Unionist in-fighting letting republicans off decommissioning hook

Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey has warned that Ulster Unionist in-fighting is threatening to let the Republican movement off the hook.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said recent weeks had seen an enormous amount of pressure being applied to Republicans to stand down and decommission its weapons.

However, he said the calling of the Ulster Unionist Council meeting could again let republicans off the hook.

Mr McGimpsey said: "Republicans cannot believe their luck. Yet again, Unionism is in danger of shooting itself in both feet.

"The last couple of days have seen an irrational and ill-informed backlash against the Joint Declaration that threatens to let Republicans off the hook. Let's be clear about this - the steps in the Joint Declaration mainly depend on Republicans making acts of completion.

"Let me make it perfectly clear for those Unionists who have been peddling the line that through the sanctions body, for the first time, Dublin has a real say in the running of the Assembly - This is pure nonsense."

The prospective Ulster Unionist Council meeting has caused divisions within the UUP because many believe the new Joint Declaration between the British and Irish Governments has given Dublin a say in Northern Ireland's affairs.

However, Mr McGimpsey countered this claim saying the sanctions body could only recommend a course of action.

But many within the party, including leading David Trimble, believe the declaration has taken Dublin influence a step too far.

Mr Donaldson said the British and Irish Governments' joint declaration breached "key unionist principles and does not provide the basis for stability in Northern Ireland".

(MB)