HILLSBOROUGH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British and Irish prime ministers are unveiling what they call a “pathway” to keep Northern Ireland’s Catholic-Protestant administration alive — but are ending a three-day mission without persuading local parties to accept their ideas.
Gordon Brown of Britain and Brian Cowen of Ireland published their governments’ joint compromise plans and appealed Wednesday to rivals in Northern Ireland’s coalition to embrace them.
The Irish Catholic party Sinn Fein insists it soon may end its partnership with the British Protestants of the Democratic Unionists. A Sinn Fein withdrawal would destroy the coalition.
The premiers propose to transfer justice powers from Britain to local hands in May. Sinn Fein seeks that move but the Democratic Unionists have blocked it.
