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THE NEW YORK TIMES nytimes.com

Independent Monitor Will Confirm I.R.A.'s Disarmament
By BRIAN LAVERY

DUBLIN, Sept. 25 - The independent agency charged with monitoring paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland is expected to confirm Monday that the Irish Republican Army has destroyed its vast arsenal of weapons. By disarming, the I.R.A. would remove what has been considered one of the largest and most stubborn obstacles to lasting peace in the British-controlled province of Northern Ireland.

John De Chastelain, the retired Canadian general who heads the independent agency and has directly supervised three previous rounds of disarmament, will give a report on the group's dismantling of its remaining arms dumps to the British and Irish governments, said David Brooker, Britain's spokesman for Northern Ireland, in a telephone interview on Sunday.
Mr. De Chastelain is also expected to present his findings, including an inventory of weapons, at a news conference in Belfast, the Northern Ireland capital.

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michael mccafferty comments:

The Irish Republican Army has scrapped its weapons after more than three decades of armed struggle against British rule, the chief disarmament monitor for Northern Ireland is expected to announce Monday.

Gen. John de Chastelain, the head of the disarmament process is expected to make that announcement on Monday.

As a Roman Catholic whose Irish ancestors came to Canada from northern Ireland in 1824 I naturally am in favor of peace in Northern Ireland. It is my heartfelt hope that the IRA has acted in good faith and that this will be indeed a historic announcement. Now more than ever is the time for peace in Northern Ireland !