IRA still active as it debates its future, says police chief

[emad]

Scotsman

DAN MCGINN


THE IRA is still active and is continuing to recruit, even if it is not going back to an armed struggle, Northern Ireland’s most senior policeman said yesterday.

Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the province’s police service, confirmed last week’s assessment by Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister, that the IRA remained active while an internal debate takes place on whether it should abandon violence purely for politics.

"Currently, I am absolutely clear the Provisional IRA are not going back to an armed struggle," Mr Orde said. "That is my current assessment."

He went on: "They have the capability. They have the capacity. We know they are still recruiting, they still target, they still carry out the activities that they have always done with the exception of actually going out to kill soldiers, police, civilians, members of the public."

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=456822005

NOT SURPRISING given that POODLE has had seat on IRA Military Council for the last 30 years.....