Terrorist threat to North

NORTHERN Ireland faces a greater terrorist threat than at any time since the Omagh bomb atrocity, a leading policeman warned yesterday.

"The North is in danger of losing its grip on the ability to guarantee a reasonably peaceful life to its people," said Police Federation chief Irwin Montgomery.

With policing resources close to breaking point because of loyalist and republican violence, Secretary of State John Reid was also told of the critical need to retain the 2,000 full-time reserve force.