Fallout from Northern Bank Heist Brings Northern Ireland Peace Process to a Halt

The botched attempt to snuff out the financial fuel behind the Irish republican movement, one of the most spectacular bank robberies in British history, has plunged the Northern Ireland peace process into crisis. The interference of Sinn Fein in the security operations of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) has left the public stunned. Police in London and Dublin have accused the IRA of involvement in the robbery on Dec. 20, which garnered over $50 million. John Grieve, an official from the Independent Monitoring Commission, stated on Feb. 10 that Sinn Fein was behind the heist. The police allegations have brought the relationship between the IRA and Sinn Fein into the spotlight, causing severe embarrassment for its key leaders, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. The latest developments indicate that the British government intends to abolish the $950,000 parliamentary allowances allocated to the four Sinn Fein members of the British Parliament. This move would come into effect on Tuesday.

Key Takeaways:

• The accusations by London and Dublin that the IRA was involved in the Dec. 20 Northern Bank heist have damaged the peace process, highlighting potential duplicity by Sinn Fein and the IRA.
• Mention of Bertie Ahern's claim that Gerry Adams "stabbed him in the back" signals Irish government dissatisfaction with Sinn Fein's actions and involvement in the peace process.
• Veteran analyst and journalist Stephen Glover points out that mainstream Irish politicians believe the Sinn Fein-IRA combination is attempting to destabilize the Irish government in Dublin, and that funds from various illegal scams are being used to further their goals.
• Many believe that Gerry Adams' party will hold the balance of power in the Irish parliament after the next election, which could indicate a resumption of the bombing and killings tactics employed in the past by the IRA.
• A shift in policy in mainstream Irish politics indicates that Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's previous support for the peace process may be waning.
• The fact that former Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds called the current situation "very, very dangerous" underscores the potential for resumption of violence.

Statistics:

• $50 million: The stolen amount from the Northern Bank heist
• $950,000: The value of the parliamentary allowances allocated to the four Sinn Fein members of the British Parliament, expected to be abolished
• Nearly 7 years: The time duration the Northern Ireland peace process has been active under the Good Friday agreement

Sources:

• The Washington Times London
• The Times of London
• Agence France-Presse
• Getty Images
• Independent Monitoring Commission