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Sinn Féin 'glorifying murder', says DUP's Foster Sinn Féin concerned by 'security force amnesty' plan
(about 1 hour later)
Sinn Féin must stop glorifying the murders of innocent people, the Democratic Unionist Party has said. Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams has expressed concern about a proposed "amnesty for British crown forces" allegedly involved in Troubles' offences.
Speaking after meeting Theresa May in Downing Street, DUP leader Arlene Foster said remarks made about IRA terrorism at Sinn Féin's annual gathering were "quite disgraceful". Mr Adams said there had been a change to legacy arrangements envisaged under a previous political agreement.
He was speaking after meeting Prime Minister Theresa May.
Conservative and unionist MPs want a "statute of limitations" to prevent security force members being prosecuted for offences early in the Troubles.
Mr Adams, the outgoing Sinn Féin leader, said he understood a new section had been added to the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and that it was "about an amnesty for British crown forces" - the term republicans to describe the Army and police.
"That is an act of bad faith, we weren't told this, we understand the Irish government weren't told this," Mr Adams said.
"So how on earth can a British prime minister hope to persuade anybody that there's a possibility of a new dispensation emerging when she takes up this position and her secretary of state takes up this position also?"
A government source told the BBC that their preferred approach remained the proposals set out under the Stormont House Agreement, but that the government wanted, in their consultation, to ask the public what they thought about a statute of limitations.
Earlier, the Democratic Unionist Party said Sinn Féin must stop glorifying the murders of innocent people.
Speaking after a separate meeting with Mrs May, DUP leader Arlene Foster said remarks made about IRA terrorism at Sinn Féin's annual gathering were "quite disgraceful".
She said the DUP would continue to work towards the restoration of devolution.She said the DUP would continue to work towards the restoration of devolution.
Sinn Féin's leader Gerry Adams rejected Mrs Foster's allegations, saying they were an excuse not to strike a deal. Mr Adams, however, rejected Mrs Foster's allegations, saying they were an excuse not to strike a deal.
The departing Sinn Féin president has also held talks with the prime minister in Downing Street, accompanied by the party's leader north of the border, Michelle O'Neill, and its vice president, Mary-Lou McDonald. The Sinn Féin president was accompanied to the Downing Street talks by the party's leader north of the border, Michelle O'Neill, and its vice president, Mary-Lou McDonald.
Northern Ireland has been without a devolved administration since January, when the governing parties - the DUP and Sinn Féin - split in a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme.Northern Ireland has been without a devolved administration since January, when the governing parties - the DUP and Sinn Féin - split in a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme.
Leaders from both parties are in London on Tuesday for talks with the prime minister.Leaders from both parties are in London on Tuesday for talks with the prime minister.
Eulogising murder?Eulogising murder?
At the Sinn Féin gathering (Ard Fheis) in Dublin at the weekend, tributes were paid to the late Martin McGuinness. At the Sinn Féin gathering (ard fheis) in Dublin at the weekend, tributes were paid to the late Martin McGuinness.
One of the loudest cheers of the conference came when delegates were told that the former Stormont deputy first minister had been a "proud member of the IRA". Sinn Féin was viewed as the political wing of the IRA during the Troubles. Party members regularly attend commemorations for IRA members.
The Provisional IRA killed almost 1,800 people during its campaign, about 650 of those were civilians.
One of the loudest cheers of the conference came when delegates were told that the former Stormont deputy first minister, Mr McGuinness, had been a "proud member of the IRA".
Mrs Foster said she had told Mrs May the glorification of terrorism made the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland more difficult.Mrs Foster said she had told Mrs May the glorification of terrorism made the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland more difficult.
She said the DUP was talking about a deal to restore power sharing that both unionism and nationalism could live with, but she accused Sinn Féin of only being concerned with nationalism.She said the DUP was talking about a deal to restore power sharing that both unionism and nationalism could live with, but she accused Sinn Féin of only being concerned with nationalism.
She also criticised calls from Sinn Féin for more direct involvement by both the London and Dublin governments over the political stalemate at Stormont - saying the internal governance of Northern Ireland was a matter for the UK government.She also criticised calls from Sinn Féin for more direct involvement by both the London and Dublin governments over the political stalemate at Stormont - saying the internal governance of Northern Ireland was a matter for the UK government.
Analysis: Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondentAnalysis: Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI political correspondent
Talking to the prime minster is nothing new for the DUP: Her government relies on the votes of its 10 MPs to remain in power.Talking to the prime minster is nothing new for the DUP: Her government relies on the votes of its 10 MPs to remain in power.
In the absence of a deal to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, the DUP says direct rule ministers should be appointed by Westminster.In the absence of a deal to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, the DUP says direct rule ministers should be appointed by Westminster.
Sinn Féin says that's a non-starter; it wants the UK and Irish governments to jointly deliver the introduction of same-sex marriage and an Irish Language Act.Sinn Féin says that's a non-starter; it wants the UK and Irish governments to jointly deliver the introduction of same-sex marriage and an Irish Language Act.
The party has been unable to agree these in 10 months of talks with the DUP.The party has been unable to agree these in 10 months of talks with the DUP.
Theresa May is well aware of the arguments - which won't make deciding what to do any easier.Theresa May is well aware of the arguments - which won't make deciding what to do any easier.
Mr Adams said a new section had been added to the Stormont House bill about "amnesty for British crown forces", without consultation with Sinn Féin or the Irish government.
The Sinn Féin delegation had been expected to tell Theresa May that instead of direct rule, the British and Irish governments should deliver on equality issues like same-sex marriage and an Irish Language Act.The Sinn Féin delegation had been expected to tell Theresa May that instead of direct rule, the British and Irish governments should deliver on equality issues like same-sex marriage and an Irish Language Act.
But DUP MP Nigel Dodds was scathing about Sinn Féin's complaints about equal rights.But DUP MP Nigel Dodds was scathing about Sinn Féin's complaints about equal rights.
"When Sinn Féin... lectures everybody about rights, remember that the greatest right of all is the right to life," said Mr Dodds, who met the prime minister with Mrs Foster."When Sinn Féin... lectures everybody about rights, remember that the greatest right of all is the right to life," said Mr Dodds, who met the prime minister with Mrs Foster.
"It is not just that Sinn Féin have supported IRA terrorism in the past, and the murder of innocent people, but even at the weekend they were continuing to eulogise and glorify the murder of innocent people."It is not just that Sinn Féin have supported IRA terrorism in the past, and the murder of innocent people, but even at the weekend they were continuing to eulogise and glorify the murder of innocent people.
"In a rights-based society, that has got to stop," he added."In a rights-based society, that has got to stop," he added.
Adams' departureAdams' departure
Sinn Féin has called for a British Irish Intergovernmental Conference to be convened to consider a way forward, but Mrs Foster described that body as a "talking shop which has not met since 2007".Sinn Féin has called for a British Irish Intergovernmental Conference to be convened to consider a way forward, but Mrs Foster described that body as a "talking shop which has not met since 2007".
She has said Northern Ireland must not be used as a pawn in ongoing Brexit negotiations, accusing some in Dublin and Brussels of trying to recklessly use Northern Ireland for their own objectives. She said Northern Ireland must not be used as a pawn in ongoing Brexit negotiations, accusing some in Dublin and Brussels of trying to recklessly use Northern Ireland for their own objectives.
The parties continued failure to establish an executive means public services are starting to run out of money, so Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire decided earlier this month to implement a budget for the region.The parties continued failure to establish an executive means public services are starting to run out of money, so Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire decided earlier this month to implement a budget for the region.
Sinn Féin said the confidence and supply arrangement between the DUP and the Conservative Party had "compounded" the problems the parties faced.Sinn Féin said the confidence and supply arrangement between the DUP and the Conservative Party had "compounded" the problems the parties faced.
Mrs May made the £1bn deal with the DUP after losing her majority in Parliament in June's general election.Mrs May made the £1bn deal with the DUP after losing her majority in Parliament in June's general election.
One of the key issues on the agenda for both DUP and Sinn Féin meetings with Mrs May was the UK's negotiations to leave the EU - in which Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland remains a key sticking point.One of the key issues on the agenda for both DUP and Sinn Féin meetings with Mrs May was the UK's negotiations to leave the EU - in which Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland remains a key sticking point.
On Monday night, the prime minster held a meeting with her "inner cabinet", after which it is understood there was broad agreement that the government should increase its financial offer to the EU as the UK leaves.On Monday night, the prime minster held a meeting with her "inner cabinet", after which it is understood there was broad agreement that the government should increase its financial offer to the EU as the UK leaves.
The meeting was held to try to make progress on stalled Brexit talks.
Mr Adams brought his party's ard fhéis (annual conference) to a dramatic closure on Saturday with the news that he would not stand again as Sinn Féin president - after 34 years in charge.Mr Adams brought his party's ard fhéis (annual conference) to a dramatic closure on Saturday with the news that he would not stand again as Sinn Féin president - after 34 years in charge.