THE WAR ON TERROR

Despite the Independent Monitoring Commission [IMC] stating that it was unable to reach a view on whether the IRA was honouring its commitment to confine itself solely to politics, Labour have decided to reinstate the allowances for both the Westminster Parliament and the Belfast Assembly to Sinn Fein worth £750,000 per annum.

The allowances had been suspended in March following the murder of Robert McCartney and the £26.5million bank robbery in Belfast.

The IMC, in its latest report, stated that the IRA had been involved in one shooting and 10 assaults between March and August and further raised concerns about the involvement of the IRA in organised crime. The report stated:

‘It is too early to be drawing firm conclusions about possible overall changes in behaviour.’

The report further stated that it was too early to reinstate the allowances.

Nevertheless, Peter Hain has reinstated the payments and the Westminster MPs will once again be drawing £126,000 for staff, office costs and housing expenses. This comes to £630,000 for the 5 Sinn Fein MPs. Sinn Fein will also once again receive £120,000 for its members in the suspended Belfast Assembly.

Meanwhile members of Robert McCartney’s family have moved out of their homes in the Short Strand area of Belfast, an IRA stronghold, following increased threats in a sustained campaign of intimidation.