DUP Blasts SF As Justice Bill Is Passed

Northern Ireland Assembly members have passed legislation to create a local justice department, amid simmering tensions between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The bill, which passed its final stage last night, has also paved the way for a cross-community Justice Minister.

During the debate, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness called on all sides to support the devolution of policing and justice powers.

Mr McGuinness denied DUP claims Sinn Fein was bowing to fear from critics within the SDLP and wider republican arena.

Earlier, DUP First Minister Peter Robinson (pictured) accused Sinn Fein of using an "unelected and unknown" official to "utter dark, dire and menacing threats against the institutions in Northern Ireland" at the weekend.

Addressing republicans at an Antrim commemoration ceremony on Sunday, Sinn Fein chairman Declan Kearney claimed the DUP had adopted a "train wreck" strategy on the transfer of policing and justice.

Mr Robinson reiterated his party's stance on devolution, outlined at the DUP conference last month.

"The DUP is not seeking to walk away from either the Assembly or Executive.

"Nobody listening to what I said would be in any doubt about our commitment to making devolution work and making progress on policing and justice," he said.

"As they appear incapable of understanding any message normal folk can easily digest, let me give it to them in liquidised form. The DUP supports devolution without equivocation."

Accusing Sinn Fein of causing instability, Mr Robinson said Unionists would not be coerced.

"Sinn Fein is creating the very instability that many people believe is an obstacle to devolving more powers.

"The DUP will not be bullied or threatened into taking any decision it cannot embrace on logical and rational grounds."

Alliance leader David Ford, the man tipped to take the future justice post, called on the First and Deputy First Minister to end their "megaphone diplomacy".

"Going on TV in order to say something unhelpful plays right into the hands of those who want to see the Assembly brought down," said Mr Ford.

(PR/KMcA)