NI power-sharing 'bit of miracle'

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Irish President Mary McAleese has said there is a "hint of the miraculous" about the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP to share power.

Speaking at the American Ireland Fund gala dinner in New York, she said "old sworn enemies" would head the new administration in Northern Ireland.

Her comments come just days ahead of the expected return of devolution to Northern Ireland on 8 May.

Mrs McAleese also urged loyalist paramilitaries to decommission.

The British and Irish prime ministers are to travel to Stormont for the restoration of power-sharing, almost five years after the previous institutions were suspended.

DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness will become first and deputy first ministers respectively.

Devolved government will be restored after nearly five years

The Irish president told those at the dinner: "In a couple of days a new administration headed jointly by those old sworn enemies, the DUP and Sinn Fein, will take on shared responsibility for the future of Northern Ireland.

"If there is a hint of the miraculous about these hope-filled times, and there is, then it is very important that we acknowledge those who believed that miracles could happen.

"The dead grip of history was prised open by the efforts of a lot of people on this side of the Atlantic."

However, Mrs McAleese also said part of the peace process jigsaw puzzle was the weapons issue.

"It is important that we remember the cost of this peace in terms of cruel suffering and that we commit to nurturing it especially through these early days," she said.

"Not all the guns have gone, regrettably, and we particularly look forward to the promised dismantling of the extensive network of Protestant loyalist paramilitaries as they complete their journey from war to peace."

She said Ireland, both north and south, was embarking on "an irreversible and hugely exciting journey towards the island's best future yet".

"So many of history's shadows have lifted in recent times," she said.

"The old vexed relationship between Ireland and Great Britain has been superseded by a new level of friendship and partnership showcased by the success of the two governments in jointly steering the peace process."

The power-sharing institutions were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of intelligence gathering at Stormont. Direct rule has been in place since that date.