A fourth person is expected in a Belfast court today charged in connection with last Friday's PSNI raids on republican homes in Belfast which have catapulted the political process into a state of crisis.
Two men and a woman have already been charged with offences that they engaged in activity likely to be useful to terrorists. The fourth person, a man arrested last week, is to appear in court today, according to the PSNI.
The repercussions from the raids continue to resound through the political process.
The Ulster Unionist leader and First Minister, Mr David Trimble, is holding a breakfast meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Dublin today.
One Ulster Unionist source said Mr Trimble believed that Mr Ahern was "oblivious to the fact that republicans have done something wrong", and that he would be impressing that point upon the Taoiseach.
Mr Trimble will also address some 110 members of the Ulster Unionist executive in Belfast this afternoon as Northern Ireland awaits the expected suspension of the Executive and Assembly by the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, on Monday.
While Sinn Féin leaders Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness were defending the republican position at rallies in Dublin and Belfast last night, UUP minister Mr Michael McGimpsey deplored the predicted suspension of the Assembly. He accused Sinn Féin of being "in denial" about the allegations that the IRA had infiltrated Dr Reid's Northern Ireland Office, and about the allegations over issues such as Colombia and Castlereagh.
"It is wrong to punish the innocent with the guilty," said Mr McGimpsey. "To suspend the Assembly is scandalous."
The Policing Board met the PSNI chief constable, Mr Hugh Orde, and the police commander responsible for Belfast, Mr Alan McQuillan, yesterday. Mr Orde rejected suggestions that Friday's raids were motivated by politics and told members that it was purely operational, according to sources.
The board's chairman, Prof Desmond Rea, issued a statement afterwards which contained no criticism of Mr Orde. "Members were appreciative of the willingness of the chief constable to brief members on the operation in the context of the board's role in holding the PSNI to account."
SDLP board member Mr Alex Attwood said that Mr Orde's apology over the heavy-handed nature of the raid on the Sinn Féin offices at Stormont and his appearance at the board yesterday could help ease concerns over the police handling of this latest controversy.
