10/01/06 11:16 EST
PAISLEY TO MEET CATHOLIC PRIMATE BRADY
DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley is to hold historic face-to-face talks with the Catholic Primate of All Ireland Sean Brady. The first-ever discussions between Rev Paisley and Archbishop Brady are expected to take place at Stormont Buildings, Belfast on Monday, October 9th. The groundbreaking meeting will come two days before the intensive power-sharing summit in Scotland led by both Governments.
09/19/06 10:12 EST
PAISLEY DEMANDS SINN FEIN SUPPORT PSNI
The DUP's Rev Ian Paisley said today that Sinn Fein support for the police in Northern Ireland was a prerequisite for its involvement in government. The Democratic Unionist leader made the claim after a report from the Stormont Preparation for Government Committee confirmed its members backed a proposal that the British Government should transfer policing and justice powers to a single devolved government department. The report also revealed that MLAs failed to reach unanimous agreement on a proposal that all parties serving in an executive must publicly endorse and urge their supporters to back the Police Service of Northern Ireland. During a debate on the report in the Assembly, Mr Paisley claimed the IRA had demonstrated no support for the forces of law and order and until they did there was no place for Sinn Fein in government. "There will be no executive that includes those who refuse to support the police by word and deed," the North Antrim MP warned.
09/18/06 11:22 EST
McCORD REPORT TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR BRITISH GOV.T - HAIN
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has predicted an upcoming report on police handling of a murder by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is likely to be 'extremely uncomfortable for the British state'. The Police Ombudsman (Watchdog), Nuala O`Loan is due to publish a report on police handling of the murder of Raymond McCord junior. The 22-year-old former RAF man was beaten to death and his body dumped in a quarry in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, in 1997. His father, Raymond McCord senior, mounted a constant campaign for an investigation into the police handling of the murder claiming that it was carried out by UVF members who were police informers and who had been protected from prosecution by their handlers. Mr Hain insisted whatever the report said should not be used by Sinn Fein as an excuse for not supporting current policing structures in Northern Ireland.
09/18/06 05:39 EST
SCOTLAND TALKS FOR OCTOBER 11-13 AT ST ANDREWS
Irish premier Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are to host last-ditch devolution talks with the Northern Ireland parties in Scotland next month, it has been announced. The October 11-13 discussions in Saint Andrew`s will focus on the joint British-Irish strategy aimed at bringing about the re-establishment of the power-sharing executive in Belfast. In an audio clip released on the Taoiseach`s website, Mr Ahern said it was time `to finish the job`. The talks in Scotland would offer a real opportunity to settle outstanding issues once and for all, he added. He said: "We have now reached the end point when we must give finality to our efforts. Northern Ireland politicians need to make up their mind whether they want to govern or not," he continued.
09/15/06 08:35 EST
BLAIR WARNING ON NOV 24 DEADLINE
British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned today it would be "difficult" to reinstate Northern Ireland's institutions if the November 24th deadline was passed without resolution. Mr. Blair met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at Chequers outside London this morning to finalise arrangements for next month's North talks. Mr Blair's spokesman said the meeting with Mr Ahern this morning had been "preparatory" ahead of intensive private talks with all parties in the peace process, and a peace summit due to be held in Scotland next month. The two leaders had reviewed "what was the calmest most trouble-free summer since before 1970".
09/13/06 08:44 EST
SCOTLAND SUMMIT A WASTE OF TIME - PAISLEY
The Democratic Unionist Party's leader, Ian Paisley, dealt a heavy blow tonight to attempts to strike a new devolution deal in Northern Ireland. After meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street, the Democratic Unionist leader warned the chances of a settlement by the Government's November 24th deadline were slim. He also called for the abandonment of plans to hold a peace summit in Scotland next month, branding it a waste of money.
09/09/06 11:31 EST
HAIN WARNS OF FAILURE TO STRIKE A DEAL
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain today warned political leaders there that if a deal to restore devolution was not struck, they would into the political wilderness for at least three years. The British and Irish Governments have set November 24th as the deadline for the restoration of a power-sharing Executive at Stormont. Hain warned the parties that if they fail to meet the deadline the two governments are unlikely to make another attempt to restore devolution until at least 2009.
09/07/06 12:02 EST
AHERN OFFERS BLAIR SUPPORT.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today offered his support to embattled British PM Tony Blair who announced today that he would leave office within 12 months. Mr Ahern praised Mr. Blair as "a great leader" and a great colleague to work with. In a strong show of support for his long-term partner in the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Ahern also said he hoped they could achieve power-sharing this year. "He brought his party to power for the third time last year and then he got into all these difficulties," said Mr Ahern. "In my view Tony Blair is a great leader and a great prime minister and a great colleague to work with, both in Europe and on Irish matters."
09/07/06 02:00 EST
REISS WELCOMES IMC REPORT
US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss said the International Monitoring Committee's (IMC) report published yesterday showed clear progress was being made on issues critical to the peace process. Mr Reiss was commenting late last night on the IMC conclusion that the IRA cessation of activities was holding firm but that the treat from loyalist paramilitaries had not been removed. He expressed concern about the threat posed by the loyalists though the report said they had contributed to peaceful marching season this year.
09/06/06 12:11 EST
IRA CEASEFIRE GIVEN CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
The IRA is firmly committed to following a political path and is not engaged in any paramilitary activity, Northern Ireland's ceasefire watchdog has said. The maintenance of the IRA's command and control structure was also helping rather than hindering the peace process, the international body 11th report stated. With the British and Irish Governments intent on breaking the political deadlock with days of intensive party talks in Scotland next month, the Independent Monitoring Commission gave their efforts a fillip with a report which said republicans remain committed to the political path.
09/05/06 12:08 EST
INTENSIVE DEVOLUTION TALKS SET FOR SCOTLAND
The British and Irish governments will attempt to end the political deadlock in Northern Ireland next month with intensive new talks in Scotland. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair will head up the negotiations involving all sides in advance of the November 24th deadline which has been set to reach a settlement. It is understood the talks will take place at a location in Scotland during the second week in October.
09/01/06 13:27 EST
DEMILITARIZATION REPORT GIVEN TO MINISTERS
A report assessing the British Government's move to scale down security in Northern Ireland has been handed over to ministers. The 'Independent' Monitoring Commission (IMC), which scrutinises paramilitary ceasefires in Northern Ireland as well as the British Government`s demilitarisation programme, handed in its latest report to the Northern Ireland Office and Irish Government.
Nationalists have critized the IMC, pointing out that it is not independent since it is appointed by the British government. The report examined how the British Government has set about honoring the demilitarisation programme it outlined in August last year following the IRA`s declaration of an end to its armed campaign. The plan included the tearing down of Army watchtowers in republican areas in South Armagh, Derry and west Belfast.
08/29/06 23:47 EST
SCOTLAND MAY HOST PRESSURE TALKS BEFORE DEADLINE
Irish premier Bertie Ahern and British prime minister Tony Blair have discussed holding intensive talks with Northern Ireland's parties in the second week in October at a Scottish venue in an effort to craft a devolution deal the DUP and Sinn Féin can sign up to. The proposed talks would follow the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) publishing what is expected to be a positive report that the IRA is honoring its commitment in July of last year to permanently end its armed campaign. Mr Ahern and Mr Blair hope that such an IMC report would be the catalyst to convince DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley that he should agree before the governments' deadline of November 24th to enter a power-sharing Northern Executive with Sinn Féin, as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.
08/18/06 18:16 EST
SINN FEIN SUPPORTS DUP MOTION ON DISBANDMENT OF PARAS
All paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland should disband immediately, a cross-party agreement concluded today. Political parties including Sinn Fein have approved a Democratic Unionist Party motion calling for the standing down of armed groups. Representatives were meeting at Stormont near Belfast today at the Preparation for Government committee ahead of the November 24 deadline for restoration of devolution.
08/12/06 11:35 EST
APPRENTICE BOYS MARCH PASSES PEACEFULLY
The annunal March of 10,000 loyalist Apprentice Boys in Derry has passed off peacefully. The marchers were joined by around 130 bands in the march which included a wreath-laying ceremony, a religious service and a re-enactment of the Siege of Derry. The peaceful march followed trouble in the city. Around 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police ahead of today`s march. Officers were pelted with the explosive devices as they attended the scene of two burning cars in the city at around 1 AM local time this morning.
08/08/06 14:31 EST
PSNI RESPONSE TO SECTARIAN ATTACK INADEQUETE - OMBUDSMAN
A police officer in Northern Ireland could face disciplinary action after a bungled attempted murder probe, it has emerged. The inquiry into a sectarian beating in Larne, Co Antrim, contained a series of investigative errors, a report found. Although two men were charged with trying to kill Catholic man Gerald McRandal, 33, in October 2002, the trial collapsed 15 months later. The suspects walked free following the withdrawal of eight witnesses and the failure of a police officer to disclose an unofficial notebook she used on the night of the attack. Police also failed to seal off the crime scene in the immediate aftermath. Nuala O`Loan, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, has called for disciplinary action to be taken against one officer involved in the inquiry and recommended another undergo additional training.
08/03/06 10:31 EST
UDA FEUD AVERTED FOLLOWING FLIGHT OF SHOUKRI FACTION
Loyalist and security sources in Northern Ireland have said they hope a potential feud within the loyalist paramilitary UDA has been averted after a leading member of a breakaway faction left NI during the night. The UDA is a proscribed organisation and is not on ceasefire. The police said they escorted a convoy of cars out of the Westland estate "as a number of people felt under threat". It is believed Alan McClean and his family travelled to Dublin to catch a flight out of the country. It came after 300 Ulster Defence Association supporters gathered in the Oldpark area of north Belfast. Tensions have been high following a weekend stand-off between the factions.
07/30/06 15:34 EST
800 LOYALISTS DEMONSTRATE IN NORTH BELFAST
Up to 800 loyalists staged a rally in Belfast last night as new paramilitary tensions deepened. The demonstration followed a weapons seizure linked to fresh trouble between rival factions in the Ulster Defence Association. Guns, ammunition and molotov cocktails were seized by police during searches aimed at defusing the situation in the north of the city. Two men were arrested and one later charged by detectives involved in the operations which were centered on the Tynedale district. Police also spent the day investigating claims that shots were fired in the area. The trouble has been blamed on a developing stand-off between separate elements of the UDA. With the outlawed organisation announcing on Friday a new leadership to replace ousted north Belfast chiefs Andre and Ihab Shoukri, fears have been growing that supporters of the toppled brothers may ignite new violence.
07/24/06 09:50 EST
50:50 RECRUITMENT TO PSNI MUST REMAIL - SDLP
Latest figures released today indicate that one in five "regular" police officers in Northern Ireland are now Catholic. The figures did not indicate what percentage of senior officers were Catholic. Catholics account for 20.05% of "regular" officers in the force, compared to just 8.3% when the Patten probe into the old Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was carried out in 1998. Even though the Social Democratic and Labour Party`s (SDLP) Alex Attwood described it as a landmark in attempts to overhaul the service, he warned against any move to now end the 50:50 recruitment policy. Ian Paisley's DUP has insisted the 50:50 recruitment policy was discriminatory and must end.
07/16/06 10:48 EST
HAIN CALLS ON SINN FEIN TO ENGAGE PSNI
Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has called on Sinn Fein to engage with the police ahead of a party vote on policing. Speaking at the sixth annual John Hume lecture at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal, Mr Hain said Sinn Féin's refusal to participate in policing structures not only fuelled unionist suspicion but was "damaging the republican community itself". The Northern Ireland Secretary said the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Government were willing and ready to engage with them in mature and sustained dialogue this autumn about their concerns on policing. Mr Hain said: "The commitments made by the IRA in July 2005 and delivered over the past year mean that a vacuum has opened up in communities which can only be filled by a policing service."
"Normalisation has brought with it the contemporary problems of normal societies: drunken yobbery on a Saturday night, anti social behaviour, 'joyriding', car crime and so on. And local residents are demanding action which can only come from the police." He continued: "The only way to address the experience of policing in republican areas is to begin a process of building trust between the police and republican communities on the ground."
07/13/06 09:47 EST
PAISLEY COMMENTS PROVOKE IRE
Democratic Unionist leader the Reverend Ian Paisley has been accused of harming the prospects of political progress at Stormont after he said Sinn Fein would be in government over loyalists' dead bodies. Yesterday, in a hard-hitting speech to members of the Independent Orange Order in Portrush, County Antrim, the DUP leader said: "Compromise, accommodation and the least surrender are the roads to final and irreversible disaster. There can be no compromise." The North Antrim MP, who leads Northern Ireland`s largest political party, insisted there could be no accommodation or surrender. And on the issue of power-sharing with what he called IRA/Sinn Fein, he said: "It will be over our dead bodies. Ulster has surely learned that weak, pushover unionism is a halfway house to republicanism." His comments were criticised by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and by senior nationalist SDLP negotiator Sean Farren.
07/12/06 08:19 EST
ORANGE 12TH BEGINS PEACEFULLY
A controversial Orange Order march through the mainly nationalist Ardoyne in north Belfast passed off peacefully this morning. No music was played as more than 100 Orangemen and bandsmen paraded along the Ardoyne Road. Around 60 nationalist protesters stood in silence as the march passed, led by three police officers. Only one police Land Rover was visible and security had been greatly scaled down from previous years. Marchers were greeted by around 200 supporters at the junction of the Crumlin and Woodvale roads.
07/09/06 11:29 EST
DRUMCREE ORANGE MARCH PASSES PEACEFULLY
Orangemen today gathered for their annual Drumcree march which was banned from proceeding down the nationalist Garvaghy Road for the ninth year in a row. Amid unprecedented low-key security, the event passed without incident. The last time Orangemen walked on the Garvaghy Road was in 1997.
06/29/06 16:37 EST
JT-STEWARDSHIP IN EVENT OF NOV 24TH FAILURE - PREMIERS
Northern Ireland's political parties were today set a series of deadlines to meet if they wish to prevent the collapse of the Belfast Agreement. In the event the deadline is missed, a new role for input from the Republic in the North's affairs will be formulated by the end of the year. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair met the parties in Stormont today and re-iterated that devolution must be restored by November 24th or else Assembly will be closed down and MLAs (Assmbly members)will no longer paid.
"We are convinced that November is the outer limit of an acceptable timeframe," Mr Blair and Mr Ahern said in a joint statement. "That would be very regrettable but everyone accepts that an Assembly subsidised by the public which is not serving its community through active government is simply not sustainable." "In this context we also took the opportunity today to review progress on new partnership arrangements that would need to be put in place to ensure our effective joint stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement in the event that devolution does not take place by November 24. That work continues."
The warning was sounded as the premiers presented Assembly parties with a work plan for restoring power sharing.
06/26/06 12:52 EST
IMMIGRANTS UNDER ASSAULT IN RACE HATE ATTACKS
Northern Ireland's political parties were today urged to strike a devolution deal in a bid to halt a developing race hate threat. As British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern prepare for new talks in Belfast on Thursday, Eastern Europeans have suffered a fresh wave of attacks across Northern Ireland. Lithuanians, Latvians and Poles were all targeted in five separate weekend incidents. As Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain and Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern met at Hillsborough Castle, County Down, ahead of the summit to stress the absolute deadline of November 24 for restoring the power sharing administration, they called on all sides to stand against the racists.
ARCHIVE
Read the full stories at The Irish American Information Service
BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS' JOINT STATEMENT
Statement by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach
Stormont 29 June 2006
1. We met today with the parties to review progress towards the restoration of devolved institutions in Northern Ireland by November and to discuss the way ahead. While the Assembly has reconvened in recent weeks we note the disappointment and frustration across Northern Ireland at the inability to move more quickly beyond procedural issues.
2. It is absolutely clear that if devolution is to be restored by the 24 November deadline then the parties will need to engage with greater urgency and determination to reach agreement. If the political will exists then we believe the very few issues which remain to be resolved can be satisfactorily addressed in that timescale.
3. In order to facilitate resolution of these issues, and as envisaged in our statement of 6 April, the Assembly will continue its work in the autumn. Given the urgent need to make rapid progress, we urged the parties to make full use of the summer period to continue work at Committee level so that the Assembly can get down to preparing for Government when it reconvenes in September. In order to assist work in the autumn, we have published today a work plan (below) and an indicative timetable for full restoration. Above all, we hope that parties will use the summer to consult their members and their communities on the way forward. The parties need to weigh in the balance any outstanding issues and any lingering mistrust against the prospect of losing devolution for another generation.
4. We were clear when we met in Armagh that people in Northern Ireland are impatient for progress and will not tolerate a political process which stretches out indefinitely. We are convinced that November is the outer limit of an acceptable timeframe. Failure to meet that deadline would be a failure which will put the Assembly in cold storage from 24 November. That would be very regrettable, but everyone accepts that an Assembly subsidised by the public which is not serving its community through active government is simply not sustainable. In this context, we also took the opportunity today to review progress on new partnership arrangements that would need to be put in place to ensure our effective joint stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement in the event that devolution does not take place by 24 November. This work continues.
5. The key to real political progress is genuine and frank political engagement from all sides on the outstanding issues. That conviction is as strong following our discussions today as it has ever been. We look forward to all concerned intensifying their efforts in the period ahead so that fully-restored institutions can become a reality. The issues that really matter to the people of Northern Ireland can best be addressed by the elected politicians working.
Northern Ireland Political Process: WORK PLAN
July/August
September October
Either November
Or November
December
During the summer parties continue to address necessary issues in preparation for government and to consult their members and communities.
- Preparation for Government Committee continues its work (i) identifying the issues that need to be addressed and (ii) preparing a programme of work to enable the Assembly to address these (to be agreed and announced by end August).
- MLAs and parties discharge responsibilities towards employees, landlords etc in respect of ending of salaries and allowances from 24 November.
During the autumn efforts to elect FM/DFM continue. Parties hold discussions with each other and the Governments on changes to the institutions. Discussions with parties continue on support for and devolution of policing.
- W/B 4 September: Assembly returns.
- W/B 11 September: Peter Hain and Dermot Ahern take stock of progress on all
outstanding issues with the parties.
- Timetabled subjects in plenary on preparation for Government; Preparation for Government Committee continues its work.
Parties conclude discussions on all outstanding issues. Taoiseach and Prime Minister continue to monitor progress closely.
- W/B 2 October: Governments receive and publish IMC report.
- Assembly sessions to prepare for Government continue.
- Final consultations within parties if necessary, and confirmation
of readiness to finalise preparations for government.
- Parties conclude discussions and finalise draft Programme for Government and draft Ministerial Code.
Parties and Governments make final preparations for restoration of the institutions.
- W/B 20 November: last opportunity to amend Standing Orders and introduce Emergency Bill (on changes to the institutions) at Westminster following all-party agreement to restore devolution.
- 24 November: last opportunity for selecting FM/DFM and Executive and affirming pledge of office. By midnight Secretary of State notifies Presiding Officer of intention to make a Restoration Order [effective on Monday 27 November].
- W/B 27 November: Ministers arrive at Departments. Executive meets.
- 24 November: Salaries and allowances for MLAs and financial assistance to parties stop.
- BIIGC at Prime Ministerial Summit level to launch new British Irish partnership arrangements.
IAIS 03/22/06 03:44 EST
BLAIR COMMENT PROVOKES UNIONIST OUTRAGE
British prime minister Tony Blair has provoked unionist fury by comparing Islamist extremists with Protestant killers in Northern Ireland. Mr Blair was accused of character assassination after making the reference during a speech on global terrorism and religious intolerance.
In an impassioned defence of his foreign policy, he insisted Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was a clash about civilisation rather than between civilisations. Mr Blair also said ministers have been advised against using the phrase Islamist extremist.
He told the Foreign Policy Centre in London last night: "There are those - perfectly decent-minded people - who say the extremists who commit these acts of terrorism are not true Muslims. And of course, they are right. They are no more proper Muslims than the Protestant bigot who murders a Catholic in Northern Ireland is a proper Christian. But unfortunately he is still a Protestant bigot. To say his religion is irrelevant is both completely to misunderstand his motive and to refuse to face up to the strain of extremism within his religion that has given rise to it."
The comparison outraged Ian Paisley Jr, a Democratic Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He said today: "This is a studied insult of the Protestant community." Mr Paisley claimed Mr Blair had ignored decades of republican violence as he focused on one side of Northern Ireland's religious divide.
"The Prime Minister's comments singling out Protestantism as a root cause of terrorism is so unbalanced that it not only reveals the true nature of the Prime Minister but also identifies a weakness in his judgments, his character and his understanding," he said. "He has singularly failed to point the finger at the IRA, and the Roman Catholic Church that refused to condemn years of IRA terrorism. Why is the Prime Minister so biased when it comes to understanding Northern Ireland? Why does he feel it necessary to attack the character and identity of the majority of citizens who are loyal and indeed victims of IRA terrorists? This deliberate character assassination of the Protestant community is a disgraceful, ill-thought-out and indeed provocative attack on a community that does not deserve to be labelled in the false and unacceptable manner that he has done. The PM has revealed that he is nothing more than a charlatan and liar and cannot be regarded as a person who can even begin to understand the situation in Northern Ireland."
IAIS 03/08/06 06:44 EST
9TH IMC REPORT ON SECURITY NORMALISATION
The ninth IMC report, which deals with the program of security normalisation published by the British government last year, restates the commission's belief that the IRA "has taken a strategic decision to follow a political path".
The commission said that the organisation had instructed its members not to engage in public disorder and added that any illegal activity engaged in by the organisation or its members could now be effectively handled by the PSNI without any need for military assistance.
But the report warned that dissident republicans continued to represent a significant threat to the security forces and the public. It said that dissidents' capacity to mount "a sustained campaign" was limited but that they were "prepared to resort to extreme violence".
It pointed out that none of the loyalist groups have taken political decisions similar to that of the IRA but said that it did not consider these groups a significant threat to the security forces.
Loyalist paramilitary groups were, however, heavily involved in the drugs trade and other forms of organised crime, it added.
The report claimed that the British government had fulfilled its commitments under the security normalisation programme but noted that the authorities continued to take account of the security threat.
Measures undertaken as part of the normalisation process have so far included a reduction in the number of British troops by nearly 900 to just over 9,200; the withdrawal of the army from five of the 10 joint PSNI/army bases; the closure of Forkhill Army Base, and the removal or demolition of a number of towers and observation posts.
Ireland's Minister for Justice Michael McDowell welcomed the British government's progress on normalisation and said that it demonstrated both governments' commitment to advancing the peace process in "unequivocal fashion". The IRA movement should respond by fully engaging with policing structures in the North, he added.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain also welcomed the progress on normalisation but said he would not hesitate to act if the security situation changed for the worse.
Full test of Ninth IMC Report
Links to all IMC Reports
Irish Proclamation of Freedom Read by Patrick Pearse from the Steps of the General Post Office, Dublin, Ireland on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916
The Irish Government, June 1997:
Bloody Sunday and the Report of the Widgery Tribunal
Full text of the Good Friday Agreement, April 10, 1998.
Investigation into the human rights in Northern Ireland, September 29, 1998
Statement by Rosemary Nelson, solicitor for Garvaghy Road residents
Nobel Peace Price Award, December 11, 1998:
Nobel Address by David Trimble, First Minister and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Nobel Address by John Hume, leader of the catholic SDLP
George Mitchell's Peace Principles, November 1999:
Statements of November 16 and 17, 1999, by Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Progressive Unionist Party and IRA
George Mitchell's statement, November 18, 1999
Suspension of Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. February 2000:
Decommissioning reports, Mandelson in House of Commons, IRA statements
Peace process resumed. May 2000
British-Irish joint statement and IRA statement.
Inspection of IRA weapons dumps, June 2000
Arms inspector's report
Abortion Referendum March 7, 2002
IRA Statement on Decommissioning April 8, 2002
Speech by Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, at the Harbour Commisssioners' Offices in Belfast, 17 October 2002.
The murder of Patrick Finucane, 19 February 1989:
Sir John Stevens: Stevens Enquiry, 17 April 2003
Justice Peter Cory: Cory Collusion Inquiry Report, 1 April 2004
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
Report, October 23, 2001
Report, April 8, 2002
Report, October 21, 2003
Report, September 26, 2005 - Confirming complete decommissioning
Joint statement by the British and Irish governments
Programme for reaching a normal security end-state by April 2005
Joint declaration by the British and the Irish governments, May 2003
Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC):
First report - May 2004
Second report - July 2004
Third report - November 2004
Fourth report - February 2005
Fifth report - May 2005
Sixth report - September 2005
Seventh report - October 2005
Eighth report - February 2006
Ninth report - March 2006
Tenth report - April 2006
Eleventh report - September 2006
Work Programme of the Irish Presidency, 2004.
An Irish bookshop: Read Ireland
Wesley Johnston's History of Ireland
The CAIN Project (The Northern Ireland Conflict)
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry
Independenr Monitoring Commission Sinn Féin Homepage
The Irish Times
I started reading about Ireland and about its history in order to understand just a bit of the Irish paradoxes. Although I started from the very beginning the matter was still incomprehensible. I therefore began to write down the headlines in Danish.
In 1998 when I got my own website I wondered what to put there. My family, my career or my garden could not attract much attention. But my Danish survey of the history of Ireland would be different from most other websites, so I uploaded the whole story.
I considered my web-project to be complete by then. However the beginning of 1998 was to become a turning point in the history of Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement created optimism and a new hope of lasting peace. I therefore added new chapters on the peace agreement and on the ups and downs since then. Obviously there is still a way to go before a real peace has been achieved and right now I can't see the end of my project.
A lot of people wrote to me asking for details or references. This has proved the need for a brief Danish version of the history of Ireland. In 2001 more than 50 persons on the average have been visiting my website every day.
However about 10 % of the visitors on my website are non-Scandinavians. I have added this page in order to serve these people with some information about my project and with some of the important references.
I considered reference documents and speeches most interesting in the original English language. I also have to admit that a proper translation of the documents to Danish is not that simple. On the other hand the number of visitors to the reference pages in English has been very limited. Therefore all information in English will be concentrated in this English section of my website together with selected news.
I have no intention of making an English version of the whole story. I have neither the ability nor the capacity to write in English and several excellent sites already offer that sort of information.
E-mail me your comments and questions
Ireland History in Maps
North West Ireland - Gaoth Dobhair
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
BLOODY SUNDAY 26 Years On ...
BBC News Bloody Sunday Inquiry
CAIN Web Service 'Bloody Sunday', Derry 30 January 1972
Ulster Unionist Party
The Irish Republican Socialist Party
Fine Gael
Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, DUP
Fianna Fáil
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Progressive Unionist Party
Ulster Nation
The Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Wild Geese (USA) Irish soldiers in exile
Visit Danish Irish Society
December 16, 2001 Top
Since my first visit to Ireland the history of Ireland was a puzzle to me. Why has this beautiful country with its charming and hospitable population become the arena of a never-ending conflict? Differences in religion, language, race or culture gave no reasonable explanation. Which coincidence has caused so much suffering in Ireland while other countries such as Denmark had nothing but trifles to quarrel about?