Ahern pressed on RIRA deal

“The allegation is as outrageous as it is deeply offensive,” Ahern said last week about media claims the Real IRA was told that if it called a ceasefire, intense surveillance would be eased.
“The ceasefire announcement on 7 September 1998 had nothing to do with anything on offer from the government to the Real IRA because there was nothing on offer, either then, before that time or at any subsequent time,” Ahern told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who had questioned him about claims in a TV documentary and in the Sunday Business Post. “No member of the government made contact with the Real IRA.”
The taoiseach said no deal was done, either directly or indirectly, in return for a ceasefire. “The evidence is entirely to the contrary,” he said. “However, I can confirm that some weeks before the Omagh bombing efforts were made by my then special adviser, Senator [Martin] Mansergh, in his contacts with the 32 County Sovereignty Committee to persuade it to use its good offices to bring the Real IRA campaign to an end. Unfortunately, these efforts failed.
“It is my understanding that Fr Alex Reid, who had already been instrumental in helping to bring about two IRA ceasefires, received an approach after the Omagh bombing from some of those associated with the Real IRA campaign. . . . I am entirely satisfied that Fr Reid in all his contacts emphasized that, regardless of a ceasefire, the Omagh bombers would be pursued and the law would take its course in regard to all other crimes committed before a ceasefire.”
The taoiseach said security matters involving the Real IRA was a matter that was exclusively for the Garda.
“There was no question at any time of instructing, or promising to instruct, the Garda to do other than conduct police operations as they judge right and appropriate in the circumstances facing them,” Ahern said.
Ahern said 41 Real IRA prisoners were in Portlaoise Prison, of whom 34 are convicted of various crimes.
Last weekend, the Sunday Business Post carried another story, “Ahern’s denials fail to convince.” In an editorial, “Ahern, RIRA and on-denial denials,” the newspaper called for the taoiseach to give straight answers to straight questions instead of embarking on “frenzied messenger shooting.”
On Saturday, two Limerickmen, James Bullman and Christopher Dinneen, were charged with IRA membership and possession of explosives after a search of Dinneen’s home.