11.2.05
Irelandclick.com
SF slams report
North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly has slammed the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), which states that senior members of Sinn Féin sanctioned robberies, including the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery.
The IMC’s fourth report into the Northern Bank Robbery was published today [Thursday].
In the report it states: “In our view Sinn Féin must bear its share of responsibility for all the incidents. Some of its senior members who are also senior members of the PIRA were involved in sanctioning the series of robberies.”
The report agrees with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde who claimed the IRA was behind the robbery earlier this year.
“We have carefully scrutinising all the material… which leads us to conclude firmly that it was planned and undertaken by the PIRA”.
Speaking to the North Belfast News on Thursday afternoon Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice and Policing said the credibility of the IMC was at stake.
“Let’s deal with the IMC as a body itself. It is not independent. Let’s use the words of IMC member Dick Kerr who said ‘the [British] government can use us, there’s no question’.
“He also said the IMC has no independent investigative methods.
“They deal in reportage, and they get their information from the same funnel of information, which is the PSNI, and which is not trusted by Nationalists.
“We now have this IMC report and we know that their information comes from the same PSNI funnel. We knew they were going to support Huge Orde.
“Bertie Ahern is against sanctions, but this is not good enough, we need to know if the Irish Government as an equal co-partner in this peace process, is going to block such sanctions.
“Sanctions have been used before, they do not work. Let’s deal with the peace process, let’s get it back on track. This type of confrontational approach doesn’t work.
“All they have done is add to the excuses the DUP use to walk way from power sharing and equality.”
Journalist:: Áine McEntee
SF slams report
North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly has slammed the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), which states that senior members of Sinn Féin sanctioned robberies, including the £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery.
The IMC’s fourth report into the Northern Bank Robbery was published today [Thursday].
In the report it states: “In our view Sinn Féin must bear its share of responsibility for all the incidents. Some of its senior members who are also senior members of the PIRA were involved in sanctioning the series of robberies.”
The report agrees with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde who claimed the IRA was behind the robbery earlier this year.
“We have carefully scrutinising all the material… which leads us to conclude firmly that it was planned and undertaken by the PIRA”.
Speaking to the North Belfast News on Thursday afternoon Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice and Policing said the credibility of the IMC was at stake.
“Let’s deal with the IMC as a body itself. It is not independent. Let’s use the words of IMC member Dick Kerr who said ‘the [British] government can use us, there’s no question’.
“He also said the IMC has no independent investigative methods.
“They deal in reportage, and they get their information from the same funnel of information, which is the PSNI, and which is not trusted by Nationalists.
“We now have this IMC report and we know that their information comes from the same PSNI funnel. We knew they were going to support Huge Orde.
“Bertie Ahern is against sanctions, but this is not good enough, we need to know if the Irish Government as an equal co-partner in this peace process, is going to block such sanctions.
“Sanctions have been used before, they do not work. Let’s deal with the peace process, let’s get it back on track. This type of confrontational approach doesn’t work.
“All they have done is add to the excuses the DUP use to walk way from power sharing and equality.”
Journalist:: Áine McEntee
