Here we are again debating if the IRA has gone away. The murders that involved former members of the IRA on the streets of Belfast has caused another halt to business at the Northern Ireland Assembly, and disgust among right thinking citizens.
Whether former paramilitaries are now acting as advisers to the new crop, or carrying out criminal activities linked to drug dealing, who knows? The police on both sides of the border are being cautious with their pronouncements. To say there is no evidence that a secret organisation continues to operate, or have any identifiable command structure, is no comfort to the victims and their families.
The UUP, one of the smallest parties in NI, is walking away from the Assembly, and the DUP are wondering what they should do. Sinn Fein are busy refuting claims that the IRA exists, but don’t have much credibility with their opposition MLAs.
The Secretary of State for NI, Theresa Villiers, will be playing piggy in the middle.
odespinner 