IRA no threat to peace process, says Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein has said the IRA poses no threat to the future of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

I am confident the IRA's position as stated repeatedly is such as they are no threat to this peace process Sinn Fein chief whip Mr Alex Maskey

The party's chief whip Mr Alex Maskey insisted the republican movement was still wedded to the peace process.

Mr Maskey accused the media of "trying and convicting" three Irishmen who were arrested in Bogata before the full facts had emerged. The Garda said it believed the three were there on IRA activity.

One of the three was charged with being involved in terrorist activity.

"These people have been tried by television and I am not prepared to try them by television. I am quite prepared to wait and see what they were doing there," he said.

"I am also confident that the IRA's position as stated repeatedly is such as they are no threat to this peace process."

"I believe that the IRA is totally committed to this peace process but I do know that British forces are re-militarising along the border, that loyalists have been re-arming and have been involved in a campaign against my community on a daily basis," he told BBC Radio Ulster.

"I cannot say that anybody's war is over because I am not involved in a war, I'm not in control of any war."