Press Office

Aired: Sunday, 10 April, 2005 10:00
Sunday With Adam Boulton

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10th April 2005.

 

Interview with the Sinn Fein Chief Negotiator, Martin McGuiness.

 

Any excerpts used to be attributed to Sky News’ ‘Sunday with Adam Boulton’ programme.

 

Adam Boulton – Thank you for being with us. Why didn’t Gerry Adams say in so many words, “I would like the provisional IRA to disband” please?

Martin McGuiness – Well I think Gerry Adams remarks have received a very warm response in the United States, in Britain and here in Ireland. People see his comments as a very serious and significant initiative and in his comments he is making it is absolutely clear that his view is he wants to see the IRA consider his alternative to armed conflict and that is asking the IRA to recognize the importance now of all sides, including the IRA, in moving forward by purely political and democratic means and I think that would be a huge contribution to the overall process and I think already it is recognized that Gerry Adams contribution has both revived and invigorated a process that was in a poisonous state over the course of recent weeks and months.

AB – Ok I understand that but there is your political organization Sinn Fein, if purely political and peaceful means were used you wouldn’t need the IRA at all would you? Wouldn’t be better just to shut it down?

MM – Well the whole purpose of the peace process is to bring about a situation where we can see a wide range of political change against a backdrop of armed groups of all sides recognizing the importance of going out of existence but that will be a process as we know this has been a very difficult process over the course of 800 years or 80 years or 30 years according to your view of history. What we have to do essentially is bring about circumstances where there is nothing happening, no activity whatsoever that would undermine the work of political leaders trying to put the peace process back on track.

AB – I do just want to make this clear, your goal as you have just said is that the IRA should go out of existence.

MM – Well our goal is to ensure that we have a situation where all armed groups recognize the importance of politicians being in the driving seat, driving forward a political agenda and that poses huge problems for the British Government in terms of demilitarization. Huge challenges for unionist parties, unionist paramilitaries, and also I think huge challenges for republicans and specifically the IRA but as I said, don’t be under any illusions about this, what Gerry Adams has is a very powerful intervention, those who suggest that this is only happening because of the general election, it think are very foolish because his view and my view will not change on the other side of the general election and if you interview me on the other side of that election I will make it absolutely clear that we believe our position is still that people should move forward by purely peaceful and democratic means.

AB – I did interview you a few months ago and I referred to the Robert McCartney murder and at that time you said you had no knowledge of it. Why do you think it is that no one has been charged either for the Robert McCartney murder or for the Northern Bank raid given the widespread view that the IRA were behind that, presumably because people were afraid to give evidence isn’t it?

MM – Well I mean it is now over 3 months since the northern bank raid and we haven’t heard anything or seen any evidence produced which would link the IRA to that particular robbery.

AB – So you still deny that?

MM – So we want to live in an Ireland where people are innocent until proven guilty not an Ireland where people are guilty until proven innocent and I know in the McCartney case a few people have come forward, they have given testaments to the PSNI and the police ombudsman and it is my view, and I think there is a very strong view in Ireland that the PSNI are in a position are in a position to charge people over the killing of Robert McCartney, but have not yet done so and we believe that is to politically damage Sinn Fein, we are 100 hundred per cent behind the McCartney family and we believe the killers of Robert McCartney should be made accountable, should be brought before a court. The fact that they have not come forward clearly suggests that they are cowards.

AB – I mean I have to say that is not how the McCartney family feel, they say that there is still a problem, not with people who might be suspects coming forward, but people prepared to give evidence coming forward because frankly they are afraid.

MM – I don’t think that is the case because I think republicans have made it absolutely clear and of course the IRA have made it absolutely clear that they have no difficulty whatsoever with any one with any information about this terrible murder coming forward and giving testimony, they have made it absolutely clear and I again reiterate this morning that anyone with information about the murder of Robert McCartney should come forward and should make their testimony available so that those responsible can be made accountable before a court.

AB – Do you expect the IRA to respond in concrete terms to what Gerry Adams said before polling day, before May the fifth?

MM – Well, I hope we would learn something about that over the course of the next short while, I don’t know what the time is but this is, as you will appreciate Adam, this is a huge debate now within Irish republicanism. Gerry Adams has given very courageous and very decisive leadership and I have no doubts whatsoever that there will be differing views about this and what we want to see….

AB – And you accept do you that word won’t be taken, it is not a question of declerations it is a question of something that people, other people who are not part of the republican movement can see and respond to now?

MM – Well I think obviously what we all need to do is use our combined wisdom and talent to revive the peace process, o invigorate the peace process and to ensure that on the other side of the election, where there is an anticipation that on the other side of the election although we will face huge difficulties in terms of the marching season there will be a mighty responsibility on the Prime Ministers Tony Blair and the Tichig (?), if Tony Blair is Prime Minister and I assume he will be after the election, ourselves and the reverend Ian Paisley and his party to strike a deal, a deal which should have been struck last december but it was fluffed by Ian Paisley over his silly demand for sack cloth and photographic evidence of the IRA putting their weapons beyond use.

AB – Martin McGuiness thank you very much indeed.

End of Interview