Sinn Fein vote for Ulster police

Last Modified: 28 Jan 2007
By: John Sparks

A decisive step towards power-sharing in Northern Ireland was taken as Sinn Fein ended an 86-year boycott of policing in the province.

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Delegates at a special conference in Dublin overwhelmingly backed party leader Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness's call for the party to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland. A lengthy six-hour debate was dramatically cut short as the leadership forced a vote which will see the party move to take its place on policing bodies in Northern Ireland in the event of power-sharing returning.

After the overwhelming vote on a show of hands, Mr Adams described the decision as historic.

The Sinn Fein leader said: "Its significance will be how we use this decision to move our struggle forward.

"Today you have created the potential to change the political landscape further."