IRA MURDERS

Early day motion 134, tabled 17 June 1997 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 12 members.

That this House condemns without reservation the brutal, sickening and entirely cynical IRA murders of Constables Graham and Johnston in Lurgan on 16th June as a deliberate effort to destroy efforts to reach political accommodation; endorses the view of the British Prime Minister that 'it is difficult to interpret this latest attack as anything but a signal that Sinn Fein and the IRA are not interested in peace and democracy and prefer violence'; further endorses the Irish T aoiseach, John Bruton's analysis, born of bitter experience, that 'the IRA operates in a calculated way... this is a very thoroughly organised movement. They have a political wing and a military wing and they operate to the same agenda. They always have, and to believe otherwise is a myth'; further believes that these brutal IRA murders were clearly meant to provoke Unionist outrage and sectarian polarisation in the run-up to next month's disputed parade in nearby Drumcree; urges loyalist paramilitary groups not to retaliate and for the whole community to co-operate with the RUC in finding the perpetrators of this truly evil deed; and further urges all constitutional parties in Northern Ireland, in co-operation with the British and Irish governments, to redouble their efforts to secure a fair political settlement which will help isolate republican and loyalist terrorists and must now proceed without the participation of Sinn Fein/IRA unless and until that organisation demonstrates in word and in deed that it fully accepts democratic politics.

Signatures by party: Labour 9, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, UUP 1.