Michelle O'Neill asked to clarify if she is a 'first minister for police and prison staff' after Sinn Fein leader declines to sign party leaders' letter in response to video showing dissident republican group Lasair Dhearg tearing down recruitment posters in Londonderry

DUP justice spokesperson Joanne Bunting has said that Sinn Fein should be “clear and unambiguous” in encouraging people to participate in recruitment campaigns for both the PSNI and the prison service.

Although Sinn Fein has described its support for the prison service as “unequivocal,” Michelle O’Neill was the only one of five main party leaders not to sign a letter condemning the removal of the posters and calling on people to consider joining both organisations.

The letter of support for the police and prison service had been drafted in response to the Lasair Dhearg group tearing down prison service recruitment posters in Londonderry and replacing them with anti-PSNI material.

The leaders of the DUP, UUP, Alliance and SDLP had signed the letter – offering “full support to all those working within these services”.

Ms Bunting said Sinn Fein has not yet offered “a clear reason why Michelle O’Neill would not put her name to a statement signed by every other party leader,” and said the lack of clarity leaves a “significant question” around whether Sinn Fein has a problem in offering such encouragement.

“In 2020 Michelle O’Neill had her picture taken at the launch of a PSNI recruitment event. Has she now reneged from that position whilst at the same time claiming to be a First Minister for everyone.” Ms Bunting said.

"Sinn Fein needs to… spell out exactly which part of the joint statement they could not sign up to.”

The joint party leaders’ statement said: “We are aware of video footage showing individuals removing prison service recruitment advertisements and posting anti-PSNI posters.

“We offer our full support to all those working within these services, and to the recruitment process under way within the Prison Service.

“There can be no place for those who engage in threats or intimidation towards those who serve the community as prison officers or within the PSNI.

“Those engaging in such tactics do not speak for the people who we represent as political leaders. We encourage everyone in our society to consider the PSNI and the NI Prison Service as valuable career opportunities.”

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie it was not unusual to be asked to sign such a joint letter.

"It seems like the issue is that they (Sinn Fein) cannot support the phrase which says about recruitment – that being in the police or the prison service is a good career option for people of Northern Ireland. And that I think speaks quite loudly to two things,” he told the BBC Radio Nolan Show.

“That is, Michelle O’Neill saying she wants to be a first minister for all. Clearly she can’t be because she won’t be for those who are serving, and for those who are thinking about a career in these organisations… so that’s not really showing 100% support.

"The second one is going back to the 2015 Security Service assessment of the Provisional IRA, and that they still have a controlling role over Sinn Fein in a political stance.

"And maybe that statement about recruitment and a viable career was a step too far for them, and they have advised Sinn Fein not to sign the letter.”

Also speaking on the Nolan Show, Alliance MLA Andrew Muir said he thought it was “extremely disappointing” that Sinn Fein had not signed the letter.

He said politicians should be encouraging people to apply for careers in the police and prison service, “and supporting people in those professions”.

In a statement, Sinn Féin said its "support for the Prison Service and the PSNI is unequivocal,” and added: “The joint statement people want to hear is that the DUP have returned to the Executive so we can deliver for the prison service, for the police service, for health and education and for all the public services on the verge of collapse because of the DUP blockade.

"As party leaders, we need to call out all forms of hatred and intimidation whether that’s threats to Michael Long and party colleagues, sectarian and Nazi displays at loyalist bonfires or the destruction of prison service posters in Derry”.