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Government cash to protect Sinn Fein Alan Murray

The Government is expected to provide financial assistance to help protect Sinn Fein advice centres from loyalist attacks.

Sunday Life has learned that the Northern Ireland Office will stump up taxpayers'money to the IRA's political wing for the protection of its premises.

Attacks

It is understood the NIO will provide a percentage of the total cost of installing extra security measures at centres.

The change of policy follows recent attacks by loyalist paramilitaries on Sinn Fein advice centres.

Siege

In May loyalists opened fire on Sinn Fein advice centre in Lepper Street, north Belfast. Two men were later arrested - one was shot by an Army marksman and the other taken from a house following a siege.

Two months later, in a separate incident, the Lepper Street advice centre was attacked by the UFF.

A blast bomb was thrown but the device failed to explode.
A source told Sunday Life: 'The NIO will provide financial assistance to Sinn Fein to provide security measures at its advice centres.
"Even though most of its offices are protected with security grills and reinforced doors, the NIO will provide money for any more security measures that are needed."

Sinn Fein councillors have also applied to the NIO for financial assistance for security measures at their homes, but this has been turned down.

A number of councillors are asking for a judicial review of an RUC decision not to give them the go-ahead to get personal protection weapons.

A decision on the review is expected in the High Court within the coming weeks.

An NIO spokesman told Sunday Life: 'The matter of providing financial assistance for security at Sinn Fein advice centres is still under consideration."
