SDLP 'caved in over police reforms'
The SDLP tonight faced new accusations of caving in before Northern Ireland has achieved an acceptable police force.
As a battle within the North’s two main nationalist parties intensified, a senior Sinn Fein figure claimed his rivals had not held out long enough.
Party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said: “The SDLP blinked under pressure and cashed in their chips.”
Mr McLaughlin claimed SDLP leader Mark Durkan was clutching at straws by arguing Sinn Fein was trying to “play both sides” of the policing debate.
Mr Durkan had hit out after Sinn Fein hinted it would join the policing board which governs the new Police Service of Northern Ireland if British Prime Minister Tony Blair honours pledges to toughen legislation.
The party has boycotted the 19-member board because it believes the British government’s reforms do not go far enough.
The Chief Constable is not accountable enough, Special Branch’s powers are still too strong, and plastic bullets should not be deployed during riots, Sinn Fein has claimed.
In August last year, the SDLP became the first nationalist party in the history of Northern Ireland to endorse the police, taking its three seats on the board.
Sinn Fein’s refusal to take its two seats meant extra places went instead to David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists, which has four members and the Rev Ian Paisley’s hard-line Democratic Unionists, who have three.
Mr Durkan, MLA for Foyle and Deputy First Minister in the Stormont power-sharing executive, accused his rivals of trying to have it both ways.
He said: “On the one hand, Sinn Fein has appeared quite prepared to dangle speculation that it is going to face up to its responsibility and go on the board and on the other, it has been quite eager to indulge in propaganda against those participating in the policing arrangements.”
Mr Blair’s commitments to strengthen policing legislation were made at the all-party Weston Park peace talks last year following efforts by the SDLP and the Irish Government, he claimed.
“So if Mitchel McLaughlin is saying Sinn Fein will join the Policing Board on the basis of the fulfilment of commitments won at Weston Park, then the question arises as to how Sinn Fein can sustain the propaganda it has used against the SDLP with respect to plastic bullets, Special Branch and the performance of the police along the interface areas?” he added.
But as he showed video footage of a police officer confirming he had witnessed no missiles being thrown from Catholic homes across a peaceline during yesterday’s street fighting in east Belfast, Mr McLaughlin hit back.
“Up until August last year the SDLP were saying exactly the same as Sinn Fein,” he said.
“Since then Sinn Fein has had to fight alone to convince the British Government to introduce amending legislation.”
He also called into question the credibility of Mr Durkan’s claims that his party had secured promises at Weston Park.
“Where are these amendments that the SDLP achieved?” he asked.
“They are claiming the credit for work which the (Irish) Government and victims groups have done.”
