LONDON: Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday warned Bri­tain’s departure from the EU was “a clear and imminent threat” to Ireland, and said Northern Ireland staying in the European single market post-Brexit was “the only way” to secure its two decades-old peace accord.

McDonald said Brexit was “not compatible” with the 1998 agreement that ended deadly violence and gave devolved government to Northern Ireland.

She said the British province must remain in the EU’s single market and customs union when the UK leaves the bloc as planned next March.

“We very much believe that is the only way to do it,” she told reporters during her first visit to mainland Britain since taking over from veteran Republican leader Gerry Adams this month.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018