Police in Ireland investigating IRA funding have seized more cash in raids on suspected money laundering operations, according to media reports on Monday. The latest finds will heap more pressure on the IRA's political allies Sinn Fein to break their close links with the outlawed guerrilla organisation. Criticism of Sinn Fein, Northern Ireland's main Catholic party, has mounted rapidly since December's 26.5 million pound ($50.28 million) bank robbery in Belfast, widely blamed on the IRA. Local media reported that another 437,000 pounds ($829,200) was found in raids across Ireland at the weekend. Police have yet to comment. Allegations that Sinn Fein is involved in IRA crime have dealt a severe blow to Anglo-Irish efforts to restore a local government that shared power between Protestants and Catholics in the British-ruled province. The assembly, set up as part of the 1998 peace agreement that largely ended 30 years of sectarian violence, collapsed over two years ago as the two sides argued over an alleged IRA spying ring. The province has been run by London ever since. --More 1820 Local Time 1520 GMT
