The September 11 terror attacks in the United States created a context where terrorism had to be abandoned in Northern Ireland, a former British Government minister claimed today.
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, who chairs the House of Commons' Intelligence and Security Committee, insisted the recent London terror attacks did not motivate the IRA's announcement on Thursday of an end to its armed campaign.
He told BBC Radio Four's World This Weekendprogramme: "The context for making the decision is probably helped by what happened over the last number of weeks and months in Britain.
"I don't think the reason for it was that because, as you may recall, back in April Gerry Adams was pushing the IRA to this move.
"Obviously that was before what we have seen in London.
"But I do think...over the last couple of years, certainly since September 11, there has been a change in context so that people clearly understand in Ireland that terrorism has to be abandoned.
"Violence has to be abandoned. That is, after all, what the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was all about."
On Thursday, the IRA ordered all units to end their campaign of armed struggle.
They were also told to dump all arms and the organisation committed itself to completing its disarmament scheme.
The move was hailed as momentous by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
It was also welcomed by US President George Bush and there have been suggestions the republican movement's example should be followed in the Basque country by Eta.
PA