Secret documents 'could undermine Northern Executive'

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is withholding documents issued to the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin because of fears their release could destabilise Stormont’s power-sharing government, it was claimed today.

Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister is to appeal to the Information Commissioner after the British government withheld documents he sought under the Freedom of Information Act between them and the two parties during and after the 2006 St Andrews talks.