Sinn Fein reply at July conference

Sinn Fein yesterday passed the crucial task of deciding its formal response to the Downing Street declaration to a delegate conference to be held in mid-July. But hopes that it could lead to an early IRA ceasefire are unlikely to bear fruit, as the delegates will not be given, or asked to provide, any recommendation to the IRA.

Pat Doherty, Sinn Fein's vice-president, said: 'What they (the IRA) do or don't do is up to themselves.' He said he was not aware of any provision for an IRA convention to follow the Sinn Fein gathering.