2 sides reach agreement in No. Ireland

• Tweet

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Democratic Unionist Party agreed to a compromise Thursday night on transferring responsibility for courts and police to the Northern Irish government.

Peter Robinson, the first minister of the province and leader of the DUP, said all his members in the provincial assembly supported the devolution agreement, The Guardian reported. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Irish counterpart, Brian Cowen, were expected to travel to Belfast to sign off on the agreement Friday.

"Everyone present believes this is consistent with our election manifesto and pledges that we have made to the people," Robinson said.

The justice system is a touchy issue in Northern Ireland, where Catholics for decades saw police and courts as instruments of the Protestant majority.

Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein, appeared satisfied with the results of two weeks of negotiations, the BBC reported.

"I believe that the assembly and political institutions can now proceed on the basis of equality, fairness and partnership," he said.

"They also have to deliver for all citizens. That is the collective responsibility of all the political parties."