IRA must get off stage for good

THE North’s fragile peace process remains on the brink despite last night’s London summit in search of a way around the Sinn Féin espionage crisis which threatens to bring down its political institutions.

It is a measure of the challenge facing the British and Irish Governments that the only realistic options left are either to suspend or dissolve the power-sharing Executive.

Whichever way they jump, priority must be given to ensure both administrations are singing from the same hymn sheet. Any hint of a discordant note at this sensitive juncture would deal a body blow to the Good Friday Agreement, which is still the only game in town.