No deal on IRA arms before talks declares Ferris

June 1995

THE British Government’s demand that IRA arms must be surrendered prior to round, table talks is jeopardising the ceasefire according to one time IRA gun-runner Martin Ferris.

Mr Ferris, who will be Sinn Fein’s candidate in North Kerry at the next general election, told The Kerryman:

“The British Government’s insistence of unilateral disarmament as a pre-condition to round, party talks is a ‘non-starter.’”

“This is a matter for negotiation at round table talks. There can be no surrender of republican, war materials as an absolute demand prior to all party round table talks,” he said.

Mr Ferris from Ardfert was a key IRA figure who was jailed for 10 years for his central role in the failed Marita Ann gun-running attempt in 1984.

He was released from Portlaoise Prison on September 10 last. Mr Ferris said the present British stance is putting the peace process in jeopardy.

“If discontent, anger and frustration is allowed to fester then anything can happen,” he said.

“It is serious, very serious, There has been no great movement from the British Government to date - it took six to seven months to get preliminary talks with the British Government.

“The peace process is in danger and if the British Government continues to play a negative role it will be very much in jeopardy,” he said.

“I want to be optimistic towards a way forward that can be negotiated and we will do what ever we can to prevent a resumption of the conflict,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ferris, who is one of Sinn Fein’s representatives on the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, was unable to accept an invitation from the Kerry GAA Club, in New York to be a special guest at a function in Gaelic Park at the weekend because the US government would not grant him a visa in time to attend.