“The charging of two members of Sinn Fein with IRA membership is a timely reminder of just what the DUP have embraced as their partners in government. The charges remind us that, in spite of what the DUP would have us believe, the IRA still hasn’t gone away.

“Peter Robinson’s double act with McGuinness remains both politically and morally indefensible.

“Everyone in Ulster will recall how, in the run-up to the last election, the DUP told us that the return of the Northern Bank money was a precondition for Sinn Fein’s admission to government. Now, a matter of weeks before the Euro poll, we have a timely reminder that DUP election pledges are best taken with a pinch of salt.

“Today’s developments would, a few years back, have had the DUP crying from the rooftops that Sinn Fein/IRA were not fit for government. Now things are different. They have adopted the David Trimble approach to continuing IRA activity. The blindingly obvious fact that Sinn Fein remain wedded to criminality and that it is still synonymous with the murderous IRA is ignored.

“Thankfully the day has arrived for people to pass their judgment on both Sinn Fein/IRA and those who gifted them a place in government”.