Hain: Unionists have no excuses

SINN FÉIN’S move to support the police in the North leaves unionists with no excuse to balk at power sharing, Britain’s Northern Secretary Peter Hain insisted today.

As he prepared to meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ahead of yesterday’s Six Nations Rugby Clash between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff, Mr Hain said the Reverend Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists were under no illusions about the March 26 deadline for devolution at Stormont.

“We are determined to ensure that everybody understands with crystal clarity that March 26 is the day for devolution, or dissolution will follow,” he said.