Commission calls for penalties for SF and PUP following breakdown in ceasefires

Tuesday April 20, 2004 14:44

by Reporter

Will it harm SF's election chances?

Paul Murphy MP, the NI Secretary of State has just announced the findings of the Ceasefire commission in the House of Commons.

The Commission found that the level of activity from paramilitaries was high since the new year, with on average one death per week and three beatings per week.

It found that the IRA were responsible for the abduction of Bobby Tohill.

It recommended that penalties shoudl be incurred by Sinn Fein and the Progressive Unionist Party. The commission stated that if the Assembly was in session they would have recommended that Sinn Fein be excluded from the Executive. In absence of a functioning Assembly the Commission recommended that the two parties should incur financial penalties.

Paul Murphy MP stated that he decided to stop the salaries and group allowences of SF and PUP MLAs starting from next Wednesday, 28 April.

These findings will undoubtedly have an impact on Sinn Fein's electoral chances in the upcoming Euro and local elections.