Des Dalton, the former president of Republican Sinn Féin (RSF), has left the organisation following his call for a dissident republican ceasefire.
The comments were made in an interview for a University of Liverpool project on Ireland’s constitutional future, which was seen by the Observer. In the interview Mr Dalton stressed that his ceasefire demand is made on a personal basis and not on behalf of RSF.
The RSF national executive member was reported to have said he believes the current armed campaigns cannot be justified strategically and morally.
He added that the suspension of “armed struggle” would create better conditions for dialogue about reunification.
In a statement this afternoon, Des Dalton confirmed he had resigned from Republican Sinn Féin and said it was "not something I do lightly".
"However, I believe it is now time for me to find my own voice and advance my ideas and analysis in the wider discussion about the future of traditional Irish republicanism."
Mr Dalton said there were "major opportunities opening up" and the constitutional question was centre stage "in a way it has not been for over 40 years".
"Without the distraction of sporadic armed actions, I believe its [Irish repubilcanism] message can resonate even wider. Irish republicanism needs to free itself of the shrill voices who shout 'sell out' or 'slippery slope' when any initiative or fresh thinking is advanced for discussion.
"This is irrational and simply stifles the kind of honest and open debate that is necessary if the ideals of Irish republicanism are to be advanced. Such debate must take place in an environment which is honest and rational, underpinned by a firm grasp of what the fundamental principles of republicanism are."
The senior republibcan said "those who advocate for perpetual armed action" without short or long-term objectives "do a disservice to Irish republicanism as by their actions they serve only to copper fasten the institutions of partition".
In his interview quoted in the Observer, Des Dalton had said he would always support “the principle, the right to engage in armed action when necessary”, adding: “This is a personal view, not the view of Republican Sinn Féin, but I would feel that the present climate, in the moment we are in, it is not conducive to armed actions. From the viewpoint of advancing republican goals it is counterproductive. Look at the actions of the last couple of years and none of them have advanced the cause of traditional republicanism. If anything, they have set back that cause.”
He used the killing of the young journalist Lyra McKee two years ago in Derry as an example of how violence has held back traditional republicanism. Ms McKee was shot dead during a New IRA gun attack on police in April 2019.
Asked by the Observer if he believed his ceasefire call might be heeded within the ranks of the Continuity IRA and other factions such as the New IRA, Dalton said: “Frankly I don’t know, but all I can do is offer my view and if it is not reflective then I will have to see where I am from there. But I very much remain a traditional republican and Republican Sinn Féin’s position reflects my own outlook.”
The modern Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) was founded by the late Ruairí Ó Brádaigh in opposition to a change in the policy of abstentionism to Leinster House.
