BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
Sinn Fein have rubbished a claim that 'disgruntled' republicans could present a voting challenge to the sitting MP in Fermanagh-South Tyrone, Michelle Gildernew in protest at the Party moving towards accepting the PSNI.
It is believed that a prospective candidate from Tyrone to challenge Sinn Fein has already been chosen, in the key constituency of Fermanagh-South Tyrone.
"The candidate, who has not yet been named, is a former prominent ex-IRA prisoner whose identity is expected to be revealed in coming weeks'.
It is also believed that groups of Republicans who had formerly supported Sinn Fein have been meeting across the North to discuss the idea of fielding candidates opposed to a political settlement that would see Sinn Fein support the PSNI and a Justice Minister appointed at Stormont.
Ironically, it was in Fermanagh, at a Feargal O'Hanlon/Sean South 50th anniversary commemoration at Altawark, where they died following the raid on Brookeboro RUC Barracks, that the Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams used as his first public selling pitch to the Party's Republican base here.
Ms Gildernew was among the VIP's attending but, in her absence yesterday, a senior Sinn Fein spokesman said claims of a threat to her in the polling-booths did not warrant serious consideration.
"Some one person did mention the newspaper claim to me, but I didn't take it seriously", he stated. I would tie it in with made him welcome and, afterwards, he stayed on because a lot of people wanted to meet him. So, it's not a serious proposition".
As for a possible split before, during or after this month's special Ard Fheis to endorse a motion calling on delegates' support for the Police services here and across the Border, he insisted that between now and then, the 'policing' would be thoroughly debated at grassroots level.
"Every member will get the opportunity to have their say. There will be consultation with the broad republican family and with the families of the patriot dead. That debate will continue over the next couple of weeks right through the structures until the end of January", the Sinn Fein spokesman added.
But, a Republican Sinn Fein spokesman insisted that there would be contests, and he believed that the proposed candidate in Fermanagh-South Tyrone is from Tyrone.
"I am not surprised that it has been ear-marked, but that's not coming from us but from another source, from a group of people who are a combination of INLA and the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, not Republican Sinn Fein".
Asked how the Ard Fheis 'policing' vote would go, he had no doubt but that Gerry Adams already knew the vote would carry.
"They have been getting rid of certain dead-weight. There are a couple of prominent men have left them and a few important Councillors as well. It means they will not be at the Ard Fheis, and it leaves them in a commanding position.
"This is something that has been worked out and Adams must be fairly sure of his 70 per cent or he would not be running to it".
Among unionist parties, reaction to the Sinn Fein executive's decision to approve a special Ard Fheis to allow delegates to vote on the 'policing' issue has been given a qualified welcome.
Arlene Foster, the DUP Assembly member for Fermanagh-South Tyrone, said it was a decision that was 'long overdue'.
"We welcome the fact it is now taking place but it is not words which are important but whether they're going to follow through with act ion in relation to policing and justice. It is all very well of them supporting the Police, but it is when someone gets raped or burgled: will they urge their people to cooperate with the Police and give them information. In the past they haven't, although I really do think it's what the Nationalist community want".
The Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, who is the chairman of the Fermanagh District Policing Partnership, was asked if he would like to see Sinn Fein join him on his committee.
"I would like to see their credentials. I want to see them accepting the Police and the rule of law, but they just can't do that overnight. They can't expect a school bully to come back into school and be automatically made the Prefect or the Head Boy or Head Girl. They will have to prove themselves".
Mr Elliott said he had concerns that side deals had been made by the British government to bring Sinn Fein thus far. He too felt the vote would go in their favour on the basis that, 'Republicans don't do these things without them being reasonable sure'.
Did he not think that this vote could create splits within Republicans? - "Yes, they will take a hit or two along the way. It is a big challenge for Republicans to be supporting policing, but it is also a big challenge for Unionists to have former members of a terrorist organisation within policing". Commenting on the decision by Sinn Fein to hold an Ard Fheis, the Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher SDLP said: "This is a welcome step that will bring the community closer to normality. It has been a painstakingly slow process that has caused much frustration for people who want to live in a peaceful, safe and normal society.
"I hope that the process moves forward quickly now. The majority of people through out the community want to have local accountable politicians taking responsibility for the educational, health and economic issues that matter so much to them".
While senior figures within the DUP have taken a hard-line stance against premature acceptance of Sinn Fein's mould-breaking policy change, the Party leader, Ian Paisley, in his New Year's address, stated that, for the first time in their history, Republicans were concentrating on support for policing and for the courts in Northern Ireland.
"Let not words discourage them", he warned.
