In a major setback for the DUP leadership, the head of an IRA victims' group has denounced the St Andrews Agreement and expressed disappointment with the Rev Ian Paisley's stance on the proposed deal.
FAIR director, Willie Frazer, said if the DUP didn't reject the deal outright by Friday, when it must deliver its judgement to the two governments, it would suffer substantial electoral losses.
"I've the utmost respect for Dr Paisley but I don't know why he is still running with this agreement," Frazer said. "The DUP leadership aren't selling this on the merits of the deal, they're selling it on Dr Paisley's name. 'Trust Paisley', they say.
"Well, only God doesn't make mistakes. Dr Paisley isn't infallible. He's only one man and he's 80 years of age. He could well have been misled by the British government. Dr Paisley is very truthful but Tony Blair is a master at telling lies.
"I've no wish to degrade Dr Paisley but I'm disappointed that a man who has visited the homes of so many murdered over the years, seems prepared to sell this deal."
Frazer claimed that, despite the DUP's insistence it was united, divisions existed: MEP Jim Allister and South Antrim MP, the Rev Willie McCrea, were against St Andrew's.
By comparison, Paisley, Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, and DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson, believed that, with certain changes, the agreement could work, Frazer claimed. North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds, was increasingly sceptical of the Agreement, he added.
A DUP spokesman said: "Willie Frazer's views have been heard as part of our consultation process. He was one of the first individuals to be granted a meeting with the party leader.
"St Andrew's is a set of proposals by the British and Irish governments. The DUP hasn't signed up to any deal. More work has to be done on various issues."
FAIR represents 3,000 people injured or bereaved in the Troubles. "I can't emphasise enough the strength of feeling among victims," Frazer said.
"Many believe it's immoral to be letting unreconstructed terrorists into government. Others are disappointed that DUP negotiators failed to nail down Sinn Féin and the British government on crucial issues at St Andrew's. Sinn Féin should have been forced to sign up to policing there and then."
Frazer said he had received DUP assurances there would be no u-turn on allowing on-the-run IRA members home but British government plans to do exactly that had just been disclosed.
"Dr Paisley has pledged that IRA criminal assets must be returned. There isn't the slightest possibility of that. IRA criminality is continuing," he added. Frazer is not a DUP member but is a long-time party supporter.
