Sinn Féin walk out of meeting with NI SoS

The party's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said it was over a disagreement on how they view legacy issues.

The discussions were scheduled to address outstanding issues and to facilitate forming a functioning Executive.

Sinn Féin have previously questioned the impartiality of Mr Brokenshire in relation to the issues.

"What we need is a fundamental change in apparoach from the British Government and we made that very clear to James Brokenshire," said Ms O'Neill.

"All he did was waffle, waffle and more waffle."

"We need to see movement and it's within their gift to create movement for those families that need access to due process.

"So we called the meeting short and asked him to go and reflect on what we've said and to come back with a positive contribution to help those families that are rightly entitled to get justice and access to inquests."

Meanwhile, the DUP leader Arlene Foster appeared to head off talk of a revolt within the ranks of her own party.

The party's showing at the recent elections has been viewed as poor in some quarters, but Mrs Foster said she retained the full support of her colleagues.

"We had a full and open discussion around the election campaign, the result and of course the negotiations which are going on at the moment," she said.

"I'm delighted with the support I've received from all of my colleagues."

"I'm delighted with the support I've received from all of my colleagues."

However, DUP MP Ian Paisley said serious reflection was required in the aftermath of the polls.

"I think Arlene has genuinely, support and a strong support base," he said.

"But I think she also has to answer some very tough questions.

"And that's on behalf of all of us, we have to look very closely at the performance of the party, the performance of unionism, and recognise that tough questions have to be asked and therefore difficult answers given."

• Sinn Féin