Secret IRA list angers Unionists

By ANNE McHARDY and REUTERS

Unionists in Northern Ireland yesterday threatened action against Sinn Fein after it was revealed that senior members of the British Conservative Party were warned on Friday that their names were on an IRA database.

The names, with details including a list of favourite restaurants taken from former Prime Minister John Major's autobiography, were apparently found by Northern Ireland detectives during a raid following a burglary at Castlereagh, the headquarters of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The names appear to be from the last Conservative Government, suggesting the information is old.

However, police are treating it as proof that the IRA, despite its ceasefire and the start of its weapons decommissioning, is continuing to gather information on which future attacks could be based.

Security for the people on the list is not being increased as there was no evidence of a planned attack.

Unionist leader David Trimble, who is First Minister of the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive, and Jeffrey Donaldson, a senior Unionist opposed to the present peace settlement, said the database was proof that the IRA and Sinn Fein were not serious about ending the violence.

Unionist anger could damage the peace process.

South of the Irish border, where the date for next month's general election is expected to be named this week, the revelations of the database are expected to be used to discredit Sinn Fein candidates.

Sinn Fein expects to increase its number of seats in the Dail, particularly in Dublin.

In other developments, the Sunday Telegraph has reported that the IRA has been secretly rearming with powerful Russian assault rifles bought in Moscow late last year.

Quoting British military intelligence officers, the newspaper said IRA commanders had bought at least 20 AN-94s, which can fire up to 1800 bullets a minute and pierce body armour.

It said the deal was detected by Russian security services, who passed details to British military intelligence.

Senior British Government ministers have been briefed.