CBI halts Sinn Fein contacts

The Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland last night said it had suspended meetings with Sinn Fein as a result of the murders last week of two policemen in Lurgan.

The CBI had held meetings with the Republicans over the past two years but said there could be no more until there was a new IRA ceasefire. "We believe the events of last week were just too much," said CBI director Nigel Smith.