Maginness slept through negotiations

Sinn Fein North Belfast Representative Cathy Staunton has accused Alban Maginness of "either sleeping through the negotiations or not being part of the SDLP negotiating team". Staunton's comments follow Maginness' claim that Sinn Féin did not raise the issue of ex prisoners' reintegration during the talks and subsequent negotiations.

"This is not a new issue. Sinn Féin has raised this issue consistently as part of the conflict resolution process," said Staunton. "If there had not been a political conflict there would not have been political prisoners. Sinn Féin has always demanded that barriers to ex POWs' integration are removed," said Staunton.