Meeting held on SF policing move

Sinn Fein is to hold its ard fheis on policing this weekend

Republicans in Derry have held a second major debate on the policing issue within a week.

This Sunday a Sinn Fein ard fheis decides whether it should vote in favour of signing up to the PSNI.

About 400 people attended Wednesday night's event, which was held as part of the Bloody Sunday commemorations.

Sinn Fein's Ulster chairman Declan Kearney said his party did not take it for granted that the policing motion would be passed.

"Nobody should under-estimate the difficulties within republicanism not just within the six counties but throughout the 32 counties.

"I am hopeful, I am confident, that republicans will see the bigger picture and that they are prepared to take a big leap forward, take a risk with their strategy, and be prepared to deliver the kind of change that they know is necessary within our strategy."

Strategy

However, former IRA prisoner Anthony McIntyre, who describes himself as a concerned republican, criticised Sinn Fein's strategy.

"I think that many people had a faith in the leadership and I think that they felt it was going to take them to a united Ireland of some sort and they went into self-denial over it," he said.

"Now the writing is on the wall for many of them and it spells unionist veto, partition and a British police force in Northern Ireland."

More than 2,000 republicans are expected to vote at the ard fheis this weekend.

Sinn Fein's party executive decided to go ahead with the ard fheis earlier this month.

It had earlier been put in doubt after the party complained about the lack of a "positive response" from the DUP.

The British government has said Sinn Fein support for policing and the DUP's commitment to power-sharing are essential if devolution is to be restored in Northern Ireland.