SPRING ACCUSES SINN FEIN OF ILLEGAL TACTICS IN CONTROLLING DRUGS SCOURGE

SINN FEIN was accused of using intimidation and other illegal ways of
controlling the drug problem by former Labour leader Dick Spring yesterday.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Spring said he
had complained frequently to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and other senior
party figures about actions taken on the streets by some of their members.

"It isn't just in housing estates in Dublin, but in housing estates in
Tralee, Castleisland and Listowel, with intimidation, the burning of cars,
offering instant solutions to the drugs problem outside the rule of law,
which is unacceptable at any time in a democracy," he said.

Relations between Mr Spring and the Kerry North Sinn Fein organisation have
been strained for years, particularly following the last general election
when the former IRA prisoner and senior Sinn Fein negotiator, Martin
Ferris, took 5,600 first preference votes.

Mr Ferris is expected to be a candidate should Mr Spring be offered the
post of Europe's Foreign Minister and resign his Dail seat. He is favourite
for this position at present.

Meanwhile, Mr Spring raised doubts about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's statement
that a United Ireland is imminent: "I don't want to undermine in any way
the Taoiseach's remarks as leader of Fianna Fail.

"But I think that they were insensitive to the difficulties that David
Trimble has at the present time and the paranoia that some have in the
Unionist community. I think we should be very careful now because we have a
long road to travel.

"We should be conscious that David Trimble - not always somebody that I was
on friendly terms with - has made remarkable strides and has shown
remarkable courage. I think we should be very careful. I am not saying that
we should deny the national aspiration of all parties in the South," said
the former Foreign Affairs Minister, during a three-hour meeting on the
North with his successor, David Andrews.

Checked-by: Richard Lake