Focus On Paramilitaries As Brothers Face Murder Charges

A DUP MLA has said that he thinks the IRA's so-called 'army council' is still in existence and that its 'removal' would be a "significant step" in cementing the continuing peace.

Nelson McCausland was speaking at the same forum as NI Deputy First Minister, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness who said he does "not believe the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has any role to play" with regards to the existence of the IRA army council.

His comments came after it emerged yesterday that the IMC - which monitors Northern Ireland's paramilitary groups - is to carry out an assessment on whether or not the IRA's ruling authority remains in existence or not.

Mr McGuinness was speaking at a public debate in west Belfast where he addressed a packed meeting alongside the DUP politician.

"The IRA have clearly gone off the stage and have done so since 2005," said Mr McGuinness.

"But there's still attempts being made by some people to drag them back on and I think that's silly."

The special report on the state of the IRA, expected to include an assessment on the current role of the IRA Army Council, was commissioned by the London and Dublin governments this week.

NIO Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern have asked the IMC for "a fuller assessment" of the IRA's transformation.

The special report from the ceasefire watchdog could tie into current negotiations around the devolution of justice, because it will address specific DUP concerns about the IRA leadership.

The IRA ordered its units to 'stand down' three years, but has not disbanded.

Its leadership - the five-person Army Council - has given no indication about their own future.

Meanwhile, in the very first case to be brought to court by the Historical Enquiries Team - set up to investigate unsolved murders - two brothers have been remanded in custody accused of murdering a man in a loyalist paramilitary feud almost eight years ago.

David Stewart, 38, and Robert Stewart, 34, were charged over the shooting of alleged UDA member Tommy English.

Mr English, 40, was gunned down in front of his wife at their home in Newtownabbey's Ballyduff estate in October 2000.

David Stewart and Robert Stewart spoke only to confirm they understood the charges during a brief appearance at Belfast Magistrates Court.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear again via video link on 4 September.

Mr English was a former member of an Ulster Democratic Party talks delegation in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace talks.

The party was linked to the illegal loyalist paramilitary grouping UDA/UFF.

(BMcC)