Cross-border unit to combat criminality

A new cross-border body to tackle dissident republicans and paramilitary-linked ‘legacy’ crime is to be announced by Government this week.

The Irish Examiner understands the new organisation — which will involve the PSNI, gardaí and revenue — will be agreed within days as part of a wider deal to save the Stormont institutions and tackle border criminality.

Under the plan, which Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would be “very supportive” of at yesterday’s Remembrance Day commemorations in Enniskillen, the Irish and British governments will set up a new cross-border policing unit separate from existing services to focus on information gathering, legacy issues and “asset recovery”.

The measure will be among the key recommendations of the ongoing Stormont talks being attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and Junior Minister Seán Sherlock.

They are expected to conclude by Friday and have gathered significant attention since two reports last month found evidence of ongoing paramilitary activity.