Doubts over Sinn Féin move on policing

HOPES that Sinn Féin could make a ground breaking move on policing in Northern Ireland were last night in doubt after the party said it was still awaiting a positive response from the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.

After a series of conversations between Gerry Adams and Prime Minister Tony Blair, a party spokesman confirmed they were still locked in negotiations with the British Government.

And it also indicated that the party was not yet ready to set an exact date for its special conference to consider supporting for the first time the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The spokesman said: “Last Friday the Sinn Féin ard chomhairle (national executive) backed the proposal by the party president Gerry Adams to call a special ard fheis (party conference) on policing.

“This followed intensive negotiations over the Christmas period when considerable progress was made.

“The ard chomhairle agreed that the ard fheis would go ahead in January if others, including the two governments (in London and Dublin) and the DUP, responded positively.

“To date there has been no such positive response from the DUP.

“Given the sensitivities of the situation, the SF leadership has been in intensive discussions with the British Government. Gerry Adams has spoken to Tony Blair several times over recent days including tonight.”

The statement came hours after Assembly member Davy Hyland announced he was quitting the party after being de-selected and is considering running as an independent in the forthcoming Stormont election.

Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have pinned their hopes on achieving power sharing at Stormont by March 26.