Any IRA decommissioning a 'stunt', says DUP

The IRA may opt for a weapons decommissioning "stunt" to revive the Northern Ireland peace process, according to DUP deputy leader…

The IRA may opt for a weapons decommissioning "stunt" to revive the Northern Ireland peace process, according to DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson.

At the second in a series of public meetings organised by his party, the DUP deputy leader last night claimed another IRA arms decommissioning "stunt" was being planned.

"We will be offered an IRA stunt of secretly `putting some illegal weapons beyond use'," the former Stormont Regional Development Minister said.

"On this occasion, it is being trailed, the IRA will permit General de Chastelain to give some details of an inventory of the weapons `put beyond use' but no filming will be allowed.

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"Whether we will be told how they were put beyond use or be given any proof of their destruction - if destruction is involved - is not yet clear," Mr Robinson said.

"One thing is sure. The IRA intends to hold on to a substantial stockpile of weapons sufficient for supplying any level of terrorist campaign ever waged in the province."

The DUP deputy leader also predicted that the Ulster Unionist Party leadership would try to portray any moves as a "good day's work" and a victory for unionism.

Mr Robinson alleged supporters of the Belfast Agreement were trying to use the "same, tired old formula" to revive the Northern Ireland Assembly.He warned that if the Ulster Unionist Party is returned after the next Assembly election, more "concessions" to republicans would be repeated until the position of unionism became "untenable and irretrievable".

PA