The Independent Monitoring Commission has said hardline republican paramilitary groups opposed to the peace process are still trying to mount an effective terror campaign.
In its latest report on paramilitary activity, which was completed in April but held until after the UK General Election, the IMC said the IRA remained heavily involved in criminality and was still recruiting and training new members.
The IMC also said it did not believe the IRA leadership authorised the killing of Robert McCartney, but it accused the IRA of trying to protect members involved in the murder by obstructing the police investigation and intimidating witnesses.
It also said it remained unclear whether the loyalist Ulster Defence Association had ended its involvement in organised crime and paramilitary activity.
The Commission finds that paramilitary groups continue to be active in violent and other crime and none have materially wound down their capability in that area.
It continues to be the case, it says, that dissident republican groups are the most committed to continuing terrorism.
Nevertheless, it says loyalists continue to commit more violence than republicans: over four times as many shootings and 25% more assaults.
The Commission recommends that the financial sanctions in place against the Progressive Unionist Party should continue.
Reviewing the activities of the different groups, the report notes that the Continuity IRA has continued to be sporadically active, and has undertaken some reorganisation, particularly in the command structure. The Commission believes this may indicate an intention to increase its level of activity.
Members of the INLA remain very actively involved in organised crime, including drugs.
The Commission concludes that he Provisional IRA continues to seek to maintain its medium term effectiveness. It says it recruits and trains new members, including in the use of firearms and explosives. It continues to gather intelligence. The Commission concluded that the PIRA remains a highly active organisation.
The Commission says the Real IRA has continued to be the most active of the dissident republican groups and has been responsible both for brutal attacks and for robbery.
It says there is no evidence that the UDA will achieve the transition from violent activity it pointed to in its statement of November 2004. Certainly the process is still very far from complete.
The Commission says the LVF remains deeply involved in drug dealing, and in some areas it has recruited people solely for that purpose.
It says the UVF undertook a number of attacks over Christmas and New Year as part of its continuing conflict with the LVF. The UVF is also engaged in organised crime, and is active, violent and ruthless.
The IMC said it is not yet in a position to comment on the killing of Stephen Montgomery on 13 February 2005 or the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian on 28 February 2005.
The IMC was set up by the Irish and British governments two years ago to report on paramilitary activity.
