Trimble under fire over Sinn Fein comments

A bitter row erupted today between Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and a former cabinet colleague after he claimed Sinn Fein ministers were "in Government by day and engaged in other activities by night".

Sinn Fein Health Minister Bairbre de Brun called on the former Northern Ireland First Minister to withdraw the comment which he made following the release yesterday of the Irish and British Governments’ proposals to keep the Good Friday Agreement afloat.

In his initial response to the take-it-or-leave-it document, Mr Trimble warned Dublin and London that the IRA must dispose of its arms if the Agreement and the institutions were to survive.

"The crisis will only be resolved by republicans fulfilling obligations," he stressed.

"In the absence of decommissioning there will be no progress and consequently no Ulster Unionist will be able to offer himself for election as First Minister.

"There can’t be a moral vacuum at the heart of this. We are not legitimising terrorism. It’s not all right to be in Government by day and out engaged in other activities by night."

However Ms de Brun, who was banned by Mr Trimble from attending cross-border body meetings with her Dail opposite number in a dispute over IRA disarmament, today described the comments as "disgraceful".

The West Belfast MLA also accused him of trying to "distract attention from his failure to use his influence to arrest the nightly loyalist onslaught on the nationalist community and his responsibility for feeding the political instability within which attacks thrive.

"Rather than continue to attempt to demonise, marginalise or justify the exclusion of Sinn Fein ministers from office, Mr Trimble would be better served in paying more attention to the undertakings he gave in signing up to the Good Friday Agreement - to work towards the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust.

"Mr Trimble should withdraw his disgraceful comments."

The row erupted as the Northern Ireland parties considered their response to the two Governments’ package of proposals on policing, decommissioning, demilitarisation, the operation of the political institutions, inquiries into controversial killings and Orange parades.

Both Governments were today fielding inquiries from the Northern Ireland parties who have until Monday to give their definitive response.

Sinn Fein is due to hold a meeting of its national executive in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, tomorrow to consider its response.

However, the focus remained on whether the IRA would issue a statement on decommissioning in response to the document.

It is believed the Government’s revised implementation plan on police reform could be crucial to the IRA response.