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IMC Report Published Today
Following calls at the weekend to publish the latest IMC report (now nearly a month on) on paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, the government has made the report's findings public today. Among the conclusions are findings that the IRA are still recruiting young people and training them in the use of fire arms. They weren't exactly welcoming of the position of loyalists either though.
Follow up:
Loyalist Paramilitaries
It recommended sanctions against the PUP due to widespread activity by the UVF which it claims is "active, violent and ruthless and is prepared to use violence to promote ... the interests of the organisation". NB: the interests of the organisation, not the Union!
The UVF is considered the least active of the loyalist paramilitaries! The IMC also point the finger at the UDA for the murder of 55 year old DJ Stephen Nelson in the Chimney Corner hotel, among others.
McCartney Murder
Regarding Robert McCartney's murder by IRA members, regardless of whether the order to 'execute' him came from the local IRA leader or not, "there was prompt PIRA intervention to protect its members and to obstruct the investigation, including by cleaning up the scene and by the intimidation of witnesses." Just another example of paramilitaries putting their own narrow self-interest above basic moral standards of decency, and let's face it, no big surprise.
Puzzle for Sinn Fein
Overall the IMC report largely backed up what PSNI Cheif Constable Hugh Orde has said recently. One issue it raises though is that with Sinn Fein making attempts to gain power through the respective democratic administrations in Dublin and Belfast, how do they feel about the IRA's continuing claim that it alone is the legitimate government of this island? Good question.
It's not all bad...
One good thing is that the IMC don't believe the IRA have any immediate intention of going back to violence. So it's all ok, as long as we all tip our hats and placate them we might not get blown to bits! I expect everyone to be extra grateful to Sinn Fein for this the next time there's an election.
Slugger O'Toole is carrying more on the IMC report.