Adams 'will hint at plan to disband IRA'

Gerry Adams was today expected to give a strong hint that the IRA will finally disband.

In a keynote speech, the Sinn Fein leader was mapping out the way ahead for the Northern Ireland peace process, party sources revealed.

The exact form of words used by Mr Adams was undecided but he was set to talk about "a need to move the political situation decisively forward".

There was strong speculation he may declare that the reasons for the IRA's existence no longer apply - a statement that would effectively declare the terrorists' struggle over after nearly 40 years.

Critics will claim that the announcement has been triggered by the republicans' need to halt the damage caused by the Robert McCartney affair ahead of the general election.

Mr McCartney was murdered by IRA thugs at a pub in Belfast on 20 January and his sisters have since conducted a highly publicised campaign to see his killers brought to justice.

President Bush has made clear his anger at the murder and there is a danger Sinn Fein majorities could be hit in its parliamentary seats on 5May.

Given Sinn Fein's past promises about disarmament, other parties in Northern Ireland may be sceptical about the fresh claim. In recent appearancesincluding his address to his party's annual conference in Dublin, Mr Adams has talked about republicans facing hard choices as they pursue their peace process strategy.

Senior Sinn Fein sources said Mr Adams would develop that message today, expanding on his pledge to "take risks" for peace. "The peace process is at a defining point. Irish republicanism is at a defining point. There is a need to move the political situation decisively forward," a source said.

Republicans have been under pressure since January to wind down the IRA following December's ?26.5 million Northern Bank raid in Belfast and the murder of father-of-two Mr McCartney. Mr Adams and other Northern Ireland political leaders were not invited to President Bush's St Patrick's Day celebration in the White House. The West Belfast MP was also shunned by US Senator Edward Kennedy, and allies on Capitol Hill, such as Congressman Peter King, have claimed the time has come for the IRA to disappear.

Mr Adams's speech takes place as Mr McCartney's sisters hold meetings in Brussels with European Parliament and European Commission leaders to put pressure on Sinn Fein to do more about the murder.

The IRA has expelled three members and Sinn Fein suspended seven but the family wants the party to urge witnesses to go directly to the police or the police ombudsman.