IRA 'army council' governing body still exists, says UK Government

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers called on paramilitary organisations in the region to disband

Theresa Villiers (BBC)

The governing body of the IRA, the “army council”, still exists, the Northern Ireland Secretary has told MPs.

Theresa Villiers was outlining the findings of an official assessment into paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to MPs.

Ms Villiers, who oversees the UK Government's affairs in Northern Ireland, said paramilitary organisations in the region should not continue to exist but that they continued to do so.

She said that the IRA now had a "wholly political focus" and that it "is not involved in targeting or conducting terrorist attacks against the state".

The minister said that some members of the groups were involved in criminal activity that may have once been connected to the organisation, such as smuggling, however.

“Paramilitary organisations have no place in a democratic society, they were never justified in the past, they are not justified today, and they should disband," she said.

“These organisations brought misery and suffering throughout the 30 years of the troubles."

The inquiry into the organisations was commissioned by Ms Villiers following the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr in Belfast over the summer.

The PSNI, Northern Ireland's police service, say they believe current or ex members of the Provisional IRA were behind the killing.

A 47-year old man was arrested in relation to the killing or Mr McGuigan earlier this week, the latest in a string of detentions.

Sinn Féin, the largest republican political party, says the Provisional IRA no longer exists.

The Northern Ireland powersharing executive has been in crisis in recent months after the arrest of a senior Sinn Féin members in relation to the murder.

That member was later released without charge, however.