Disarmament officials: Irish National Liberation Army has surrendered explosives, guns, ammo

Officials verify disarmament of IRA splinter group

DUBLIN — Disarmament officials have confirmed that a ruthless IRA splinter group, the Irish National Liberation Army, handed over its weapons in recent secret ceremonies.

The disarmament commission told The Associated Press in a statement that the disarmament chief, retired Canadian Gen. John de Chastelain, oversaw “events in which quantities of firearms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices belonging to the INLA have been decommissioned.”

The commission’s statement says the weapons it received and destroyed are believed to “constitute all those under the control of the INLA leadership.”

The INLA killed more than 110 people from its 1974 foundation to 1998 cease-fire.

A British deadline for outlaws to surrender weapons without fear of prosecution expires Tuesday.