Extracts from a Northern Ireland Office (UK government department) record of a morning session during the peace talks on 12 June 1996.

Transcript

CONFIDENTIAL

RECORD OF PLENARY SESSION, CASTLE BUILDINGS, 12 JUNE

Independent Chairman (after adjournment)

Senator Mitchell

General de Chastelain

Mr Holkeri

British government team

Secretary of State

Michael Ancram 

Sir David Fell

Irish government team

Tanaíste

Mrs Owen

Mr de Rossa     

Alliance Party

Dr Alderdice

Mr Close

Mr Neeson 

Labour

Malachi Curran     

NI Women’s Coalition

Ms Sagar

Ms McWilliams   

PUP

Mr Smyth

Mr Ervine

SDLP

Mr Hume

Mr Mallon

Mr. McGrady  

UDP

Mr McMichael

Mr White

UDUP (for part of meeting)

Dr Paisley

Mr Robinson

Rev McCrea

UK Unionist (for part of meeting)

Mr McCartney

Dr O’Brien

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].