THE RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, has predicted immediate loyalist retaliation if there are any IRA attacks in the North. His warning came as the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister prepared to meet today in Florence.
Mr Bruton again challenged Mr Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, to say that his party no longer supports the IRA's use of violence. He indicated that Mr Adams's response in an article in yesterday's Irish Times to questions posed by the Government to Sinn Fein was inadequate.
In Florence, where the EU summit starts today, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said last night that loyalists had behaved in a "stoic and responsible way since their ceasefire in October 1994 despite provocation". He hoped they would continue to show restraint.
Mr Bruton acknowledged the Government knew that Sinn Fein had ongoing contact with the IRA. The two organisations were associated and, of course, they had were in regular contact.
The Taoiseach said: "Now, I'm asking them, have they gone to the IRA to ask for a ceasefire? And will they go to the IRA to ask for a ceasefire? That question hasn't been answered."
