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DUP will quit Stormont if assembly is not suspended, first minister warns DUP will quit Stormont if assembly is not suspended, first minister warns
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland’s first minister has warned that his party will walk out of Stormont’s devolved, power-sharing government unless the assembly is either suspended or adjourned in the next 24 hours.Northern Ireland’s first minister has warned that his party will walk out of Stormont’s devolved, power-sharing government unless the assembly is either suspended or adjourned in the next 24 hours.
Peter Robinson, the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader, said if other parties in the assembly did not back the suspension move in a vote tomorrow – or if the Westminster government did not act to suspend proceedings in the absence of that vote – then he and fellow ministers would quit. Peter Robinson, the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader, said if other parties in the assembly did not back the suspension move in a vote on Thursday – or if Westminster did not act to suspend proceedings in the absence of that vote – then he and fellow ministers would quit.
Related: Martin McGuinness denounces arrest of Sinn Féin colleagueRelated: Martin McGuinness denounces arrest of Sinn Féin colleague
The DUP ultimatum came as the crisis over alleged Provisional IRA (PIRA) activities, including involvement in the murder of Kevin McGuigan, deepenedon Wednesday after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) arrested three senior Belfast republicans in connection with the killing. The DUP ultimatum came as the crisis over alleged Provisional IRA (PIRA) activities, including involvement in the murder of Kevin McGuigan, deepened on Wednesday after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) arrested three senior Belfast republicans in connection with the killing.
One of those detained was Sinn Féin’s northern chairman, Bobby Storey, a close confidant of party president Gerry Adams. One of those detained was Sinn Féin’s northern chairman, Bobby Storey, a close confidant of the party’s president, Gerry Adams.
Robinson, under grassroots pressure to quit the devolved government, said repeated denials by Sinn Féin about PIRA members’ alleged role in the murder last month further undermined unionist confidence in the political process. The first minister said “the behaviour of Sinn Féin has seriously damaged devolution”.Robinson, under grassroots pressure to quit the devolved government, said repeated denials by Sinn Féin about PIRA members’ alleged role in the murder last month further undermined unionist confidence in the political process. The first minister said “the behaviour of Sinn Féin has seriously damaged devolution”.
The DUP wants the assembly to be suspended until the McGuigan crisis is resolved. The party will ask for a special meeting of the assembly’s business committee to convene tomorrow to vote on suspension. With the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin unlikely to support such a move, the DUP would require the backing of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Alliance party. The DUP wants the assembly to be suspended until the McGuigan crisis is resolved. The party will ask for a special meeting of the assembly’s business committee to convene on Thursday to vote on suspension. With the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin unlikely to support such a move, the DUP would require the backing of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Alliance party.
Robinson said: “The DUP has made it clear it will not be involved in business as usual.Robinson said: “The DUP has made it clear it will not be involved in business as usual.
“Other parties must now step up to the mark and stop the assembly from proceeding as if nothing has happened. We have attempted to create the space for these matters to be dealt with, but if others want the assembly to function normally in spite of Sinn Féin’s position, we will have reached the point where, as a last resort, we will take this final step.”“Other parties must now step up to the mark and stop the assembly from proceeding as if nothing has happened. We have attempted to create the space for these matters to be dealt with, but if others want the assembly to function normally in spite of Sinn Féin’s position, we will have reached the point where, as a last resort, we will take this final step.”
Robinson added: “As a consequence of today’s events we have sought a recall of the business committee to consider adjourning the assembly. If that does not happen or as an alternative, the secretary of state does not suspend the assembly, then DUP ministerial resignations will follow immediately.”Robinson added: “As a consequence of today’s events we have sought a recall of the business committee to consider adjourning the assembly. If that does not happen or as an alternative, the secretary of state does not suspend the assembly, then DUP ministerial resignations will follow immediately.”
Earlier, Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, denounced the arrest of Storey, a senior Sinn Féin colleague, in connection with the murder of ex-IRA man McGuigan.Earlier, Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, denounced the arrest of Storey, a senior Sinn Féin colleague, in connection with the murder of ex-IRA man McGuigan.
McGuinness said he was surprised that the police had detained Storey in relation to the McGuigan killing.McGuinness said he was surprised that the police had detained Storey in relation to the McGuigan killing.
Storey was one of three men, aged 59, 45 and 58, arrested at their homes on Wednesday morning. He was named in the House of Commons in 2005 by then MP David Burnside as the IRA’s director of intelligence following the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery.Storey was one of three men, aged 59, 45 and 58, arrested at their homes on Wednesday morning. He was named in the House of Commons in 2005 by then MP David Burnside as the IRA’s director of intelligence following the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery.
The two other men arrested were veteran Belfast republicans Brian Gillen and Eddie Copeland. The trio were being questioned about the killing of McGuigan, who was shot dead outside his house in east Belfast’s Short Strand district in August.The two other men arrested were veteran Belfast republicans Brian Gillen and Eddie Copeland. The trio were being questioned about the killing of McGuigan, who was shot dead outside his house in east Belfast’s Short Strand district in August.
Expressing his concern over Storey’s arrest, McGuinness said: “Bobby Storey is a valued member of Sinn Féin’s core leadership. He has played a leading role in the development of Sinn Féin’s peace strategy and is a longstanding and loyal supporter, defender and advocate of the peace and political processes.”Expressing his concern over Storey’s arrest, McGuinness said: “Bobby Storey is a valued member of Sinn Féin’s core leadership. He has played a leading role in the development of Sinn Féin’s peace strategy and is a longstanding and loyal supporter, defender and advocate of the peace and political processes.”
The PSNI has said individual PIRA members were involved in the killing of McGuigan, who they blamed for the murder of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison in May.The PSNI has said individual PIRA members were involved in the killing of McGuigan, who they blamed for the murder of former Belfast IRA commander Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison in May.