An Assembly Commission visit to Dublin is likely to delay a decision over
Sinn Fein plans to commemorate an IRA bomber in Stormont.
The Commission, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the
Assembly, travelled across the border yesterday to meet its counterpart body
in Dublin.
The two-day visit includes talks with the body which organises the Dail in
Leinster House and senior TDs from all parties in the Republic.
The trip is likely to delay a decision, however, on Sinn Fein's application
to hold a commemoration of IRA bomber Mairead Farrell in Stormont's Long
Gallery as part of International Womens Day celebrations on March 8.
The DUP has put on hold an application for a commemoration of the SAS, which
shot Ms Farrell with two other IRA members, Danny McCann and Sean Savage, in
Gibraltar in 1988, until the Commission reaches a decision.
It is thought, however, if the Commission refuses permission to use the Long
Gallery, Sinn Fein will stage the event in its own Stormont offices.
Meanwhile, Gerry Adams claimed yesterday that the IRA unit was gunned down
after the Irish government passed on information about their movements.
The west Belfast trio were shot by undercover soldiers as they prepared to
launch a car bomb attack on troops based on The Rock.
It was claimed they had been under surveillance by British intelligence and
the authorities in Spain who monitored their movements as they crossed the
border into Gibraltar, apparently after leaving Ireland on a flight out of
Dublin.
The Sinn Fein president declared: "It is my strong view that the
killings in Gibraltar were authorised by Margaret Thatcher, and it is my
strong view that the Irish government of the day passed information to the
authorities about the movements of those killed.
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