Northern Irish decommissioned weapons lists 'could be published later'

THE list of decommissioned weapons handed over by paramilitary groups during the Northern Irish peace process could be published at a later date, Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson has said.

There had been widespread criticism of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) when it announced on Monday it did not plan to release a full inventory of decommissioned arms.

The detailed files on all the guns, munitions and explosives put beyond use by groups such as the IRA have been sent to Washington for safe-keeping.

Mr Paterson said yesterday that the IICD's decision must be respected, but the files could be published when the British and Irish governments "together decide the time is appropriate".

He told the Commons: "The inventory has been placed with the American Secretary of State where it will rest, no-one will see it, until both the British government and Irish government together decide the time is appropriate."