A second act of IRA weapons decommissioning is a "real possibility", chief
constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan claimed today.
At the beginning of his final week as the head of Northern Ireland's new police service, Mr Flanagan claimed that any move by the IRA to consolidate its act of disarmament last October would be very positive.
"I believe that (an act of decommissioning) is a very real possibility," he claimed before meeting Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid at Stormont.
"I believe if it happens it will have been a very positive step forward. We are continuing to make positive progress and I think that is likely to happen and it will be yet another step along that road to normality which is a road that we all want to take of course.
"The Police Service of Northern Ireland will continue to do its very best to take us along that road."
Mr Flanagan was speaking as speculation mounted that there could be a move by the IRA to puts its weapons beyond use in the presence of the head of the international decommissioning body, General John de Chastelain.
It is believed a move could come ahead of the Irish General Election in May which Sinn Féin is hoping to break new ground in.
Sinn Féin leaders will on Easter Sunday this weekend face their supporters at a series of rallies in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic to commemorate the 1916 Easter rising.
It will be the first time they will have addressed their followers at an Easter rising commemoration since the IRA's groundbreaking move on weapons last October.
PA