SDLP leader attacks ‘culture of secrecy and side deals’

SDLP leader Mark Durkan yesterday launched a strong attack on the culture of secret and side deals that has pervaded the Northern Ireland peace process.

In a clear reference to the alleged deal between Sinn Féin and the British and Irish Governments over the early release for the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, Mr Durkan said that such deals were not even disclosed to other northern parties and do nothing to enhance the credibility of the process.

“One of the problems we have with this process is that the focus is not on the agreement and its institutions, functions and workings,” said Mr Durkan. “Instead, we have had a series of sub-deals, side deals, pseudo-deals, secret deals and shabby deals.”Mr Durkan was in Dublin yesterday to announce his party’s proposals to get the agreement moving again. He said, after 19 months of the institutions being suspended, and of direct rule, new initiatives were needed to inject new momentum into the agreement.