Trimble: DUP have let republicans off the hook

The Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, told his party’s annual conference in the North today that the DUP have let republicans off the hook.

Mr Trimble said there has been little development since last year’s assembly elections and there is no sign of the new deal promised by the DUP.

Mr Trimble said before the Northern Assembly could return the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, must nail down the IRA on a commitment to fully disarm and end paramilitary activity.

He said Mr. Blair had missed an opportunity at the Leeds Castle talks in September to find out exactly how far republicans were prepared to go.

The UUP leader said that he suspected the IRA was bluffing but the Prime Minister had with characteristic optimism rushed to believe them.

He also accused Ian Paisley's DUP of allowing Republicans to hide whilst shifting the focus of the talks to other issues.

He said the DUP was treated with barely concealed contempt by the British House of Commons and the talks had run out of steam.