As the DUP oils the party machine for one more election, it is unlikely to have time to reflect on what happened during this very month, 19 years ago. October 2003 provided a spectacular example of how unintended consequences can have a seismic impact on the political landscape of Northern Ireland. At that time procrastination was the policy of the IRA. By failing to deliver on weapons decommissioning on October 21, 2003, republicans undermined the position of David Trimble and his Ulster Unionist party. It forced them to withdraw from power-sharing, with their tail between their legs. In the November…

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