05/12/2007

Sinn Fein Forfeits Two Places On Strabane DPP

Despite being entitled to five places on the District Policing Partnership in Strabane, Sinn Fein could only find three candidates willing to take part.

The two spare posts were offered to DUP councillors hours before the deadline for nominations expired yesterday.

Weeks of internal wrangling within Sinn Fein and a series of threats from other so-called dissident republicans against separate Belfast and Newtownabbey councillors over their support for the new policing structures have all helped to cloud the issue.

Sinn Fein's West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said he was disappointed, but said his party is still fully committed to engaging with all of the policing structures.

"Sinn Fein is fully committed to engaging with all of the policing structures," he said.

"I am confident that right across the north we will continue to provide constructive leadership in ensuring accountable policing that serves people in the communities we represent."

See: Historic Sinn Fein Move On Policing

See: Policing Partnership Meeting Abandoned

(BMcC)

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