Reid confirms immediate scaling down of security

As an immediate response to the IRA statement and verification of decommissioning by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State confirmed the immediate demolition of a number of security bases in Northern Ireland.

During a speech made to the House of Commons, Dr Reid said that work to dismantle of three security bases in South Armagh and one in Magherafelt would all have been started by Thursday, October 24.

He said that the action had been taken on the advice of security advisors and the RUC Chief Constable as the statement by the IRA was considered to be “real improvement in the security situation”.

Dr Reid said that the two security towers on Sturgan Mountain and Camlough Mountain, the super-sanger in Newtownhamilton, and the security base in Magherafelt would be removed “as soon as possible”.

However, Dr Reid told the house that the “Belfast agreement was taking shape” and, though a long way from completion, was “alive and moving forward”.

In a further development on Wednesday afternoon the IICD declared that the Commission’s work was ended, but said that they would be standing by should they be needed in the future.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble confirmed that the party’s executive meeting set to take place on Saturday would discuss the breakthrough in the peace process.

He said: “We were told it would never happen. It was a day we were told we never see – IRA arms decommissioning. We have been in to speak with General de Chastelain and his colleagues tell us that they have personally witnessed the putting of weapons beyond use and done in a way that satisfies their statutory remit.”

Reacting to the news of decommissioning Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams said: "This is a huge moment in the history of our island, in the relationships between our island and the island of Britain, in the history of physical force republicanism. Let's not fritter it away or reduce it."

The move was welcomed in Dublin, London and Washington, but most importantly by Mr Trimble who said he would return the UUP’s three Assembly ministers to devolved government with Sinn Féin.

It is unclear whether loyalist paramilitary groups will reciprocate the IRA’s gesture and disarm. (SP/AMcE)