Adams and McGuinness named as IRA leaders

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | February 21, 2005 | By Thomas Harding, Ireland Correspondent

[aculeus]

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein leaders, were publicly named as members of the IRA's Army Council in an unprecedented move by the Irish government yesterday.

The public naming will heap even greater damage on republicans after a week of allegations over IRA involvement in crime.

The Provisionals, once regarded as staunch defenders of the Roman Catholic community, are rapidly losing all credibility over allegations of theft, murder and money laundering to bankroll Sinn Fein's political ambitions.

Michael McDowell, the Irish justice minister, named Mr Adams, Mr McGuinness and Martin Ferris, the Kerry MP, as members of the seven man ruling IRA Army Council during a radio interview at the weekend.

The body gives the orders for all major IRA tactical actions, including sanctioning robberies, purchase of weapons and targeting.

In answer to who he thought was on the IRA Army Council, Mr McDowell said: We're talking about a small group of people, including a number of elected representatives, who run the whole [Republican] movement.

"We're talking about Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams, Martin Ferris and others."

Before the £26 million Northern Bank robbery, Mr McDowell was almost alone among Irish politicians forcibly to demand an end to IRA criminality. He took a harder line than both the British and Irish governments who maintained a policy of turning a blind-eye to many IRA activities in the interests of the political process.

Mr McDowell said that many professionals, including lawyers, accountants and financiers, were connected to the IRA's money laundering operation which led to the Garda discovering almost £3 million in cash last week.

Paul Murphy, the Northern Ireland Secretary, is expected to announce in the House of Commons this week that the Parliamentary allowances for Sinn Fein's four MPs, estimated at £500,000, will be withdrawn in response to continuing IRA criminality.

But Mr Adams, who has always denied being an IRA member, continued to insist that the Provisionals were not behind the bank raid.

During a republican rally in Strabane, Co Tyrone, he watched as a "colour party" of men in black combat fatigues and sunglasses led about 1,000 supporters through the town chanting "IRA, IRA".

"No republican worthy of the name can be involved in criminality of any kind. If any are they should be expelled from our ranks," Mr Adams said.

Mr McGuinness, who has admitted to being the Londonderry IRA commander in the early 1970s, hinted at possible internal action suggesting the situation "needs to be sorted out".

Seven of the eight people arrested last week in connection with the bank raid, including a former Sinn Fein councillor, were released without charge. A file on all the cases has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr McGuinness denied that he, Mr Adams or Mr Ferris sat on the IRA Army Council.

He said: "Its not true. I reject it completely. What he [Mr McDowell] has alleged is totally and utterly false. I'm not a member of the IRA. I'm not a member of the IRA Army Council."

Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence.

[LibertarianInExile]

IRA!?!?!?!?

Let that be a lesson to you. Drink

[GeronL]

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Fein leaders, were publicly named as members of the IRA's Army Council in an unprecedented move by the Irish government yesterday

did they tell us something we didn't know?