McDowell in strong attack on Sinn Fein

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell renewed his attack on republican leaders claiming they were "more Mugabe than Mandela".

In a sharply worded speech he also said that the first steps to a united Ireland had to be to create trust by telling the truth.

"If one was or is a member of the IRA, one says so. If one's movement killed Detective Garda Jerry McCabe one says so. If one's movement raided the Northern Bank, one says so. Denying matters that are known as obvious truths, undermines the credibility of those engaged in this type of mendacity," he said. "Trust means one tells the truth."

During the second day of debate on a Sinn Féin motion calling for a united Ireland, the Minister referred to the killing of people by the IRA who left their victims in ditches. He said the said the IRA's army council had to confirm every so-called court martial that led to this.

People were "persuaded through torture to confessions of collaboration with the security forces in Northern Ireland," and tapes of their confessions were sent to their families.

Each member of the army council during that period bears direct personal and moral responsibility for each of those acts of torture and the ensuing killing".

"When I hear some of those army council members now appearing in public as champions of human rights I wonder how hypocritical can one be. They now strut the world. In South Africa, they shake hands with the statesmen who liberated that country when most of them are more Mugabe than Mandela." He said that "these people now posture as statesmen and write books about their views on the future of Ireland. I noted some of them were distinguished guest in the Houses yesterday. The one thing that distinguishes them is an absolute and radical inability to tell or acknowledge the truth".

Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimghin Ó Caolain, who "roundly rejected" the Minister's accusations, accused the minister of being "inflammatory" and said it was a "typical McDowell diatribe". He said there was not a "drop" of statesmanship in Mr McDowell.

During the debate, Minister of State Conor Lenihan said he was pleased to see that Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and vice-president Pat Doherty had attended the first day of the debate.

He said that a "lot of guff" had been spoken about a united Ireland but rather than "guff and rhetoric" Sinn Féin should join the North's policing board and the district policing partnerships.

Niall Blaney (Ind, Donegal North-East) said that when the time is right "reunification will not be achieved until the British government declares an intent to withdraw from the six counties at some future date.

I cannot see the reunification occurring until all parties see no alternative but an agreement on al all-Ireland approach."

Defending Sinn Féin, Mr Blaney said "it is time that deputies see the whole picture and stop the criticism of Sinn Féin. The party should be commended for its steps so far."

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said Sinn Féin's strategy "is about its own political gain and winning concessions from the two governments".

"It is also about causing division with the Irish Government in other to proclaim itself the only party truly committed to Irish unity. Sinn Féin sees political capital and seat gains in maintaining a sense of permanent crisis in the peace process to keep itself centre stage".