Adams hints at historic deal on policing in North

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams signalled an historic breakthrough on policing as crunch power sharing talks got under way yesterday.

Mr Adams insisted republicans were “for” policing and dealing with all contentious issues.

His positive language bolstered optimism as Northern leaders and the Irish and British premiers arrived in St Andrew’s, Scotland, for intensive negotiations.

“Republicans are up for change. We are up for dialogue with the DUP, we are up for sharing power with them and we are up for dealing with all of the outstanding issues,” the Sinn Féin president told a party rally in Belfast.

His upbeat assessment was seen as encouraging, given Ian Paisley’s demands that Sinn Féin accepts civil policing and that the IRA proves it has abandoned criminality.

“Our support for policing and law and order is not a response to unionist demands.

“Sinn Féin wants acceptable civic policing, which is democratically accountable and free from partisan political control.

“We want fair, impartial and effective delivery of law and order,” Mr Adams said as he stressed Sinn Féin was opposed to criminality.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that conditions “have never been more favourable for a deal”.

Mr Ahern will meet British PM Tony Blair in the Scottish town tomorrow night, before talking to party leaders ahead of tomorrow’s in-depth negotiations.

Mr Adams said republicans needed to appreciate the challenges faced by the DUP.

“The question is no longer about whether the DUP will do a deal, the question is about when the DUP will do a deal.

“We have to appreciate that this presents huge challenges for them. Not least because of the role of their leader over the last four decades.”