IRA Weapons All disamed

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http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...445539,00.html

'ALL IRA ARMS BEYOND USE'
All the IRA's weapons have been scrapped, according to international monitors.

More than a decade after announcing its first ceasefire, observers confirmed how the paramilitary group's stash of guns and explosives were put out of use.

The unprecedented move has the potential to transform the Northern Ireland peace process.

Prime Minister Tony Blair appreciated some would be sceptical but said: "Successive British governments have sought final and complete decommissioning by the IRA for over 10 years.

"Today it is finally accomplished. And we have made an important step in the transition from conflict to peace in Northern Ireland."

Decommissioning chief General John de Chastelain had told reporters the IRA "believe they have given us everything they have and we believe them".

Democratic Unionists were demanding photographic proof of decommissioning - a step Republicans said they were not prepared to take.

The Reverend Ian Paisley said there had been a cover-up and Mr Blairs's promises of a transparent disarmament had been broken.

Mr Paisley said: "We do not know how many guns, the amounts of ammunition, explosives - nor were we told how the decommissioning was carried out."

But rish Premier Bertie Ahern insisted it was a momentous day Ireland and said: "We are enormously relieved that we can finally close this difficult chapter of the peace process."

The weapons reportedly included: hundreds of automatic rifles; heavy machine guns; a SAM missle launcher - which can shoot down a plane; and three tons of Semtex plastic explosive.

The IRA, in a statement, said its leadership "can now confirm that the process of putting our arms verifiably beyond use has been completed".

Gen de Chastelain admitted "more openess" would have been better for him and his team and conceded it was possible there may still be forgotten arms caches.

The IRA had used the weapons to sustain a 30-year campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland.

about time, but no time to celebrate since there are many organisations linked to the IRA that are not disarming

[Steve]

i guess it is better than nothing :/
three is no proof from what i heard on the radio though? :/

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Originally posted by Steve
i guess it is better than nothing :/
three is no proof from what i heard on the radio though? :/

only proof is a minister from each side, no photo's or videos

[Hellfighter]

man thats a joke one day they give them all up and when they get tickoff they are back at it again.

i can't even count how many times i heard they disbanded and they show up doing the same crap again. sad

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Originally posted by Chief ADFP
man thats a joke one day they give them all up and when they get tickoff they are back at it again.

i can't even count how many times i heard they disbanded and they show up doing the same crap again. sad

they have nvr disbanded... they have signed many ceasefires but have never went as far as disarming before

[BADDOG]

Lets all hope this is the real thing this time guys......


Warm Regards

[Dr. Bullet]

I know this is slightly old, but bare with me

Why aren't troops sent out to squash the IRA? I understand the Irish can be rather nasty, but certainly a professional military could rid the country of them.

Sorry for my lack of understanding, but we cousins across the pond have not had to deal with such things.

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Originally posted by Dr. Bullet
I know this is slightly old, but bare with me

Why aren't troops sent out to squash the IRA? I understand the Irish can be rather nasty, but certainly a professional military could rid the country of them.

Sorry for my lack of understanding, but we cousins across the pond have not had to deal with such things.

the british army have been trying to do that for along time now, the problem with the IRA is that its just ordinary civs. who have weapons and they operate in small groups at a time, so u can imagine how hard it is to track their movements

[Dr. Bullet]

Ahh...that bites

[Trojan]

lol

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yeah it does bite, but it means that the british army stays longer, feels good to be living in a country with the most experienced riot control forces.. and helicopter pilots.. and the security is gr8

[Hellfighter]

we have to wait for and see, 4-5 years down the road to tell if it is or not. till then we can only hope no more people get kill do to their actions.

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Originally posted by Chief ADFP
we have to wait for and see, 4-5 years down the road to tell if it is or not. till then we can only hope no more people get kill do to their actions.

just give it a few months, some group always screws up and annoys the rest

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i should have said a few hours..

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...197869,00.html

LOYALIST SHOT DEAD IN BELFAST

Top Loyalist Jim Gray has been shot dead in Belfast tonight, according to Loyalist sources.

He was reportedly gunned down in the east of the city, where he was once in charge of the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association.

Gray was out on bail awaiting trial on money laundering charges after being arrested by police as part of an investigation into serious crime in Northern Ireland.

He was ousted as UDA leader in east Belfast several months ago.

More follows...