Unionist stance 'entirely justified' - Blair

Unionists are “entirely justified” in refusing to share power with republicans in the light of the Northern Ireland bank robbery, Tony Blair said today.

Unionists have called on the British government to exclude Sinn Féin and press ahead with efforts to restore devolution without them after Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde last week said he believed the IRA was responsible for stealing £26.5m (€38m) in the Northern Bank raid before Christmas.