NI police reserve payment defended
Friday, 30 October 2009 22:55Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has defended a proposed payment of £20 million (€22.3m) for former part-time police members in Northern Ireland.
The move had been criticised by Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly after his party saw a copy of a letter to Mr Robinson from the British Prime Minister making the offer.
The revelation of the offer from Mr Brown came as the DUP and Sinn Féin continue to work on the proposed devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster.
Mr Kelly claimed the offer of £20 million in gratuities for former RUC part-time reservists was an attempt to 'buy-off' DUP support for the devolution of policing.
Mr Robinson said the Prime Minister's office sent the letter to the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister not knowing that Sinn Féin would be snooping on his correspondence.
He said he had decided, as a matter of courtesy, not to publish the content of the letter until he had met the reservists, which he plans to do next week.
