Ulster Unionists are believed to be planning a High Court challenge to the decision by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, that the IRA ceasefire is intact. The Unionists are now seeking a judicial review of her decision, claiming she has failed to take proper consideration of legislation on ceasefires.
Dr Mowlam’s long-awaited judgement on the ceasefire was issued yesterday. In a carefully-worded statement she said that she was certain the IRA was behind the murder of Belfast taxi driver Charles Bennett last month and attempts to smuggle arms from the United States. However, she said she was still satisfied that the ceasefire was holding. She said that she would be keeping the IRA position under close review, and would not hesitate to act decisively if she did consider that the truce had been breached. She also said that she had left Sinn Féin in no doubt that all violence for whatever reason was unacceptable. Dr Mowlam concluded that peace in Northern Ireland was imperfect but better than none.
The statment was met with anger from Unionists who criticised Dr Mowlam for not taking decisive action. The Ulster Unionist MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, said that Dr Mowlam should resign if she lacked the moral courage to face up to the IRA. Dr Mowlam responded by saying there was not sufficient evidence that the IRA's ceasefire had broken down or disintegrated.
Dr Mowlam's decision came ahead of the review of the Good Friday Agreement by Senator George Mitchell, which begins next month. Commenting on the latest developments, the SDLP Assembly member, Alex Atwood, said it was a crucial time for the peace process.
