Power-sharing talks restart in N Ireland after reporter’s death
NORTHERN IRELAND’S political parties will meet for the first time in more than a year as they restart power-sharing talks following the death of journalist Lyra Mckee.
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, and Leo Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach, confirmed a new round of political talks aimed at re-establishing a devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said: “Lyra symbolised the new Northern Ireland, and her tragic death cannot be in vain.
“All of us must take inspiration from what Lyra achieved in her life and work even harder to make Northern Ireland a brighter, more peaceful and prosperous place for everyone.”
The news of the talks comes days after the funeral of Miss Mckee, whose murder by the New IRA has increased pressure on leaders to break the political deadlock.
At her funeral, Father Martin Magill received standing ovations after demanding to know why it had taken the death of the 29-year-old to unite politicians, as he urged them to protect the Good Friday agreement.
It was confirmed that talks on the restoration of power-sharing institutions would resume on May 7 and all the main parties would be invited.
Mrs May and Mr Varadkar, who attended the funeral earlier this week, said in their joint statement: “We also heard the unmistakable message to all political leaders that people across Northern Ireland want to see a new momentum for political progress.
“We agree that what is now needed is actions and not just words from all of us who are in positions of leadership.
“We have agreed to establish a new process of political talks, involving all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, together with the UK and Irish governments, in accordance with the three-stranded process. The aim of these talks is quickly to re-establish to full operation the democratic institutions of the Belfast/good Friday Agreement – the Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly and North-south Ministerial Council – so that they can effectively serve all of the people for the future.”
Miss Mckee was shot dead while observing a riot in the Creggan area of Londonderry. Police yesterday released new footage of the suspected gunman involved in her murder. In one of the images, the man appears to have a gun in his right hand.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended for more than two years following a row between former governing partners the DUP and Sinn Fein. Repeated rounds of negotiations failed to break the deadlock.
Sinn Fein has rejected DUP leader Arlene Foster’s latest offer to break the political impasse in Northern Ireland.
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister, said: “These few days belong to Lyra, her partner Sara, her family, friends and the people who loved her.
“We mourn with them and grieve for the life and career that was cut short so brutally and needlessly.
“Her ambition to change her society for the better through her career and telling her own story and supporting others to do the same could not stand in starker contrast with the people who took weapons on to the streets of Derry with callous disregard for human life, to intimidate, injure and kill.”
Mrs Bradley said the talks offered the “chance to move forward” to restore the political institutions.