25th August 1999

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RUC not to be trusted

Statement from Sinn Fein Assembly member for West Belfast and party spokesperson on policing Bairbre de Brun responding to the claims by Ronnie Flanagan that the IRA were responsible for the killing of Charles Bennett.

Ms de Brun said:

``The IRA have stated that their cessation is still intact. Sinn Fein accepts this position.

``Any judgement by the RUC on this matter is deeply suspect. The RUC are an anti-nationalist, anti-republican organisation. Their assessments and statements are politically loaded and motivated. They have, in recent weeks, been involved in violence against the nationalist community, most visibly on the Ormeau Road and since have engaged in a wave of politically motivated arrests.

``The RUC are not objective observers in this situation. They are politicial players, working to a security agenda. Flanagan's statement must be viewed in is context.''ENDS

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