The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is withholding documents issued to the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin because of fears their release could destabilise Stormont’s power-sharing government, it was claimed today.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern moved to try and salvage a breakthrough deal on power-sharing last night as stalemate gripped the St Andrews summit.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair last night warned it was the North’s “moment of truth” as he and the Taoiseach launched a frantic last-ditch diplomatic effort to restore power-sharing.