SF Backs Ritchie Justice Nomination

Sinn Féin has backed the SDLP's potential nomination of Margaret Ritchie for the job as the Stormont Justice Minister.

The SDLP leadership is expected to formally put Ms Ritchie forward for the post later this week.

She has reportedly been selected ahead of the party's current justice spokesman, Alban Maginness.

Last night, Sinn Féin's chief whip Carál NíChuilín said her Assembly colleagues would support Ms Ritchie as a nominee.

"It has been Sinn Féin's consistent position that if they nominated that we would support the SDLP nominee for justice minister. I welcome the fact that they have now announced their nominee as Margaret Ritchie," she said.

South Down nationalist Ms Richie is the SDLP's sole Executive minister, and is set to contest the party's leadership race next year.

Mark Durkan will step down as party leader in February. Ms Ritchie and Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell will go head-to-head for the position.

Last week, legislation was pushed through the Assembly allowing the future justice minister to be selected on a cross-community basis.

Stormont's two largest parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, have pledged not to nominate one of their MLAs.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have written to all 108 Assembly members asking them to put forward names for the job by this Friday.

The UUP's David McNarry described the letter as "silly", insisting his party would not nominate.

He said the DUP should be leading on the issues.

At the weekend, the Alliance Party, which has been hotly tipped to take the ministerial post, said it would refused to nominate until agreement is reached on key issues and a community relations strategy.

(PR/BMcc)