“And still we waited..”

On the local evening news yesterday Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy denied that there had been a “wobble amongst republicans” as Mark Devenport suggested. Interestingly, the Irish Times’ Gerry Moriarty clearly heard similar reports

Conscious of mistakes made in previous negotiations, both the DUP and Sinn Féin were anxious not to be wrong-footed. Some sources spoke of disagreements within the Sinn Féin camp. There was no Sinn Féin confirmation, needless to say, while another neutral source put down any republican disquiet to what happens [to] people when they are locked in tense and intensive negotiations for five days with little sleep. “There are tired people in there; that’s a hidden factor,” he said.

Robinson said a deal needed all sides to “stretch themselves” while Sinn Féin Minister Conor Murphy described yesterday as a “fairly defining day and I expect we will have to call it reasonably soon”. Our objective observer agreed. “Robinson is correct,” he said. “It’s always difficult when people have to stretch themselves. There are many more hours in this. This could go either way; it could be the storm before the calm. It’s still eminently do-able.”

Pete Baker