UK and Irish governments should open formal talks with Northern Ireland paramilitaries on disbandment, report finds

Dutch conflict-resolution expert Fleur Ravensbergen has identified a "window of opportunity" to launch a formal paramilitary transition process in Northern Ireland, following a year of confidential discussions with loyalist and republican groups. Her report, published Tuesday and commissioned by both governments, found "significant willingness to engage" among paramilitaries, though few supported "disbandment" as a description of the end goal. Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant said the government would study the report before responding.

No financial rewards, prisoner releases or sentence reductions can be offered to paramilitary groups as conditions of any process.

Ravensbergen warned that paramilitaries have evolved since the Good Friday Agreement into criminal enterprises running drug dealing, extortion and illegal money-lending.

Outstanding weapons will need to be destroyed, and any process must include robust independent monitoring, with no protection from prosecution for participants.