BY MICHAEL BRESLIN

Sinn Fein in Fermanagh have confirmed the Party is to take up its four Council seats on the Fermanagh District Policing Partnership (DPP).

A spokesman, who asked not to be named, and who is one of the four, told the 'Herald' this week that the Party's four nominees would be put forward at this month's meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee in the Townhall on Wednesday next, 19th September. The names, and those of the other six Party nominees will then be available for formal approval at the Council's October meeting.

10 SEATS

The Council is entitled to 10 seats on the DPP, and the remaining nine filled by unelected or 'independent' members as they are called.

It will be the first time, when next the Fermanagh DPP meets, in November, that the four main political parties will have sat down along with local PSNI chiefs. Sinn Fein have boycotted the District Policing Partnerships since they were instituted and, in their absence, elected representatives from other political parties have stood in.

However, the news that Sinn Fein is take up their seats before the District Policing Partnerships are fully reconstituted next February/March has been criticised by one of the Ulster Unionist sitting members, Tom Elliott. He has described the move as, 'a further sweetener and concession to republicans'.

The present Fermanagh DPP members are (in alphabetical order) - Councillor Harold Andrews, UUP;

Councillor Alex Baird, UUP; Councillor Joe Dodds, DUP; Karen Dolan, (38), a pharmacist, Enniskillen; Mandy Egerton, (37) an Administrator and Support Worker from Newtownbutler; Councillor Tom Elliott, UUP; Maeve Ferguson, (46) a teacher, Enniskillen; Councillor Gerry Gallagher, SDLP; Nessa Greenaway, (46) a Health Promotion Officer from Garvary; Hazel Hicks, (51) a Personal Development Tutor from Derrylin; Councillor Bert Johnston, DUP; Caroline Johnston, (30) a supply teacher, mother and housewife from Roslea; Bertie Kerr, UUP; Gerry Love, (42) a Customer Services Manager from Enniskillen; Mannix Magee, (57) a Drugs and Alcohol Co-ordinator with ICPR; Seamus Mr. McCusker (57), a retired teacher from Irvinestown; Councillor Fergus McQuillan, SDLP; Councillor John O'Kane, SDLP; Councillor Paul Robinson, DUP.

That makes up the 19-member Fermanagh District Policing Partnership which, on account of the extra Council member (10-9) means that the chairman/woman will always be a locally elected representative. It also means that, with Sinn Fein taking up their seats, its new members will replace four existing Councillors in the electoral area they are representing.

Not all Fermanagh Sinn Fein Councillors are in agreement with serving on the DPP. In late January this year, their member for Erne West, Póilín Uí Catháin resigned in protest at her Party's endorsment of policing. Her decision followed a decision at the Sinn Fein special Ard Fheis in Dublin to support the Police.

REGRET

Meanwhile, Tom Elliott regretted that, for several months, District Policing Partnerships would not be reflective of their districts: "To have Sinn Fein's political representatives joining the DPPs before they are fully reconstituted is unacceptable. This premature action is not conducive with the notion that DPPs are to allow a community's representatives to have an input into and assist in shaping local policing.

"If these plans go ahead, my own DPP will not accurately reflect the political makeup of Fermanagh by having an under representation of people from the unionist community. Sinn Fein are likely to have four members appointed, which will create a huge disproportionate imbalance in the community background makeup of that DPP."

Hew concluded: "Whatever your view may be on Sinn Fein being involved in policing, I think I speak for most people when I say that there should, at the very least, be a level playing field for all. This move to permit their representatives onto the Partnerships is certainly not a move that represents an evenhanded approach. To many, looks like a further sweetener to republicans."

"Republicanism should not be getting this sort of preferential treatment for their belated desire to fully sign up as law abiding citizens. And I fail to see why they cannot wait until the full reconstitution of DPPs takes place next year."

CHANGE OF TACK

The Sinn Fein spokesman, commenting on the Party's change of tack, confirmed that the Party would be forwarding four names later this month to the Council's Policy and Resources Committee: "The four of us have been contacted and our names will be duly noted at that meeting. We feel this is something that needs to be undertaken.

"It is Sinn Fein's stated position: we want to see a new beginning to policing.

"At this point in time we believe it is the right decision now to take our seats on the DPP and to hold to account policing in our District Council area".