Adams and Orde meet to discuss feud

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has today met with the chief constable to discuss the feud in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast.

During the meeting, Hugh Orde and Mr Adams shook hands publicly for the first time during their inaugural meeting at the Whiterock Community Centre.

One man has died and there have been more than 800 incidents linked to a feud between two families in the Ballymurphy area.

The stand off was triggered by the death of Gerard Devlin, who was stabbed in February 2006 near his home in the area.

Nationalists, however, branded Mr Adams, a traitor as he arrived at the community centre.

“The people here deserve to be policed to the very highest standards,” Mr Adams said.

“The big work was done in terms of Sinn Fein’s negotiating to carve a new dispensation in policing. Hugh Orde has given commitment to us.”

It is the first time the two men have met in west Belfast, and it followed talks at police headquarters when the Sinn Fein leader said he received assurances about police actions in the area.

Sir Hugh said: “This is the community in west Belfast saying we want to tell you what it’s like to live here.

“We have got to make a difference, there is no good talking about it (we need) to convince people we want it.”

Representatives from the Belfast City Council, the Probation Board, Youth Justice Agency, Court Service and Fire and Rescue Service and social workers were all in attendance at the meeting.

(JM/KMcA)