Sinn Fein will today seek to maintain pressure on the London and Dublin governments to intervene over the developing crisis on the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.

The party’s ard chomhairle (executive) meeting in Dublin will consider pulling the plug on talks after eight days of negotiations with the DUP, potentially forcing an Assembly election. But the British and Irish governments could instead convene new ‘hot house’ talks to attempt to end the deadlock over a timetable for the handover of the responsibilities for courts, prisons and policing from Westminster.

So far, however, the governments have stayed on the sidelines but pressure on Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen is mounting, with the prospect of a deeper stalemate ahead which could mean the end of devolution and more Dublin-enhanced direct rule.

For an Assembly election could see a three-way unionist divide between the DUP, Ulster Unionists and Jim Allister’s Traditional Unionist Voice, which could mean Martin McGuinness being eligible for First Minister.

No unionist would, however, take the Deputy First Minister’s position and the Assembly would again come crashing down — crushing any return of devolved government for the forseeable future.

Today’s ard chomhairle could also call a meeting of the party’s more representative body, which includes activists from across the entire island of Ireland.

The gathering may also decide to bring forward the annual ard fheis, pencilled in for the first week in March, which could buy more time for negotiations without the “nuclear option” of elections.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said yesterday the “game was up but not over”, confirming that the present round of talks has finished but not entirely ruling out their resumption — and arguing the DUP had attempted to play the ‘Orange card’ over the Parades Commission.