fulfil your word, do what you said in July that you would do and take appropriate responses.
“He has a duty and a responsibility to act. We expect him to act. He must act. I will be conveying the same message to the Prime Minister when I go to see him next week.”
Mr Trimble said that today's revelations were a vindication of the motion approved by the Ulster Unionist Council last month, which ensured the party's withdrawal from the executive by January 18 if the IRA had not made significant progress toward disbandment.
Dr Reid is currently considering a report submitted by the PSNI that the IRA were behind an attack on a Catholic bus driver in Londonderry's Creggan estate last Sunday. Fifty-one year old Danny McBrearty has said that he was beaten with a hammer and shot in both legs because he helped defend his nephew against an IRA gang.
In Armagh the father of man who was badly beaten by a gang of masked men has also claimed that the IRA were behind that attack.
Peter Kelly has said that the IRA were behind the attack on his son Raymond who was left seriously ill in hospital after being assaulted with iron bars, sledgehammers and nail-studded baseball bats near Forkhill last month.
Dr Reid has already issued a warning to republicans at the Labour Party conference yesterday, saying that they "cannot continue to ride two horses at once – especially if the horses are as far apart as violence and democracy".
In view of the allegations being made against the republican movement, Dr Reid will have to decide which horse republicanism is backing – and so decide the future of the power-sharing executive in the process.
(GMcG)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
