Raid 'was nationalist betrayal'

BBC News ^ | January 15, 2005 | BBC

[FederalistVet]

The SDLP should examine the possibility of entering a coalition without Sinn Fein at Stormont, one of the party's MPs has said. Speaking in the wake of allegations of IRA involvement in the £26.5m Northern Bank robbery, Eddie McGrady said his party should consider its options.

Mr McGrady said that nationalist voters had been betrayed by the IRA.

"If they want to exclude themselves by their extremism, there is very little you can do about it" he said.

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme on Saturday: "Inclusivity is now the buzz word, but it doesn't mean that you have to stretch every parameter in every direction to include everybody.

"It means that you have a reasonable core set of behavioural conditions, and the people who want to subscribe to that in agreement do so and become members of the club."

Responding to Mr McGrady's comments, Sinn Fein South Down MLA Caitriona Ruane called for SDLP leader Mark Durkan to clarify his party's position

[FederalistVet]

The nationalist SDLP lost ground in the most recent election because it was regarded as too soft towards the other side as did Mr Trimble's party. The DUP and Sinn Fein gained a lot of reps during the most recent election becuase they were regarded as the hard-line parties. The SDLP must be careful to remember who they are dealing with here.