North on high alert as justice powers devolved

THE North was on a fresh terror alert last night as justice powers were finally devolved to the Belfast Assembly with the Alliance Party leader voted in as justice minister.

David Ford’s immediate priority will be dealing with the increased threat from dissident republicans, who marked the transfer of justice powers by detonating a car bomb at Palace Barracks, Holywood, Co Down, where MI5 is based.

Police and justice powers were handed back to the North after a 38-year imposition of control from London, but the Assembly will have no influence over the activities of security services like MI5.