Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, has told the North's Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, that he faces huge problems convincing the republican base to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland, senior political sources have said.
The Sunday Tribune has learned that at least two Sinn Féin Assembly members have expressed grave reservations about any change in policing policy. Republican sources said Geraldine Dougan, who represents South Derry and is related to the family of the late Dominic McGlinchey family, had voiced strong opposition.
Doubts had also been expressed by Kathy Staunton from North Belfast, the sources said. Meanwhile, republican dissidents are planning a meeting in west Belfast to discuss the policing issue.
Disillusioned Provisional activists are expected to join dissidents at the gathering which is purely political.
Adams held discussions with Orde and the Northern Secretary of Secretary of State, Peter Hain, at Hillsborough Castle last week. A senior source told the Sunday Tribune: "Gerry told Orde he wasn't yet in a position to hold a special ard fheis.
"He said he could get a motion on policing through but with a slim majority. He could command about 60% support and he didn't want an ard fheis unless he was sure of around 85%."
Orde yesterday (Saturday) denied that "a meeting" had taken place. He told the Sunday Tribune that he had happened to be in Hillsborough Castle when Adams was meeting the British government and had a "fairly short conversation" with him.
When asked if Adams had discussed internal Sinn Féin difficulties with him, Orde said, "I don't remember any of that", but he acknowledged the party was experiencing problems on the issue.
In comparison to Orde, a Sinn Féin spokesman confirmed a meeting had taken place: "Sinn Féin has been meeting with the British government since St Andrews to resolve the issues of policing and justice. Hugh Orde has attended a number of these meetings."
However, he denied Adams had discussed internal Sinn Féin business. Discussions had focussed on plastic bullets, and the role of MI5 and Special Branch, he said.
The spokesman declined to comment on the position of Assembly members, Geraldine Dougan and Kathy Staunton, but said: "There is an ongoing debate about a number of matters including policing."
Resistance to policing is strong at meetings in many rural areas, especially South Derry where sources said Martin McGuinness had been given a "very rough ride" on the issue. By comparison, there was little dissent at a west Belfast meeting.
