Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams criticized the IMC report.
By Irish America Staff
July’s announcement that the IRA was ending its military campaign drew a muted response from political quarters north and south of the Irish border. Although the statement was potentially historic by calling on IRA activists to unconditionally dump arms, unionist politicians again reacted skeptically to how decommissioning would take place and be independently verified.
The arms call, however welcome, was also greeted with caution in Dublin. Even before the statement was issued, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, an outspoken adversary of armed republicanism, questioned whether an IRA declaration amounted to fundamental change in policy or a publicity stunt.