Cowen and Brown firm on devolution of policing powers

THE “turbulence” unleashed by the Robinson scandal must not stand in the way of an urgent deal on devolving justice powers to the North, Dublin and London last night insisted.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British premier Gordon Brown used a crisis summit in Downing Street to demand a swift transfer of policing powers to the Belfast Assembly.

With talks between the DUP and Sinn Féin at a make-or-break stage, the two governments moved to reassert that a deal was still “realistic and achievable” despite “the turbulent events of recent days”.