THE GOVERNMENT has issued Sinn Fein with what amounts to an ultimatum to bring about an IRA ceasefire or face having its. relationship with the Government reconsidered. This comes in the wake of the bombing in Manchester and the acknowledgement that IRA members were involved in the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.
Sixteen of the more than 200 people who were injured in the blast on Saturday outside the Arndale Centre in the heart of Manchester's commercial district were last night still being treated in, hospital. The most seriously injured victim received almost 300 stitches during 7 1/2 hours of facial surgery.
The structural cost of the blast was put "conservatively" at £100 million. Two police cordons remained in place around Manchester city centre yesterday as officers and members of a forensic unit searched the debris for clues Greater Manchester Police were said to be "very hopeful" of being able to locate video film of the bombers. Last night, they announced that the 7 1/2 tonne truck used to transport the device had been spotted in Peterborough in the East Midlands on Friday afternoon.
In the most public sign yet that the Government is running out of patience with Sinn Fein, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, has announced a fundamental review of the entire peace process. An assessment will be presented to tomorrow's Cabinet meeting on the viability of the peace process in the light of the bombing and the Adare murder.
Government sources indicated that the review would involve intelligence and political reports on the prospect of an early IRA ceasefire, an analysis of whether the Sinn Fein leadership will be in a position to speak authoritatively again for the IRA on the question of arms and an assessment of the possibility of a split in the republican movement.
Sources close to the peace process asserted that the Manchester bombing would not derail the multi party talks. They felt that it was not the result of a split in the republican movement and considered an IRA ceasefire still a strong possibility.
Expressing the Government's revulsion at the recent atrocities, the Taoiseach announced in an interview on BBC's On the Record programme yesterday that the Government was "having to review very seriously and fundamentally" its relationship with Sinn Fein and with the republican movement as a whole in the light of what had occurred.
"This is a slap in the face to people who have been trying, perhaps against their better instincts, to give Sinn Fein a chance to show that they could persuade the IRA to reinstate, the ceasefire", he said.
In a hard hitting statement, he questioned how Sinn Fein could be committed to peace and yet not condemn the killing of Garda McCabe. "How could a political party continue to associate with the IRA after the appalling events in Manchester? The questions now need to be put by the people in Sinn Fein to themselves about the viability of their peace strategy in the light of what has happened", he added.
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said that he believed the peace process was "certainly very shattered". Whether it could be resurrected or not remained to be seen.
The Fianna Fail Leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, described the Manchester bombing as a dreadful attack on innocent people. Coming in the wake of the start of the multi party talks, it augured "fairly badly for the future". He again urged the IRA to call a ceasefire to enable Sinn Fein to participate in the talks.
The president of Sinn Fein, Mr Gerry Adams, last night called on the Government to give his party a place at the negotiating table. Inclusive dialogue, he said, was the only way forward. Without even mentioning the Manchester bomb attack, Mr Adams said: "This is a time for everyone committed to the objective of lasting peace in Ireland to dig deep and apply ourselves with greater determination to restore the peace process."
The Catholic Primate, Cardinal Cahal Daly, said that the Government line of communication to Sinn Fein should be kept open in spite of the bombing. Isolating the republican movement would achieve nothing, he said in Belfast.
Archbishop Walton Empey described the IRA as "callous cowards" during his enthronement service in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday. He said that the name of Ireland had been "besmirched" by a group who, by their very name, claimed to act on behalf of the Irish people.
Meanwhile, peace process sources said that the balance of probability still pointed to a renewed IRA ceasefire.