Statement by Ian Paisley about the alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont in October 2002, (8 December 2005)

Statement by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), following the withdrawal of prosecutions in connection with an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont in October 2002, (8 December 2005)

"The right thinking people of Ulster will be totally flabbergasted at the decision taken to drop all prosecutions on the IRA spy ring at Stormont because after a three year delay it has been decided that it is not in the public interest.

This is not a matter of having no evidence or no corroborating that evidence but is to suit the political climate and to fulfil demands already made by the IRA and some time ago agreed.

The NIO is more and more deteriorating into a partnership with IRA/Sinn Fein and with aiding and abetting them to forward their aim of the destruction of Northern Ireland. It is simply amazing that the Secretary of State goes to America and undercuts all the good work done to get employment into Northern Ireland by announcing that Northern Ireland was a failed economy. The Northern Ireland Office after having insulted the people of Northern Ireland, having attempted to give an amnesty to terrorists, are now in the business of ensuring the IRA is not held accountable for the Stormont spy ring.

What about the people who were compelled by the police to leave their homes because of that spy ring? Are they to be treated as those who have no civil and religious liberty? When the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister are prepared to take such action then the Northern Ireland people must accept the clear message that by hook or by crook the government intend to forward the aims and the agenda of IRA/Sinn Fein.

I have asked for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State and hope to talk to the Prime Minister in the near future."