SF preparing for exclusion from government says McGimpsey

Senior Ulster Unionist representative Michael McGimpsey has claimed that Sinn Fein is preparing itself for its eventual exclusion from devolved government, when and if it gets back up and running.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said recent comments from PSNI chief constable, Hugh Orde and Police Board Vice-Chairman, Denis Bradley pointed to continued provisional IRA activity "with the terrorist group using the lack of devolved institutions as cover for intensified punishment beatings and suspected abduction and murder".

Mr McGimpsey added: "The Sinn Fein leadership, desperately trying to mask the fact that they cannot honour their commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means as outlined in the Agreement, is trying to point the finger at Unionism as being an obstacle to progress. They are not fooling anyone.

"Unionists have not been spying at the heart of government, importing arms, training guerrillas in South America or in possession of a private army responsible for bringing down the Institutions on three different occasions."

The senior unionist also reiterated his party's stance that Sinn Fein must "ditch their private army" and that decommissioning was always "an inevitable consequence of their signing up to the (Good Friday) Agreement."

"Sinn Fein's commitment to the Agreement is in question. They continue to hold the process to ransom with their obstinate refusal to budge on weapons.

"The recent soundings from their leadership coupled with their panicked objection to sanctions can mean only one thing - they are preparing their supporters for exclusion from any future devolved government," he concluded.

(MB)