Former Real IRA leader, Mickey McKevitt, has denounced the peace process as
"war by another means" for the British, and has launched a blistering attack
on Sinn Féin and the Irish Government.
In his first ever media interview, McKevitt accuses the Provisional IRA of
surrendering guns, "procured to end British rule", in return for access to
political power for Sinn Féin and an "equality agenda" for Northern
Catholics.
He claims the Belfast Agreement copper-fastens partition and republicanism
has been led "up a political cul-de-sac". He accuses his former
Provisional Army Council colleagues of "a wholesale political and military
capitulation".
McKevitt, from Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, is serving 20 years in
Portlaoise prison for directing terrorism. He was jailed on the evidence of
FBI/MI5 agent, Dave Rupert.
The court heard McKevitt wanted to take the war "to the steps of Stormont"
and the City of London. There was talk of cyber-terrorism and assassinating
Tony Blair. He also wanted Iraqi sponsorship for the Real IRA.
Speaking to the 'Republican Forum', which describes itself as a left-wing,
republican magazine supported by some Portlaoise prisoners, McKevitt says:
"The British state views the peace process as war by another means. It has
ruthlessly pursued its war objectives under the banner of the peace process.
"This process has witnessed the Provisionals abandon Irish unity and agree
to administer British rule in Ireland for the foreseeable future." He
claims Sinn Féin is about to sign up to policing in the North, accepting "a
reformed RUC and an expanded role for MI5".
McKevitt, 56, resigned as IRA quarter-master general in 1997 in protest at
the Provisionals' political direction. He helped form the Real IRA but in
2002 left that organisation, with a group of other Portlaoise prisoners,
claiming its leadership was corrupt and lacked political direction. McKevitt
was never charged in connection with the Omagh bomb but faces a civil case
brought by the bereaved families.
