Sinn Fein and DUP in war of words over axed deal
SINN FEIN has outlined details of a draft deal to restore Stormont power-sharing which it insists was struck with the Democratic Unionists before they pulled the plug on negotiations.
Party president Mary Lou McDonald accused the DUP of effectively getting cold feet and welching on an agreement that would have ended the impasse that has left Northern Ireland without a functioning government for 13 months.
“We understood above all else that we had a deal, we understood we had landed on a respectful, workable accommodation,” she said.
But the DUP has dismissed the claims as “propaganda”, with party leader Arlene Foster also rejecting suggestions she was overruled when she presented the mooted accord to colleagues, branding the theory as “rubbish”.
Mrs Foster also denied Sinn Fein claims that a free-standing Irish Language Act was part of any draft deal.
The latest acrimonious exchanges came as the Prime Minister insisted the basis of an agreement still existed. Theresa May expressed disappointment at the turn of events in phone calls to the party leaders last night.
Insisting the Act was present in the text, Mrs McDonald accused some critics of deliberately misrepresenting its contents to whip up fears among unionists, by claiming Irish would be forced upon people.
“I say shame on you for so deliberately misrepresenting a good measure, an inclusive measure in a way that would cause such levels of concern or even distress among our unionist citizens,” she said. While she declined to publish the full text, Mrs McDonald outlined details verbally at Stormont yesterday.
She said there was a need to dispel “mistruths and inaccuracies” about what it contained.