General support for DUP deal over policing and justice

The views of most unionists in the city were summed up last week by a statement backing the deal on parades by the Apprentice Boys of Derry. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr Ken Good, also welcomed it and said that people had become frustrated while waiting for political leaders to come to an accommodation.

In Irish Street, there was an air of optimism that the new proposals could be made to work.

Asked if he thought the DUP were right to agree to the devolution of policing and justice, Brian McBride summed up most people's feelings: "If this agreement brings peace and is fair to everyone then it is fine by me. I would say that both communities should have been more informed of what was being agreed. When men are getting paid what they are getting paid, they should be able to come to some sort of agreement. As long as it is fair to everybody and if it is peace then it is okay with me. I don't want an advantage over anybody."

Tommy Lynch said: "It had to be done at some time. It had to be a home deal. In their eyes they did what they think was right. They did right to hold out to get the best deal possible and obviously that is what they think they have got."

Norman Little sounded a little more sceptical: "Why did the big guns have to ship in? (Brian Cowen and Gordon Brown) Why weren't the people told what the stalling points were throughout the negotiations? Why was there a deadline? I think the big guns put pressure on them. People should have been kept informed throughout. This should have taken in the whole community. Why were the Ulster Unionists were not involved? Is this peace at any price?"

In the Lisnagelvin area people were largely supportive of the move, but there was also an air of apathy towards the whole process.

Fiona said: "I would trust them (DUP) to have done the right thing. I trust the DUP. I don't think they would throw Northern Ireland away. I am extremely annoyed Sinn Fein have anything to do with policing and justice but I trust the DUP. The only thing that worries me is that Sinn Fein are playing the long game. What is the long game?"

Anne Ward, with daughter Charlene, said: "There has been far too much hype about the whole thing. I think it is all just propaganda. It was money wasted. That money could have been used for the like of hospitals, paying for more nurses and doctors or other things like that."