The following news reports are courtesy of the Irish American News Service and Irish American Post staffers

08/08/06 14:31 EST

PSNI RESPONSE TO SECTARIAN ATTACK INADEQUATE - OMBUDSMAN

A police officer in Northern Ireland could face disciplinary action after a bungled attempted murder probe, it has emerged. The inquiry into a sectarian beating in Larne, Co Antrim, contained a series of investigative errors, a report found. 

Although two men were charged with trying to kill Catholic man Gerald McRandal, 33, in October, 2002, the trial collapsed 15 months later. 

The suspects walked free following the withdrawal of eight witnesses and the failure of a police officer to disclose an unofficial notebook she used on the night of the attack. 

Police also failed to seal off the crime scene in the immediate aftermath. 

Nuala O`Loan, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, has called for disciplinary action to be taken against one officer involved in the inquiry and recommended another undergo additional training. 

She has made a series of recommendations to the PSNI in respect of the failures in the investigation. 

Mrs. O`Loan said: "While many aspects of the police investigation were conducted with due rigor, the initial police response was inadequate and a number of serious investigative errors occurred. In particular, the failure to cordon off and protect the scene following the attack was a major failing and rendered any evidence from the scene virtually worthless." 

"This was compounded by the fact that police failed to inform defense solicitors about an unofficial notebook containing information central to the case." 

"Then the failure to pass on the notebook - which had the name of one of the alleged perpetrators in it, which had never been disclosed - was a big failing," said the Ombudsman. 

"It is clear that while these investigative failures did not on their own cause the collapse of the attempted murder trial, they did further weaken a case in which eight key witnesses had already withdrawn their evidence." 

The Police Service of Northern Ireland claimed today it had not yet received the Police Ombudsman`s report. 

In a statement it added: "When we do we will consider its findings and take on board the recommendations. We welcome any proposals, which will contribute toward delivering an effective and efficient policing service to all the people of Northern Ireland." 

"Whilst we have yet to see the Ombudsman`s report it is worth pointing out that since this incident in 2002 the Police Service has restructured and the Crime Operations department is in place to assist in the effective investigation of serious crime in Northern Ireland." 

"A lot of work and training has been carried out in terms of crime scene investigation. Any other lessons to be learnt will be studied closely and taken on board." 

UDA FEUD AVERTED FOLLOWING FLIGHT OF SHOUKRI FACTION

Loyalist and security sources in Northern Ireland have said they hope a potential feud within the loyalist paramilitary UDA has been averted after a leading member of a breakaway faction left NI during the night. The UDA is a proscribed organization and is not on ceasefire. 

The police said they escorted a convoy of cars out of the Westland estate "as a number of people felt under threat". 

It is believed Alan McClean and his family traveled to Dublin to catch a flight out of the country. 

It came after 300 Ulster Defense Association supporters gathered in the Oldpark area of north Belfast. Tensions have been high following a weekend stand-off between the factions. 

Alan McClean is widely believed to have taken over the leadership of the UDA in north Belfast after Ihab and Andre Shoukri were expelled from the organization last month. 

Mr. McClean, his wife and two sons, a younger brother of the Shoukris and a small number of supporters left their homes at about 4 a.m. GMT on Thursday to catch a flight out of the country. 

Pastor Brian Madden, who intervened in the dispute, said a potential bloodbath had been averted. 

"I saw machine guns on people's shoulders, handguns," he said. 

"I was taken into a house, talking to people who were pointing guns, swinging guns, they were very, very angry. I was very fearful and I pleaded with them to leave. After about 20 minutes of heated discussion they started to drop the bullets out of the guns and he (Mr. McClean) agreed that he would leave." 

"I informed the inner council, who through this whole thing showed massive restraint, and the men on the streets went home." 

Meanwhile, the PSNI said some of its officers were forced to draw their weapons in Ballysillan because of the serious situation. 

Chief Superintendent Wesley Wilson said houses had been attacked in the Ballysillan and Tyndale areas earlier in the evening by crowds armed with cudgels and baseball bats. 

"Our officers went into deal with that. At one stage our officers were between two mobs and actually had to draw weapons to protect themselves - luckily they didn't have to discharge the weapons," he said. 

A large crowd gathered very quickly and officers were ordered to go to the Westland estate area, he said. The officer said loyalist representatives had met nationalist community leaders "and reassured them that there was no threat to nationalist residents". 

"There was a convoy of cars that left Westland Road area in the middle of the night and police did accompany them as far as the Westlink. This was to prevent any breach of the peace or attacks and was about preventing any loss of life." 

"We realized they were people from the Westland Road area and wanted to leave the area and obviously felt under threat." 

He said police were still gathering information about the occupants of the cars. 

"If we can firm up on the intelligence, perhaps with this faction gone it might ease the situation - but I don't know that as yet." 

A Sinn Féin spokeswoman said nationalist residents felt intimidated and some had left their homes in fear. 

The loyalist protests follow the expulsion of leading north Belfast loyalists Ihab and Andre Shoukri. Earlier this week, members of the UDA's so-called ruling council held talks with representatives of the breakaway faction. 

It followed a weekend stand-off between the rival factions and a public show of strength by the UDA leadership. No arrests were made by the PSNI following the public show of strength even though membership of the loyalist terror organization is illegal. 

800 LOYALISTS DEMONSTRATE IN NORTH BELFAST

Up to 800 loyalists staged a rally in Belfast last night as new paramilitary tensions deepened. 

The demonstration followed a weapons seizure linked to fresh trouble between rival factions in the Ulster Defense Association. 

Guns, ammunition and molotov cocktails were seized by police during searches aimed at defusing the situation in the north of the city. Two men were arrested and one later charged by detectives involved in the operations which were centered on the Tynedale district. 

Police also spent the day investigating claims that shots were fired in the area. The trouble has been blamed on a developing stand-off between separate elements of the UDA. 

With the outlawed organization announcing on Friday a new leadership to replace ousted north Belfast chiefs Andre and Ihab Shoukri, fears have been growing that supporters of the toppled brothers may ignite new violence. 

As the stand-off continued, the UDA's inner council mobilized a big gathering in the west of the city. 

A statement was read out declaring that the organization would not allow any criminals to deter it from achieving its goal of a lasting peace for its community. 

"There were members who used their position to achieve personal gain and fortune, especially through drug trafficking and drug sales," it said. 

"This has resulted in those ex-loyalists attempting to protect their fiefdoms by whatever means available to them." 

The UDA urged the Police Service of Northern Ireland to stop criminals operating in north Belfast but went on to claim that a series of attacks in the Ballysillan and Tigers Bay areas had been carried out. 

"The organization will not stand by and allow its community and its members to be attacked after 35 years of conflict with the Provisional IRA and republicans," the statement continued. 

"We have fought the IRA, the RUC and our own army. If need be we will fight drug dealers. We believe that it's the duty of the PSNI to influence law and order so we can all live in peace and safety." 

Frankie Gallagher of the Ulster Political Research Group which advises the UDA said between 600 and 800 loyalists attended the rally. 

He stressed it was a peaceful gathering, adding: "It was to demonstrate that the UDA is capable and willing to defend its people and its communities, but at the same time reluctant to go back." 

Police chiefs, meanwhile, vowed there would be no let-up in their patrols throughout the area. 

Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw said: "We will continue to police north Belfast and work to disrupt the activities of those intent on causing fear and intimidation in communities. Those with influence on the local community who want to see an end to alleged tensions in the area should work to do so now." 

DUP HAS ACCEPTED MAIN PRINCIPLES - ADAMS

The Democratic Unionist Party has accepted the principle of power sharing and dialogue with republicans, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said. 

"In these issues the DUP have conceded the principle - in terms of sharing power, the Good Friday Agreement, dialogue with Sinn Féin," he said. 

Adams accused Ian Paisley of "playing for time over devolution". 

"So it's actually just a matter of, can they through this tactical approach they are taking, garner some sort of support from the governments for their position and can they put off the awful day, as they would see it, as long as possible?" he said. 

Devolved government was suspended over allegations of a republican spy ring at the heart of the devolved government at Stormont outside Belfast. 

The court case that followed collapsed when it emerged that one of the those involved, Denis Donaldson, was a British agent. Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. 

The British and Irish governments have given Northern Ireland's parties until Nov. 24 to reach agreement on restoring devolution. 

GOVERNMENTS CONFIRM FAITH IN IRA PLEDGE

Today marks the first anniversary of the formal end of the IRA's armed campaign. 

Séanna Walsh, one of the longest-serving republican prisoners, read out a statement on this day last year saying the IRA army council had formally ordered an end to its armed campaign. 

The statement said the IRA had ordered all units to dump their weapons, and all members have been "instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programs through exclusively peaceful means". 

Two months later, the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) General John de Chastelain announced that the IRA had totally and completely disposed of all of its arms. 

The disarmament was verified by former Methodist president the Rev Harold Good and Redemptorist priest Fr. Alex Reid, who acted as a go-between in the lead-up to the 1994 IRA ceasefire. 

One year on, the ceasefire has held, although the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is still refusing to share power with Sinn Féin. The DUP was dissatisfied with last year's IRA decommissioning because of the absence of photographic proof. 

Northern Secretary Peter Hain has warned that there is no flexibility on the deadline of November 24th for the establishment of a fully functioning Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland. 

Speaking last May, Hain said: "Come midnight on the 24th, assembly members' salaries will go on ice and benefits will be stopped. We won't blink. Northern Ireland politics has been about procrastination year upon year. We cannot continue like that." 

At a press conference in Belfast today to mark the anniversary Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the opportunity afforded by the ceasefire "could still be grasped by British and Irish governments". 

And in recent days, both the British and Irish governments have reiterated their belief that the IRA is completely honoring their word. 

Speaking after meeting Irish ministers on Tuesday of this week, NI Secretary Peter Hain said cross-border intelligence indicated the IRA was living up to its commitments. 

Hain was speaking after meeting Irish government ministers Dermot Ahern and Michael McDowell in Hillsborough, County Down. 

Irish Justice Minister McDowell, who has been strongly critical of republicans in the past, backed Mr. Hain's assessment. 

Asked if he believed the IRA's war was now over following its declarations and decommissioning last summer, he said: "The Irish government and British government are working on that assumption, based on the evidence we have." 

The British and Irish governments have given Northern Ireland's parties until Nov. 24 to reach agreement on restoring devolution. 

IRA HONORING ITS PROMISE - HAIN

The IRA is honoring its pledge to shut down all paramilitary activity, Northern Secretary Peter Hain said today. 

Even though Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain accepted that some IRA members are still involved in illegal operations, he insisted that was not a good enough excuse for political parties to refuse to restore devolution at Stormont by the November 24th deadline. 

He said: "There probably is still some localized individual criminality by former and maybe existing Provisional IRA members for their own private gain. What there is not, is any organized 'from the center' criminality any more." 

"To that extent the IRA are delivering on their commitments made last July, not just in respect of shutting down paramilitary activity but also shutting down criminality." 

The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists continue to insist on more proof that the IRA has abandoned all violence and alleged racketeering before they will agree to go back to a power-sharing executive in Belfast with Sinn Féin. 

Dublin and London have warned the political parties that if they fail to revive a coalition government in time then they will take control of how Northern Ireland is run. 

Following talks with Government ministers at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, Mr. Hain stressed it was unrealistic to expect the IRA to deliver a state of absolute perfection in the time available. 

Ireland's Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, backed Mr. Hain's assessment today. 

Claiming the IRA had brought a halt to its activity, he told how leading members of Sinn Féin had called for the police to investigate a recent vodka robbery in Ireland when it was alleged that two members of the IRA movement were involved. 

McDowell said: "I believe that's the first time remarks of that kind have been made in relation to a matter of that kind." 

Asked if he believed the IRA's war was now over following its declarations and disarmament last summer, he added: "The Irish Government and British Government are working on that assumption, based on the evidence we have." 

50:50 RECRUITMENT TO PSNI MUST REMAIL - SDLP

Latest figures released today indicate that one in five "regular" police officers in Northern Ireland are now Catholic. The figures did not indicate what percentage of senior officers were Catholic. 

Catholics account for 20.05% of "regular" officers in the force, compared to just 8.3% when the Patten probe into the old Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was carried out in 1998. 

Even though the Social Democratic and Labour Party`s (SDLP) Alex Attwood described it as a landmark in attempts to overhaul the service, he warned against any move to now end the 50:50 recruitment policy. 

Ian Paisley's DUP has insisted the 50:50 recruitment policy was discriminatory and must end. 

"It`s a watershed that they have broken through the 20% barrier," the Policing Board representative said. 

"The figures remain very encouraging and very strong. But the continued success of overall recruitment and Catholic recruitment must not mean that the Government changes its position on the retention of 50:50." 

"It`s up for renewal next spring, but Patten said it should continue for at least 10 years. You cannot play fast and loose with policing." 

With new recruits graduating from the Garnerville training college in east Belfast last Friday, there have now been more than 65,000 applications to join the PSNI. 

The latest campaign led to the highest level of interest yet. Nearly 7700 applicants competed for 220 places. 

Out of these, 37% were Catholics, again the highest rate to date. 

Paul Goggins, the Northern Ireland Security Minister, praised the standard of men and women joining the PSNI. 

He said: "Policing as a career isn`t an easy choice. It`s not an easy job, and not everyone could do it. The PSNI has shown that it is attracting high caliber candidates into its ranks." 

Mr. Goggins added: "I am delighted that so many people from all communities and backgrounds have taken up the challenge of delivering what is an absolutely vital service to the community and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them every success for the future." 

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern welcomed the latest statistics which showed that one in five PSNI officers are now Catholic. 

"I believe this is an important milestone which shows that the 50/50 provisions are working," he said. 

"This is helping to fulfill the objective of a fully representative Police Service in Northern Ireland. I also believe that the 50/50 provision should be continued as intended for at least ten years in order to achieve what Patten termed `a critical mass` of one-third of the new Police Service made up of Catholics/Nationalists." 

POLICING ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED - McGUINNESS

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has warned British Prime Minister Tony Blair that there could be no final political settlement without a complete resolution of the policing issue in Northern Ireland. 

The party`s chief negotiator accused the British Government of delaying further policing legislation demanded by republicans before they will endorse Northern Ireland`s police service. 

With Sinn Féin seeking the transfer of policing and security powers from Westminster to Belfast, a resolution is critical to attempts to strike a peace deal that would restore the Stormont power-sharing regime by the November 24 deadline. 

Mr. McGuinness said: "We have made sure that the British can`t walk away from this issue. Policing has been and continues to be a central part of ongoing political negotiations." 

"I am absolutely convinced that the final pieces can be put in place if the two governments live up to their commitments on transfer of powers and if the political will exists amongst all the political parties." 

"I have no doubt that we can achieve with others a transformation on policing which will make it democratic, and accountable and which enjoys community support." 

"I have no doubt that some day a republican could hold Ministerial responsibility for policing north and south." 

"The need for accountable policing is nowhere more obvious than in the activities of some members of the Garda Siochana (Irish police) in this country over many, many years." 

The Mid Ulster MP`s assessment drew an icy response from the Democratic Unionist Party, who must strike a deal with Sinn Féin if devolution is to be restored. 

Sammy Wilson, the DUP MP for East Antrim, said: "What he wants and what he`s going to get, or what he deserves or is feasible for republicans are totally different things. Republicans can`t possibly ever hope to have this position while they don`t support the police or while they have an organization (the IRA) engaged in criminal activity." 

Mr. Wilson insisted his party has the power to veto any transfer of powers, and vowed to use it if there was the risk of anyone with criminal associations taking charge of policing. 

"Until republicans support police on the ground by encouraging people to give evidence to the police, and get rid of criminal associations, Martin McGuinness can have his wishlist all he wants, but he`s not going to get it," he added. 

In a speech to the Patrick MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, Mr. McGuinness also hit out at the performance of British ministers running Northern Ireland since the Stormont Assembly fell. 

He blamed direct rule for job losses, privatization, increased rates, water charges, education cuts, falling agricultural incomes, and a failure to devise a suicide prevention strategy. 

But claiming the DUP`s refusal was the only barrier to the restoration of the power-sharing executive, Mr. McGuinness claimed political change would nevertheless continue. 

"That would certainly be preferable to the bad decisions that are being taken every day by British direct rule ministers. But I also believe that a functioning Assembly, with a power-sharing Executive and cross-community safeguards, is the best and most efficient means of building trust, confidence and mutual understanding between Irish republicans and unionists." 

"It is the best way of sustaining and progressing the enormous work already achieved in reconciling Orange and Green." 

However, Mr. McGuinness`s nationalist rivals accused him of a failure of responsibility. 

SDLP policing spokesman Alex Attwood said: "People see through the latest language and look for unambiguous commitments. Is every Irish citizen free to join a police service of their choice? Is every Irish citizen free to provide assistance to the police north and south? Is every Irish citizen encouraged to provide witness statements to the police? Is every Irish citizen to stop all criminal activity including that of organized crime?" 

"These are the issues that are staring Martin McGuinness in the face. Yet the people of Ireland are still waiting for straightforward answers." 

Jim Nicholson, an Ulster Unionist MEP, poured more scorn on Mr. McGuinness`s claims, describing them as far-fetched. 

"As usual Sinn Féin are big on spin and small on substance," he said. 

"Unless or until they issue tangible and unequivocal support for the forces of law and order in this country they cannot be taken seriously. The proof of the pudding will not be in Mr. McGuinness`s words but in the actions republicans take over the coming months to finally rid themselves of all criminal and paramilitary activity." 

IRISH AMERICA UNITES AGAINST PROPOSED EXTRADITION TREATY

Leading figures in Irish America today strenuously testified in opposition to the ratification of the proposed Extradition Treaty Between the United States and the United Kingdom (31 March 2003) at hearings in Washington DC before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 

In his opening remarks, Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R) IN, said the United Kingdom was one of this US's closest allies, "with whom we enjoy a deep cultural affinity and an excellent partnership". 

He said the British government and people had taken a leadership role on numerous foreign policy challenges, "including stabilizing Iraq, protecting democracy and pluralism in Afghanistan, working for nuclear non-proliferation in Iran, fighting disease and poverty in Africa, and improving global cooperation on climate change". 

Sen. Lugar claimed the proposed new extradition treaty with the UK was designed "to update our existing extradition relationship, bringing it into line with other modern U.S. extradition treaties". 

He said extradition treaties were "critical tools" for U.S. law enforcement in combating transnational crime, "as they ensure that those who commit crimes in this country cannot escape justice by fleeing to other countries". 

"Among other provisions, the new treaty would adopt a modern dual criminality standard for extradition, allowing extradition for offenses that are punishable by one year or more in both countries." 

"It would also ensure the continued application of a new, less burdensome evidentiary standard for extradition requests by the United States to the United Kingdom. Moreover, it would permit the temporary surrender for trial of fugitives who are serving sentences in the requested state," Senator Lugar said. 

But in his testimony, Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) President Robert C. Linnon criticized the proposed treaty for "chipping away at the very foundation of the American justice system". 

The treaty has been denounced by a variety of Irish American political organizations and the American Civil Liberties Union as an assault on the Constitutional rights and basic civil liberties of all Americans. 

If the Treaty was passed as currently constituted, Dr. Linnon testified that the treaty would: 

" Remove the judiciary role from the extradition process, and transfer responsibility to the Executive branch. 

" Allow for provisional arrest and detention of American citizens for 60 days without a formal request from Great Britain, thereby denying Americans their right to have their day in court in front of an impartial judge. 

" Provide that American law need not be violated. 

" Permit retroactive application to alleged activity committed before the treaty’s ratification. 

" Eliminate any statute of limitations. 

" Eliminate the need for authorities to demonstrate probable cause. 

Dr. Linnon said that the treaty was "politically motivated". 

"It clearly targets Irish American citizens for persecution in British courts and all this just for being active in the struggle to defend the Irish against years of British interference and misrule," he said. 

A panelist against the treaty, Prof. Francis Boyle from the University of Illinois, could not make the hearing due to inclement weather in Chicago but his prepared remarks were submitted to the Congressional Record. 

His testimony outlined a key concern of many in Irish America when pointing out the proposed elimination of the political offense exception. 

"As we Irish Americans have repeatedly seen in Chicago, Florida, New York, and elsewhere, undercover government agents infiltrate peaceful Irish American groups, suggest criminal activity to them, and then falsely claim that innocent members of these groups agreed with their suggestions. That is all it takes for a conspiracy to be extraditable under this treaty," Boyle said. 

"Even worse, all it would take for any of the people in this room to get extradited under this Treaty is a false allegation from the British Monarchy that one of its spies overheard them say something reckless about weapons or the armed struggle in Ireland." 

Boyle also said the treaty wiped out a number of constitutional and procedural safeguards. 

"It eliminates any statute of limitations, eliminates the need for any showing of probable cause, permits indefinite preventive detention, applies retroactively to offenses allegedly committed before the Treaty's ratification, eliminates the time-honored Rule of Specialty in all but name, allows for the unconstitutional seizure of assets, and permits extradition under Article 2(4) for conduct that is perfectly lawful in the United States," he said. 

"This Treaty retroactively criminalizes perfectly lawful conduct in violation of the constitutional prohibition on Ex Post Facto laws set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution as well as the basic principle of public international law and human rights - no crime without law, no punishment without law." 

Boyle said that under the proposed treaty, responsibility for determining whether a prosecution is politically motivated is transferred from the U.S. Federal Courts to the executive branch of government. 

"This means that instead of having your day in court before a neutral Federal Judge you will be required to rely on the not-so-tender mercies of the Department of State, which historically has always been studently pro-British, anti-Irish, and against Irish Americans and Irish America." 

Concluding his testimony, Boyle said the proposed treaty "with the British Monarchy" must stand alone and apart from all other modern U.S. extradition treaties "precisely because we Americans fought a bitter Revolutionary War against the British Monarchy to found this Republic". 

"We Americans did not fight a Revolutionary War against any other state in the world. So it is axiomatic that this proposed Treaty with the British Monarchy must be quite carefully distinguished from all of our extradition treaties with every other country in the world — and soundly rejected," Boyle concluded. 

O'LOAN CONCERNED ABOUT MI-5 ROLE IN NORTH

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman (watchdog) has said she is concerned about the transfer to MI5 of responsibility for intelligence gathering on national security matters. 

Nuala O'Loan outlined her concerns in her annual report, which was presented to British parliament today. MI5 will take over responsibility for national security issues next summer. 

The Ombudsman's office can access all relevant information when investigating complaints against the police - but MI5 does not have to co-operate with it. 

In her report, O'Loan said it is vitally important that her office has the ability to access intelligence material. 

The Ombudsman said she was in discussions with MI5 and attempting to reach an agreement to get access to material. 

But she added that it would be better if there was legislation which compelled the security services to disclose that information. The report also reveals that the Ombudsman received more than 3,100 complaints against the police last year - an increase of 8%. She recommended that nine officers should be prosecuted and that 66 should face disciplinary action. 

The SDLP's Alex Attwood said he shared the Ombudsman's concerns. "The SDLP argued first and strongest that MI5 primacy in the north was full of dangers," he said. "This matter is too big for the British government to get so wrong." 

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said the British government needed to take notice of O'Loan's fears. 

"It is unacceptable that an organization which has set itself against policing and political change throughout the course of this process should be given an expanded role," he said. 

"The role of the securocrats within both the Special Branch and MI5 needs to be reduced and ended, not supported and expanded." 

Earlier today, Sinn Féin urged Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern to spell out publicly before the November 24th deadline for devolution in the North what they will do if it is missed. 

Sinn Féin`s Mitchel McLaughlin issued the call to the two premiers after Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain warned Assembly members that he would slash the number of government departments in the region if they were unwilling to take the decision themselves in a devolved administration by November 24. 

After Mr. Hain also gave a taste of how London and Dublin ministers would enhance cross-border co-operation, Mr. McLaughlin said: "I think it is incumbent on the two governments to indicate how they would respond if the DUP continues to refuse to form an executive by the November deadline." 

"It would be wrong to describe such an event `as a failure to form an executive` because that implies all the other parties are at fault when it is just the DUP. In refusing to meet the deadline, the DUP should do so in the full knowledge of what the consequences are." 

"So yes, I think the governments should make public their plans in advance of the November deadline." 
 
 

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