NORTHERN Ireland's most senior judge has questioned our leading politicians' commitment to an independent justice system.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan went public yesterday with his annoyance that First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness had failed to respond to a letter he sent them in January.
Sir Declan had written to the DUP and Sinn Féin leaders criticising health minister Edwin Poots for comments on the judiciary.
Mr Poots had said a court decision which found against him was irrational and he claimed he would not get a fair hearing if he took the decision to appeal.
Sir Declan was concerned that the comments were damaging to the rule of law and sought an assurance they would not be repeated.
In the letter, which he released yesterday, Sir Declan said: "I think it is highly unacceptable for a minister to suggest that a court of appeal in Northern Ireland is biased or unfair.
"Such as statement is not only untrue, it is inevitably damaging to the administration of justice and ultimately to the strength of our democracy."
At a gathering attended by justice minister David Ford and DUP chairman of the justice committee Paul Givan, Sir Declan said the rule of law is only possible with an effective court system and a strong independent judiciary in which the public has confidence.
He said he was relying on ministers to stand over the concordat on judicial independence which the executive entered into on the devolution of justice - with appropriate words and action where necessary.
In a reference to his January letter, Sir Declan said: "Regrettably it is not my experience that there is always a willingness to do so."
Asked why it did not respond to Sir Declan's letter, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) did not reply last night.
However, Mr Givan said after the event: "The judiciary need to be careful that they don't get too precious about their status.
"Obviously they are fundamentally important to the criminal justice system and to the rule of law in Northern Ireland, as are politicians.
"Politicians ultimately are the lawmakers which the judiciary then need to enforce through the courts."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said "arrogance" was the reason OFMDFM did not reply to a letter from Sir Declan.
"It is not only highly disrespectful of Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to ignore the lord chief justice, it is also deeply ironic given Sir Declan's letter explicitly points out that our system of government depends on mutual respect between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary."
* CONCERN: Sir Declan Morgan n COMMENTS: Edwin Poots
? Reports ? P6 ? Editorial ? P16