Government declares IRA's army council redundant after report says terror campaign is over

The IRA army council which for decades directed terrorist atrocities across Britain is no longer 'operational or functional', a report declared yesterday.

But there was no official announcement from republicans that the body responsible for the deaths of scores of civilians has been disbanded.

'We believe that Provisional IRA has chosen another method of bringing what it describes as its armed struggle to a final close,' the Independent Monitoring Commission said.

The commission, set up by the British and Irish governments to promote stability in Northern Ireland, added: 'Under PIRA's own rules the army council was the body that directed its military campaign.

'Now that that campaign is well and truly over, the army council by deliberate choice is no longer operational or functional.'

However, in its 12-page statement, the peace watchdog says it does not expect the army council to be dissolved  -  a stipulation demanded by unionists before they agree to policing and justice powers being devolved to the province.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward called the report 'ground breaking'.

End of era: Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward today declared the IRA was effectively redundant following the IMC's key report

'As the IMC made clear: "The leadership structures have definitely ceased to function in the way they did during the time of conflict." Today's report confirms this has happened.'

The Irish Government also welcomed the report, claiming it was very positive and not only showed the IRA had gone away but that it was not coming back.

But Peter Robinson, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, said: 'For the IMC to say that the army council is not meeting is a different thing to say that it is not in existence. We want a very clear confirmation that the IRA is out of business for good.'

The DUP and Sinn Fein leaderships are divided over the devolution of justice powers, education reform, the future of the Maze prison site and the promotion of the Irish language.

Gordon Brown said Northern Ireland's politicians must complete the peace process. 'I believe this will provide hope for everybody,' the Prime Minister added.