Adams dismisses 'nonsense' of retained guns claim
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams today dismissed as “nonsense” claims that the IRA has held back about 300 guns despite its commitment to a full de-commissioning of weapons.
Mr Adams, on his first visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, said he fully accepted the report of the independent de-commissioning body which had made it “very very clear” that all IRA weapons were now “beyond use“.
He added: “But let there be no doubt that there are lots of guns out there - guns in the hands of the British army, guns in the hands of Unionist paramilitaries, as used last night to kill Jim Gray, and guns in the hands of the PSNI (Northern Ireland police).”
Mr Adams said it might take some time for the media to absorb the full impact of the IRA’s de-commissioning of arms, but it was “a new vista“.
“It is a singular achievement – the first time we have brought militant Republicanism to the point where it de-militarises itself,” he said.
On the murder of the UDA man, he said: “I have only just heard about this so I don’t know about the circumstances.
“But like all democrats, I condemn all of these murders. I think each of them diminishes the body politic, and politicians have to make sure the peace process works, and that the vacuum that currently exists is brought to an end as quickly as possible.”
Asked about claims by the family of murdered 29-year old Joseph Rafferty that the killer was a Sinn Féin worker, Mr Adams replied: “I am quite ready to meet the family of Jo Rafferty if they wish. We repudiate the killing.”
He said it was the responsibility of Sinn Féin and everyone else to ensure “due process“. He urged anyone with information about the Dublin killing to go the Garda.
“This is a matter for the Garda. Jo Rafferty’s killing was a very, very brutal murder – one of a series of such murders in Dublin in the recent past.”
Mr Adams was in Brussels following the de-commissioning announcement to meet MEPs, EU Regional Commissioner Danuta Hubner and other EU officials.
He said it was partly a “listen and learn” trip, with the emphasis on strengthening and expanding existing EU funding for Ireland and the peace process.
“I am pleased to be here to brief people and to thank them for their support for the peace process in Ireland and to talk about what has to be done in the time ahead.”
