Blair delivers an ultimatum to republicans

The IRA was given an ultimatum by Tony Blair yesterday to stop preparing for a return to violence or risk the collapse of the Northern Ireland peace process.

The Prime Minister's message was designed to restore flagging confidence in the Good Friday Agreement after allegations of an upsurge in activity by republican paramilitaries.

Mr Blair warned that judgements on whether a ceasefire declared by any terrorist group remained intact would "become increasingly rigorous".

The Government would scrutinise any fresh proof that such groups were involved in the "training, targeting, acquisition or development of arms or weapons or any similar preparations for terrorist violence in Northern Ireland or elsewhere", he said. The warning follows claims the IRA is linked to the training of Colombian terrorists, a break-in at Castlereagh police station, and the discovery of an alleged republican list of murder targets.

John Reid, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, told the Commons he was prepared to penalise Sinn Fein if republican terrorist activity continued – meaning he would instruct the Northern Ireland Assembly to consider expelling the party.

But Unionists and Tories dismissed government promises as empty, while Sinn Fein said the real problems the province faced were posed by loyalist violence.

The mounting pressure on the peace process was underlined yesterday by a bomb blast at the Co Fermanagh home of Lord Brookeborough, a member of the policing board for Northern Ireland. The breakaway Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.