There’s an interesting article in this week’s edition of The Village by Anton McCabe, which notes the change in tone of the DUP’s stance in the run up to the failed ‘comprehensive agreement’ and the harder public stance now. He quotes a DUP spokesman on their reasons for the change in the wake of that failure:
Subsequently it became clear that while negotiations were onging between Republicans and the two governments the Northern Bank robbery was being planned. Consequently there is no faith that Sinn Fein/IRA are serious about ending terrorist and criminal activity. There is no evidence that Sinn Fein is moving anytime soo to disband the IRA and enter the political arena on the same basis as democratic parties.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty