Fears Ulster could see violence return

THE UK Government should heed the warnings offered by two distinguished statesmen and restart talks in earnest aimed at averting a potentially dangerous situation in Northern Ireland.

Lord Hain and Lord Murphy have both been Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland as well as for Wales, and know as much as any British politician about how difficult it was to achieve peace after decades of conflict.

Since the Good Friday Agreement was negotiated in 1998, with detailed power-sharing arrangements nailed down to ensure both sides of the sectarian divide have a stake in maintaining peace and law and order, the amount of terrorist activity has been minimal.

It’s true there have been attacks by dissident republicans, but they have been insignificant relatively in comparison with the period before the agreement.

The reason for the drastic reduction in violence is that communities have bought into peace and have not been prepared to provide the kind of logistical support dissident paramilitaries would require to mount a sustained campaign.

Brexit, however, has provided a ready-made cause that could upset the equilibrium that has held sway for more than 20 years.

The Unionist community has been upset by changes that have been introduced as a result of Britain’s departure from the European single market and customs union.

Their sense of identity has been destabilised by the fact that separate trading rules have been established for Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK – a development they see as a betrayal.

Unfortunately they have been let down by their own leaders and by the UK Government, which is more interested in securing a free trade agreement with Australia than in maintaining the delicate peace in Northern Ireland.

With the marching season almost upon us, there is a serious danger of rioting and worse in working class Unionist districts in the province.

It’s time for Boris Johnson to recognise the danger that exists and do what he can to bring all the relevant parties together to thrash out a lasting agreement.

There have already been warning signs about what could happen if the situation is ignored.

This is no time for political games, but for true statesmanship and leadership.

Without it, the future could be bleak.