Source C - Northern Ireland Office record

Transcript

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD OF PLENARY SESSION, CASTLE BUILDINGS, 12 JUNE

Independent Chairman (after adjournment)

Senator Mitchell

General de Chastelain

Mr Holkeri

British government team                                                                     Irish government team

Secretary of State                                                                                   Tanaíste

Michael Ancram                                                                                      Mrs Owen

Sir David Fell                                                                                            Mr de Rossa

Alliance Party                                                                                          Labour

Dr Alderdice                                                                                              Malachi Curran

Mr Close

Mr Neeson

NI Women’s Coalition                                                                           PUP

Ms McWilliams                                                                                        Mr Smyth

Ms Sagar                                                                                                   Mr Ervine

SDLP                                                                                                          UDP

Mr Hume                                                                                                  Mr McMichael

Mr Mallon                                                                                                Mr White

Mr. McGrady

UDUP (for part of meeting)                                                                  UK Unionist (for part of meeting)

Dr Paisley                                                                                                  Mr McCartney

Mr Robinson                                                                                            Dr O’Brien

Rev McCrea                                                                                              Mr Wilson

UUP

Mr Trimble

Mr Taylor

Mr Empey

1. The meeting began at 12.20 am.

5. When other delegates had arrived, the Secretary of State opened the meeting. The day had seen a long and useful period of deliberation, which had led the two Governments to put forward a paper which they believed offered a way forward (A possible approach to resolving procedural difficulties, 00.01am draft, annexed at A). On the basis of this, in particular paragraph 4.1, he invited Senator Mitchell to take over, following a five minute adjournment. Dr Paisley shouted ‘No, no, no’; and the rest of his delegation, and the UKUP’s, left, with disparaging comments about ‘British democracy’; Mr Wilson (UKUP) moved to take over one of the Independent Chairmen’s chairs.
6. As proceedings were about to resume after the adjournment, Dr Paisley addressed Senator Mitchell. He said he did not accept him in the chair; his name had not been put to the meeting, and he objected in the strongest manner to the intrusion. He repeated his points about undertakings that proposals put forward would have to be to the satisfaction of participants, undertakings which had not been met. The Secretary of State had not given an opportunity to discuss it. His lackey had seen to it that he had not visited the DUP room. (I was the lackey who had visited delegations to tell them a paper, then a meeting, were imminent, if that is what was referred to: there was no-one in the DUP office, and Dr Paisley was already in the Private Office).
7. Dr Paisley then left the room, shouting that he did not wish to sit with a member of the Irish Government who threatened that there would be bodies in the street, a remark ascribed to the ‘man with the beard’ [presumably Mr de Rossa. It had been reported around the building that he had made such a prediction, in the event that Senator Mitchell was not appointed and the process broke down].