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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() UK: Northern Ireland ![]() IRA truce holds - Mowlam ![]() ![]() Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has said the IRA ceasefire has not broken down and the early release of republican prisoners can continue.
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But the announcement has angered unionists.
Dr Mowlam admitted the IRA had been active recently and she had come close to judging that its ceasefire was "no longer for real". But in the end she decided to let it off with a warning.
She added: "I have left Sinn Fein in no doubt that all violence, for what ever reason it is perpetrated, is unacceptable and have called on them to use their influence to ensure there is no repetition."
Dr Mowlam had already made it clear that Sinn Fein would be involved in the review of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, due to start on 6 September.
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Listen to Mo Mowlam's statement in full |
IRA blamed for murder
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The BBC's Tom Coulter: "Dr Mowlam admitted the IRA had been involved in murder" |
Sir Ronnie also said that loyalist and republican paramilitaries were carrying out "heinous crimes almost on a nightly basis".
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Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has described Dr Mowlam's statement that the IRA ceasefire is intact as "deeply disappointing".
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Charles Bennett: IRA has been blamed for his murder |
He continued: "These must be regarded as breaches of a ceasefire. That is where I find the secretary of state's statement deeply disappointing and deeply flawed."
Sinn Fein Chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said Dr Mowlam's statement was the only decision available.
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Sinn Fein Party Chairman Mitchell McLaughlin: "We must continue our efforts" |
"There is no acceptable violence and we have to work to a position where it stops and where people are not injured."
A former Northern Ireland minister and Tory Party chairman has also criticised the decision.
Michael Ancram described the decision as "incredible, illogical and a fudge".
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Conservative Party Chairman Michael Ancram: "She had a difficult decision to make" |
He was from the New Lodge area of north Belfast and had been shot in the head. He had been missing for five days.
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