North deal in doubt despite IRA offer

THE prospect of a deal being struck today to restore a power-sharing government to the North remained in severe doubt last night, despite an apparent IRA decommissioning offer being on the table.

Peace talks chaired by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair continued late into last night and will reconvene early this morning at Leeds Castle.

The parties were reportedly considering a commitment from IRA spokesman P O’Neill to engage in a significant act of decommissioning almost immediately if a deal was agreed.