DUP, Sinn Fein and UUP attacked by Mallon during farewell speech

The outgoing deputy leader of the SDLP, Seamus Mallon, has attacked Sinn Fein and the DUP at his party’s annual conference today.

The conference today is the last for both Mr Mallon and John Hume as they prepare to step down from the posts as Deputy leader and Leader respectively.

Both men made emotional speeches to the assembled party faithful as they reflected on a difficult past and looked forward to a better future.

Mr Mallon used his speech as an opportunity to attack the extremes of politics in the North. The former second minister of the Northern Assembly welcomed IRA decommissioning but criticised Sinn Fein’s boycott of the new Police Board.

He also accused the DUP of running away from change and called it a great engine of sectarianism and division.

Mr Mallon also criticised the UUP over its blocking and delaying tactics, claiming that it had damaged its own creditability as a result of its actions.