IRA DID NOT ORDER NINE OUT OF NORTH, SAYS SF

Sinn Fein has denied IRA involvement in a threat against nine people living
in Bessbrook, south Armagh. The eight men and one woman were ordered to
leave the North or face being killed by a group claiming to be Direct Action
Against Drugs (DAAD), a cover name for the IRA.

The threat was issued through a letter, purporting to come from DAAD, which
was sent to the Housing Executive. It was passed by the RUC to those named
in it.

Mr Danny Kennedy, an Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for the area,
described the incident as "very serious and sinister". He challenged Sinn
Fein to dissociate itself from the threat. "There is a clear linkage between
DAAD and the Provisional IRA and once again the validity of the IRA
ceasefire is questioned", he said.

Mr Vincent McKenna, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Bureau, said that
he had spoken to three of the nine people who had been threatened. He
believed that the IRA was behind the expulsion orders.

Mr Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein member, said that he had been contacted by five
of those threatened. He had checked with his sources and had been assured
that the IRA had not issued the warnings.

Between 1995 and 1998 DAAD is believed to have been responsible for the
murders of nine people it claimed were involved in drug-dealing. Security
sources maintain that DAAD is a cover name for the IRA.

Mr Murphy said that he did not believe DAAD was behind the threats, because
the organisation did not operate in the area. "I suspect that the warning
may have been issued by some individual in the area frustrated at the level
of drugs activity in and around Bessbrook. But I believe it is more likely
that the threat is linked to mischief-making or dirty tricks by elements
within the anti-Belfast Agreement grouping."

Mr Murphy said he did not believe that dissident republicans such as the
"Real IRA" or Continuity IRA were involved. "I don't know for sure, but I
would be surprised if they were operating in the Bessbrook area", he added.

Mr John Fee, a local SDLP Assembly member, said that he was inclined to
accept Mr Murphy's assurances that the IRA was not involved, either directly
or indirectly.

Mr Fee, Mr Kennedy and Mr Murphy agreed that there was a serious drug
problem in Bessbrook and around Newry.