Dissidents told there is no armed struggle to finish
The chair of Sinn Fein Declan Kearney has told dissident republicans there is no armed struggle to be finished.
Speaking at a commemoration of the 96th anniversary of the Easter Rising at Milltown Cemetery on Sunday, Mr Kearney said the conditions of conflict had been removed.
“Make no mistake; there is no other IRA, here in Belfast, or anywhere else,” he said.
“Many of us have been involved in helping to take risks for peace.
“We have all benefited from those risks being taken.”
Mr Kearney said although republicans had travelled a “great distance”, he said the journey still had to be “completed”.
He said many challenges remain arising from the legacy of the conflict.
“Some republicans oppose the peace process by militarist and political means. There is a political imperative upon us to attempt purposeful engagement with all republicans; and that includes those who oppose Sinn Fein.
Mr Kearney said increased dialogue and engagement with the wider unionist and Protestant community was also needed.
“That presents a huge challenge for us. Unionists continue to harbour suspicions about republicans,” he said.
“Unionists have been hurt by the war; and so too have republicans.
“We need to keep moving the peace process into new phases, and onto new ground.
“National reconciliation is integral to our strategic project.”
Thousands of people took part in annual Easter commemoration ceremonies across Northern Ireland, with parades in Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
The largest attendance was in Belfast where bands and marchers paraded along the Falls Road to the republican plot in Milltown Cemetery.
