PARAMILITARY ACTIVITY:THERE IS still a "functioning murder machine" run by republicans in south Armagh, Assembly member Dominic Bradley told the SDLP conference.
Mr Bradley said that, just over two years since the murder of Paul Quinn, people in south Armagh remained convinced that Provisional IRA members were responsible for his death.
The Newry and Armagh MLA said the politicisation of the murder was necessary and correct because the killing revolved around a denial of reality.
“The reality is that we have a functioning murder machine in south Armagh.
“It is fairly clear that the army council has prohibited actions such as organised beatings, and it is equally clear the south Armagh Provos don’t give a damn,” added Mr Bradley. “They don’t take orders from Dublin and they don’t take them from Gerry Adams in Belfast either,” he said.
“Even if the Provisional IRA has theoretically been stood down, individual members still have access to its structures, skills and experience. And the group as a whole is still trying to exercise community control – and worst of all it can still draw on political support from Sinn Féin in exercising that control,” said Mr Bradley.
SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood accused Sinn Féin of undermining the Parades Commission, making it “easy for elements in unionism to circle and target the commission”. “Sinn Féin were fully on board to do down the commission,” he said.
