Secret documents 'could undermine Northern Executive'

The former DUP member, who quit the party last March over its power-sharing deal with Sinn Féin, said the NIO had justified its decision on the grounds that the documents’ disclosure could undermine the new devolved arrangements.

“It has been specified to me by the NIO that the withheld information is contained in letters between ministers and the leaders of Sinn Féin and the DUP, which were issued 'at or following the St Andrews summit',” Mr Allister said.

“So, there are secret letters which passed from ministers to the Sinn Féin and DUP leaders which have not been made public and the reason is that their publication might cause 'prejudice to the effective conduct of the Northern Ireland Executive'.

“This causes me to believe that there may be letters unique and specific to the DUP and Sinn Féin, raising the public interest question of whether what has been said to each party by Her Majesty’s Government is compatible or consistent.

“Might this be the threat to the effective conduct of the Executive – namely that if each knew what the other had been told or promised, it could undermine the working of the Executive?

“For example, if Sinn Féin had secret promises on an amnesty, or dismantling operations against criminality in South Armagh, or on the Irish language, it could indeed destabilise the Executive.”

Mr Allister, who was a member of the DUP talks team at St Andrews but who publicly expressed reservations afterwards about the agreement, has been a constant critic of his former party’s decision to go into government with Sinn Fein and other parties.

In December he formed Traditional Unionist Voice which will face its first test at the ballot box next month in a battle against the DUP, Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Greens.

The MEP said the decision to refuse him the documents showed the public interest and the cause of open government had been relegated for political reasons.

“Surely, the public are rightly entitled to know what Her Majesty’s Government said or promised to each of the key parties in these secret letters which flowed at or from St Andrews?” he asked.

“I know from what the NIO has written to me that some of the documentation pertains to ’issues that are still subject to discussion with the NI parties’.

“Thus I expect policing and justice is included, but has Her Majesty’s Government told the two parties the same thing or are they telling each what they want to hear. If they are, then that certainly could destabilise Stormont.

“Not being satisfied that the public interest is being served by the withholding of this documentation, I have lodged a formal request for a review and, ultimately, I will take this matter to the Information Commissioner.”