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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Parties hit by more resignations | Parties hit by more resignations |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ballymena DUP councillor Davy Tweed is leaving the party over the prospect of it going into government with Sinn Fein. | Ballymena DUP councillor Davy Tweed is leaving the party over the prospect of it going into government with Sinn Fein. |
| Mr Tweed said such a move by the DUP would "not so much be a backward step as a complete somersault". | Mr Tweed said such a move by the DUP would "not so much be a backward step as a complete somersault". |
| Meanwhile, Fermanagh Sinn Fein councillor Poilin Ui Cathain is quitting her seat over Sinn Fein's decision to support the police. | Meanwhile, Fermanagh Sinn Fein councillor Poilin Ui Cathain is quitting her seat over Sinn Fein's decision to support the police. |
| She said she hoped her reservations about the move would be proven wrong. | She said she hoped her reservations about the move would be proven wrong. |
| Mr Tweed, a former Ulster and Ireland rugby player, said he sent a letter of resignation to the party on Tuesday but had yet to receive a reply. | Mr Tweed, a former Ulster and Ireland rugby player, said he sent a letter of resignation to the party on Tuesday but had yet to receive a reply. |
| He said he felt betrayed by the DUP. | He said he felt betrayed by the DUP. |
| He said the party was "falsifying its intentions" and would be "far better coming out and being open and transparent with people". | He said the party was "falsifying its intentions" and would be "far better coming out and being open and transparent with people". |
| Mr Tweed said the DUP had attacked former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble over the Good Friday Agreement, but in his view the St Andrews Agreement was worse. | Mr Tweed said the DUP had attacked former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble over the Good Friday Agreement, but in his view the St Andrews Agreement was worse. |
| He said as more people got to know the details of St Andrews, they were becoming opposed to the DUP's stance. | He said as more people got to know the details of St Andrews, they were becoming opposed to the DUP's stance. |
| Mr Tweed will stay on Ballymena Borough Council as an independent. | Mr Tweed will stay on Ballymena Borough Council as an independent. |
| Policing | Policing |
| Sinn Fein's Ms Ui Cathain, a councillor for Erne West, said her decision to step down from the council was prompted by Sinn Fein's backing for the PSNI at a special party conference in Dublin last month. | Sinn Fein's Ms Ui Cathain, a councillor for Erne West, said her decision to step down from the council was prompted by Sinn Fein's backing for the PSNI at a special party conference in Dublin last month. |
| She has not left the party. | She has not left the party. |
| She told the Fermanagh Herald newspaper she was unable to support the party's new policy on policing. | She told the Fermanagh Herald newspaper she was unable to support the party's new policy on policing. |
| "I sincerely hope that my reservations regarding Sinn Fein's support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be proven wrong," she said. | "I sincerely hope that my reservations regarding Sinn Fein's support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be proven wrong," she said. |
| "I believe that this decision is now irreversible. Therefore while I can afford to be wrong, I don't believe that Sinn Fein has that luxury." | |
| A Sinn Fein spokesperson said it was comfortable with the councillor's decision to resign her seat, saying it respected her point of view. |