SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph
Thursday 3, April 2008

The Good Friday Agreement was a watershed in Irish history but the scourge of sectarianism still exists in Northern Ireland, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

Just a day after announcing he would stand down from office next month the Taoiseach addressed a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the signing of the historic accord.

While Mr Ahern said it signalled a new era of peace and political and economic progress, he added there were still elements on both sides of the divide working to destroy what had been achieved.

To rapturous applause from those at the University College Dublin conference, the outgoing leader said none of the violence of the past was justified.

“The scourge of sectarianism is still all too evident in Northern Ireland,'’ he said.

“The peace walls still stand as an affront to our aspiration for a peaceful democratic society.

“There are no easy answers. This will be the work of a generation - perhaps more than one - to overcome.

“This problem must be tackled,'’ he said.

Signed on April 10th, 1998 by both the British and Irish governments, the Agreement marked an historic step forward in the path to peace and stability in the North.

The From Conflict To Consensus - The Legacy Of The Good Friday Agreement conference formed part of a series of events to mark the historic anniversary.

It was also addressed by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.

Mr Ahern will host former British prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US Senator George Mitchell - two key figures in the Agreement talks in 1998 - in Dublin next week.

Belfast Telegraph
Friday 4, April 2008

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has accused Sinn Fein of undermining his force with groundless allegations that officers were failing to investigate crime effectively.

In his first major clash with republicans since they agreed to support the PSNI, Sir Hugh hit out at claims by Sinn Fein members that the police had not acted on intelligence ahead of recent violence in Belfast, including the murder of former republican prisoner Frank McGreevy.

At the monthly Policing Board meeting in Belfast, Sir Hugh conceded that his force was not perfect but vehemently denied that his officers were failing to act against crime.

“Broad statements saying my force is not up to it merits a response from me as I believe my force is up to it,” he said.

He said Sinn Fein’s stance was at best manipulative and at worst anti-police and that he had requested a meeting with Gerry Adams about the matter.

His comments drew an angry response from Sinn Fein, with Alex Maskey demanding a public apology.

He said the suggestion that his party was anti-police was deeply unhelpful in building relationships between the force and republicans.

BBC

Police investigating dissident republican activity in County Donegal have discovered bomb-making equipment in a wood.

The items were found near Raphoe during searches on Thursday.

Meanwhile, gardaí have been given a further 24 hours to question three men about dissident activity, including the murder of Strabane man Andrew Burns.

The men, from the Strabane area, were arrested in Donegal on Tuesday. Mr Burns was shot dead in February.

Mr Burns was found near a church in Doneyloop, Donegal.