IT is completely understandable that there is widespread concern about the future of our Stormont structures, with growing fears that the increasingly bitter exchanges between the main parties could eventually result in the final collapse of devolution.

However, in the middle of all the pessimism, it is important to remember that there is a bigger picture, and our society has been fundamentally transformed since the era when murder was virtually an everyday event.

There have been no deaths across the north so far in 2025 which could be regarded as security related, and, if the pattern remains the same for just over two weeks, this year will go down as the first in almost six decades to pass without a single killing which could be linked in any way to politics.

The position was confirmed by assistant chief constable Davy Beck at a meeting of the Policing Board last week when he also said that assaults carried out by paramilitary groups “are at the lowest level in over 40 years”.