Republican Paramilitary Groups Lay Down Arms
3:40pm UK, Monday February 08, 2010
Vicki Hawthorne,
Ireland correspondent
Two republican paramilitary groups responsible for more than 100 murders in Northern Ireland have announced the decommissioning of their weapons.
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After 36 years of armed struggle the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and the Official IRA confirmed that they have put their guns beyond use.
In a major step forward in the peace process former INLA representative Martin McMonagle said: “On the 11th October 2009 the INLA announced that our military war was over, concluding that the time was right to reaffirm the primacy of politics and clearly stating that it is our belief that armed struggle is not a viable option at this time.”
The INLA was responsible for the murder of Conservative MP Airey Neave in 1979.
Neave, one of the only Britons to escape from the notorious Colditz PoW jail during World War II, was shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland at the time.
The INLA says it wants to ‘reaffirm the primacy of politics’
The INLA also carried out the Droppin Well bombing in Ballykelly.
Eleven soldiers and six civilians were killed in the bombing of the Londonderry pub in 1982.
Four witnesses from trade unions and community groups witnessed the decommissioning of rifles, handguns and explosives over the last six months.
The amnesty deadline set by the British and Irish Governments for paramilitary groups to destroy their guns runs out on Tuesday.
The body set up to monitor the decommissioning of terrorist weapons also verified the move.
Conservative MP Airey Neave was murdered by the INLA in 1979
The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning headed by General John de Chastelain will cease to exist on Tuesday.
The loyalist group the Ulster Defence Association announced that it had decommissioned its weapons cache last month, while the IRA completed the handing over of its guns in 2005.
Four months ago the INLA used a graveside oration outside Dublin to confirm its “armed struggle is over” and it vowed to end its 35-year campaign of violence in Northern Ireland.
Ireland Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said the terror group’s decommissioning was another step towards guaranteeing peace.
He said: “These events are further positive developments as we look to finally close the last chapter of the conflict and ensure a peaceful future for all the people of Northern Ireland.”