Sinn Féin rejects Orde speech offer

SINN FÉIN yesterday categorically ruled out PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde’s offer to address the special party conference on policing.

Mary Lou McDonald, the party’s sole MEP in the Republic, told The Political Party on TV3 that Mr Orde had no influence on the matter in hand, which was reaching agreement with other Northern parties on the transfer of powers to a devolved government.

Pressed as to why the party would not take up Mr Orde’s offer, Ms McDonald portrayed the offer and the proposed appearance as “cosmetics”.