Sinn Fein members threatened over agreement

Senior members of Sinn Fein have had to step up personal security for fear of attack from dissident republicans who are opposed to the proposed changes to the party's policing issues.

The party has already been warned that an attack is possible as a bid to derail the current political process of restoring devolution.

Commenting on this, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said: "The Sinn Fein leadership is not going to be deflected from what we think is the right thing to do for the republican struggle.

"We are not short termers. We are long termers. We think strategically. We are about the future."

Sinn Fein's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness and DUP leader the Reverend Ian Paisley are expected to take an oath next Friday - November 24, to become Shadow First and Deputy First Minister in a new all-party power-sharing assembly – however in doing so, Sinn Fein will have to pledge that they will change their current policy on policing.

Meanwhile the DUP has warned the British and Irish governments that the deadline may not be met due to Sinn Fein's failure to publicly endorse the PSNI.

The DUPs Ian Paisley Junior said: "If they expect to convince people in Northern Ireland they are no longer engaged in a subversive campaign designed to destroy the state and have instead turned to the pursuit of their agenda through exclusively peaceful and democratic means then support for and working with the police will be evident from Sinn Fein.”

In response, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said: "We are still working very hard and over the weekend I was involved in further efforts to achieve delivery.

"When it is very clear that we have delivery on the outstanding issues of policing I intend to go to the ard chomhairle to recommend that we call a special ard fheis on policing."

(EF)