Ahern to demand reform of North’s policing

MAJOR reform of policing and criminal justice in the North will be the Taoiseach’s main demands when he meets British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a special summit in Dublin today.

Both men will be keen to fill the dangerous political vacuum left by Mr Blair's decision to postpone the Northern elections until the autumn.

Dissident republican's failed attempt to bomb the Belfast marathon yesterday will also focus both leaders' attention on getting the North's political institutions back on track.