Lawful Ireland ‘threatens republican moneymaking’
At the launch of an SDLP document on crime, he said voters were telling canvassers they felt badly let down by the paramilitaries.
The SDLP justice spokesman claimed: “people are asking how come 11 years since the UDA, UVF and IRA ceasefires, seven years after parties committed to the Agreement, courageous families are denied justice, crime and paramilitary gangs rob and racketeer, and people joining a changing police service are demonised?
“Why do some cling to the lawless way, which is not our way?
“People are very clear. They had hoped that all this would be ended 11 years after ceasefires. Terrible murders, continuing organised crime, recent drug arrests, and millions laundered means it is far from ended. This has been a deep breach of faith.
“What does this mean? The real reason why the provisional movement does not accept the new policing structures is not any issue about Patten, but that a lawful Ireland threatens their moneymaking and control over the lives of citizen and community.
“The loyalist paramilitaries are no better.” The SDLP’s document, which was also launched by Policing Board member Alex Attwood and former Stormont minister Carmel Hanna, called for:
* Everyone being made equal before the law.
* All-Ireland policing, justice and assets recovery.
* Normal policing through defortification, demilitarisation and putting police officers on the ground.
* The implementation of police reforms to continue at full-speed ahead.
* The maximising of police accountability.
* Transfer of justice powers quickly.
Sinn Féin, meanwhile, said local government in the North should be legally bound to share top council posts among parties.
The party’s local government manifesto called for councils to be obliged to operate power-sharing among parties similar to the allocation of devolved ministries at Stormont.
Alex Maskey, who was Sinn Féin’s first mayor of Belfast, said: “we are advocating the use of d’Hondt system used at Stormont or similar mechanisms at a local government level.
“The party believes there should be legislation to ensure fairness in the allocation of chairs and deputy chairs on councils, council committees and nominations to external bodies.”
The South Belfast candidate accused the DUP of riding roughshod over power-sharing in councils it controlled. He also claimed the DUP latched onto power-sharing when it suited them in other council areas.
