DUP anger at minister's assessment of IRA criminality
Public trust in the British government has been weakened by Northern Ireland Security Minister Shaun Woodward distancing the IRA from organised crime, it was claimed today.
Democratic Unionist MLA Ian Paisley Jr accused him of unacceptable levels of complacency over his assessment.
Mr Woodward claimed the Provisionals were holding firm on a pledge to abandon all racketeering, including massive levels of cross-border fuel smuggling.
But Mr Paisley insisted this was nonsense.
The North Antrim Assemblyman said: “NIO ministers have a responsibility to be honest and demonstrate integrity.
“Comments so far reaching as those made by Mr Woodward, that are without substance or credibility, only serve to diminish public confidence in the honesty of the government.
“The minister is in some self-imposed denial that only exposes his own weakness in the face of crime.”
Even though Mr Woodward accepted rogue smugglers may be operating, he claimed the IRA was honouring its July announcement to end all criminality.
After talks in Dublin with Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, Assets Recovery Agency chief Jane Earl and head of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Chief Superintendent Felix McKenna, he identified the illegal fuel trade as a major threat.
“(But) we have got to be cautious about saying it’s still being run by the IRA. It’s being run by people who have been involved historically with paramilitary organisations. That’s what we know,” Mr Woodward said.
“The IRA have made it clear they have given up criminality. There’s a lot of evidence to support that.
“That doesn’t mean to say there aren’t individuals out there on both sides of the equation who may be involved in it. But that doesn’t mean those organisations are involved in it.
“I can be confident from the evidence I’m given.”
He also emphasised the significance of a new dossier compiled by the Independent Monitoring Commission ceasefire watchdogs and due to be published in January.
“That is so big, it’s so important. Nobody there has an axe to grind; they have to make an assessment based on all the people they talk to,” the minister added.
But Mr Paisley was astonished by his view, stressing it came days after a senior police officer linked serious and organised crime in Jonesborough, south Armagh to republicans.
The DUP man was also due to meet Northern Secretary Peter Hain with representatives from tobacco manufacturer Gallaher to discuss security risks following a £500,000 (€742,100) cigarette heist in Belfast.
“Because of IRA threats it continues to send its goods across to Scotland before ferrying them into Dublin in order to avoid IRA heists along the border,” Mr Paisley said.
“It is not only nonsense for Woodward to make these suggestions but it demonstrates a level of complacency that is not acceptable in a security minister.”
