Ahern claims 'political leadership' knew of robbery

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has again reiterated his view that the 'political leadership' of the IRA knew that plans were ongoing for the £26.5 million Northern Bank raid while key political talks were being held.

Mr Ahern told the Dail on Wednesday that both he and Prime Minister Tony Blair were briefed by Belfast and Dublin police chiefs on Tuesday. He said that "a number of operations that took place during 2004 - not just the Northern Bank robbery - were the work of the IRA, had sanction from the Army Council and would have been known to the political leadership of the IRA".

"There is no doubt the planning... was going on last year and obviously we were in negotiations then," Mr Ahern added.

However, Sinn Fein have reacted angrily to the ongoing situation saying there was “huge anger within the nationalist and republican community at the current mishandling of the situation by the two governments”.

Following a meeting with Secretary of State Paul Murphy on Wednesday, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said both governments were “well aware of Sinn Fein’s commitment to peaceful and democratic means”.

“Mr Blair’s comments yesterday that the only obstacle to a comprehensive agreement was the IRA were silly because this is patently not the case,” the Mid-Ulster MP said. “Unionism has not demonstrated that it will share power with nationalists and republicans.

“In fact last December when the DUP walked away from power sharing deal that would have seen the political institutions established and the IRA dealing with the issues of arms and activities show us that unionism has not accepted power sharing as Mr Blair alleged.”

Despite the Government’s criticism of Sinn Fein it is understood that both Mr Ahern and Mr Blair believe an all-inclusive executive is impossible without a complete end to IRA activity.

Both men are unlikely to comment further on the situation until the Independent Monitoring Commission's report on the robbery is sent to the governments in the next week.

(MB/SP)