Peace process - Time for Sinn Féin to sever ties with IRA

Sinn FÉIN’S urging to those republicans implicated in the Robert McCartney murder to make themselves accountable in court, while welcome, will not produce any dramatic upturn in their public perception. It is not enough.

The weekend’s Árd Fheis of the party in Dublin endorsed what appears to be a noteworthy change of policy by the party’s leadership in advocating court appearances for those responsible for the killing and, as far as it goes, is encouraging.

Delegates approved an emergency motion from the Árd Comhairle to this effect, but the question of policing has yet to be dealt with on a broad picture if the party wants to be really convincing on its stated stance against criminality.