Pressure on SF and DUP to break stalemate

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern moved to try and salvage a breakthrough deal on power-sharing last night as stalemate gripped the St Andrews summit.

With the mood of cautious optimism surrounding the intensive talks dimming markedly, it was understood Dublin wanted the British to do “heavy lifting” with the DUP to force them to be more flexible on the timing of trading Sinn Féin acceptance of policing for restored devolution.

Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin are adamant the other must move first to “sequence” an agreement before the November 24 deadline to shut down Stormont.