The North’s chief constable has met representatives of Northern Ireland’s main political parties after a controversial operation that saw a Troubles survivor arrested at a memorial event for victims of a loyalist atrocity. A meeting between Sinn Féin and Simon Byrne was described as “forthright” and “frank”. Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she told him of “unprecedented anger” over the arrest of Mark Sykes, a victim of the Sean Graham bookmakers shootings. Earlier, Mr Byrne rejected claims commanders had scapegoated two inexperienced officers sanctioned. Sinn Féin has highlighted the two incidents as evidence of what it describes as two-tier policing.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2021 09:00 UTC