The IRA is considering further decommissioning, the head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Sir Ronnie Flanagan has told the North's Policing Board.
Amid some recent speculation of the IRA disarming more weapons before the general election, expected in the Republic in May, Sir Ronnie confirmed yesterday that the paramilitary group was contemplating such an act.
Sir Ronnie however in his last address to the Policing Board before he retires as Chief Constable at the end of the month could not say when it might happen.
"I have no doubt that it's being considered but I have had no intelligence certainly to say that it has happened and I have no firm intelligence to say that it is going to happen imminently," he told Ulster Unionist Board member Mr Alan McFarland.
His comments tie in with some recent reports that IRA leaders are weighing up whether this would be the time to follow up on last October's historic act of disarmament that was confirmed by Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body. Another IRA gesture could boost Sinn Féin's prospects of winning five or more seats in the general election. Were it to happen this week it would also strengthen the First Minister Mr David Trimble's leadership position as he seeks re-election at the Ulster Unionist Council annual meeting on Saturday.
Such an imminent move however is thought unlikely. If the IRA were to seal more dumps the speculation is that it would happen sooner rather than later. Were it to delay such action until shortly before the general election it could provoke a cynical public response.
Sir Ronnie told the Policing Board that the IRA was still in a position to return to conflict. "The Provisional IRA continues to pose a threat because of their capabilities. As far as their announced cessation of operations, we see that holds but undoubtedly they are still intact as an organisation." He said that while the PSNI, the Garda Siochana and the police internationally had dented the capabilities of dissident republicans they were still a "major threat".
