“There is now widespread and growing concern among republicans..”

Interestingly, the Sinn Féin representative now threatening to collapse the Northern Ireland Executive take the ball away over the issue of policing and justice powers is TD, Caoimhghin O Caolain. According to the BBC report

[Caoimhghin O Caolain] said republicans were growing increasingly concerned at the lack of progress being made on the issue. “If we are forced to conclude that change will not be forthcoming from the executive then we will have no option but to pull out our ministers and seek to put pressure where responsibility ultimately lies, which is on the British government in London,” he said.

“There is now widespread and growing concern among republicans at the failure to transfer policing and justice powers from London to Belfast in due time. “When Sinn Fein changed our policy on policing in the north, accepting that a new beginning was being made, it was with the prospect that policing and justice powers would be transferred by May of this year. “It is now the end of August and we do not even have a date for transfer. This is totally unacceptable.”

Totally unacceptable indeed, Caoimhghin.. but who promised you it would be May? Update Some political responses here

Pete Baker