Paisley makes plea to Ahern over fleeing criminals

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was today urged by the Reverend Ian Paisley to ensure criminals who flee over the border will be arrested.

The Democratic Unionist leader made the proposal during a cordial one-and-a-half hour meeting in Dublin’s Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park where the two leaders exchanged the first public handshake between them.

Afterwards Mr Paisley, who received an invite from the Taoiseach to visit the Battle of the Boyne site later this year where King William of Orange defeated the army of King James in 1690, said they had also discussed the need for the new administrations in the North and in the Republic to work for each other’s best interests.

“We can confidently state that we are making progress to ensure our two countries can develop and grow side by side in the spirit of generous cooperation,” the North Antrim MP declared.

“I trust that old barriers and threats will be removed in my day.

“Business opportunities are flourishing. Genuine respect for the understanding of each other’s differences and, for that matter, similarities is now developing.”