Stone faces Stormont charges
Michael Stone was restrained by security personnel in the lobby of Stormont
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Saturday, 25, Nov 2006 07:54
The man responsible for yesterday's security scare at Stormont in Northern Ireland is appearing in court this morning on terror charges.
Michael Stone, 51, a well-known loyalist paramilitary hitman, breached security and entered the parliament building shortly after 11:00 GMT yesterday.
The assembly session was suspended and the building was immediately evacuated, just half an hour after talks had begun on restoring devolution as set out in the St Andrews agreement.
Reports suggest that Stone, who was freed as part of the Good Friday agreement after serving 11 years in jail for six murders and five attempted murders, threatened to set off an incendiary device and daubed the outer wall of the assembly building with loyalist graffiti.
He has now been charged on five counts of attempted murder, possession of articles for terrorist purposes and possession of explosives.
Northern Ireland's police chief, Sir Hugh Orde, said last night that between six and eight devices had been defused at Stormont. He added that while they were "fairly amateurish" they posed a significant threat, adding that "that does not make them any less dangerous".
Before the alarm was raised, DUP leader Ian Paisley suggested he was not prepared to share power with Sinn Fein and accused Gerry Adams' party of failing to take a "decisive first step forward".
Mr Paisley refused to take up the nomination of first minister, saying: "Clearly as Sinn Fein is not yet ready to take the decisive step forward on policing, the DUP is not required to commit to any aspect of power-sharing in advance of such certainty.
"The circumstances have not been reached where there can be a nomination or designation at this stage."
Mr Adams nominated his chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, to the role of deputy, saying that he would be "a champion for equality and fairness and justice". His declaration was met by laughter.
Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has previously said that the assembly will be dissolved unless there is an indication that an agreement was reached.
After yesterday's security breach, Mr Hain ordered an "urgent report" to investigate how it had been allowed to happen.