Northern talks pass deadline as parties inch toward deal

THE North’s roller-coaster negotiations to end the crisis over policing which threatens to bring down power-sharing pushed on through the supposed deadline for a deal last night.

Hopes of finally cutting a deal on devolving justice powers to the Assembly had caused the Taoiseach to cancel his schedule so he could be ready to fly to Hillsborough, but the talks dragged on into the night instead.

Dublin and London allowed their 48-hour deadline for an agreement to lapse as the DUP and Sinn Féin appeared to be inching towards sorting out their key divisions.