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March 25, 2007

Paisley & Adams Set for Face-To-Face Talks

News about Ireland & the Irish

EL 03/25/07 Paisley And Adams 'Set For Talks'
BB 03/25/07 Stormont Assembly Power Restored
BT 03/25/07 Paisley & Adams 'Poised For Face-To-Face Talks'
BT 03/25/07 Adams: No Return To Direct Rule If Deal Collapses
BT 03/25/07 Adair Calls For Unionists To Disarm
SL 03/25/07 We Have Sympathy, Says Special Branch
II 03/25/07 Emails Sent In Name Of IRA Suspect
II 03/25/07 Colombia Three Fugitive Hits Election Trail For SF

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http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2147250&SectionID=4068

Paisley And Adams 'Set For Talks'

The Rev Ian Paisley could hold his first face-to-face meeting
with Gerry Adams in a bid to keep devolution hopes alive in
Northern Ireland, souces claimed.

Those close to intense behind-the-scenes negotiations said a
ground-breaking meeting between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn
Fein in Belfast is looking increasingly likely.

Both leaders are hoping to strike a new deal to secure a power-
sharing government in May after the DUP's 120-member executive
said it could not nominate devolved ministers by Northern Ireland
Secretary Peter Hain's deadline.

Earlier Mr Hain threw down the gauntlet to the two parties to
agree a new deal. by signing a restoration order for devolution
which theoretically could result in the closure of the Assembly
if no locally elected government is formed.

A source said: "The DUP and Sinn Fein are still locked in
negotiations. There is a race against time going on, now that
Peter Hain has set off the clock on devolution.

"It looks like being a frantic day, full of bilateral, trilateral
and multilateral meetings involving the parties in the Assembly.

"It is looking more likely that we could see Ian Paisley and
Gerry Adams facing each other across the negotiating table in a
bid to agree a new power-sharing date.

"With the Assembly due to meet at noon to nominate ministers, the
parties are anxious to avoid that taking place because they know
the DUP cannot appoint its ministers. In fact if a plenary
session does take place, that would not be a good sign."

Earlier Peter Hain said he had set in motion the devolution
process because there was a chance that power-sharing could be
achieved.

He insisted that if the Northern Ireland parties came back to him
with an agreement plotting a new path back to devolution, he
would be prepared to listen.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2007, All Rights Reserved.

*********************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6493691.stm

Stormont Assembly Power Restored

Power has been restored to the Northern Ireland Assembly, even
though it could be dissolved within a day.

An order signed by Peter Hain restarted devolution at midnight
but he says today's deadline for a power-sharing executive to be
formed must be met.

The Northern Ireland secretary says the assembly will be
dissolved if it is not - but he will consider an alternative if
the parties can agree on one.

The DUP says it will enter government with Sinn Fein, but not
until May.

Historic decision

Reacting to the DUP's statement on Saturday, Sinn Fein accused
the DUP of trying to "frustrate the will of the electorate".

The DUP's Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said that his party
agreeing to rule with Sinn Fein was an "historic decision".

"The Democratic Unionist Party has made a firm commitment to
participate in a power-sharing government in May," he said.

"That is absolutely clear and unequivocal - we felt there was a
need for more time because there were outstanding issues that
need to be resolved."

Mr Hain insisted Stormont would be dissolved if Monday's deadline
was not met - but said if parties could agree an alternative, he
was open to that.

The British and Irish governments say they will shut the assembly
and stop the pay of its members if a power-sharing executive is
not agreed on Monday.

If devolution does not return, controversial water bills will
also be posted to homes in Northern Ireland within days.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised an extra œ1bn if devolution
is back on Monday on top of œ35bn promised by the government over
four years.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Hain said: "Success tomorrow would be
devolution, failure would be dissolution. I don't at the moment
see any other way, I only see it our way.

"If there is another way if the parties have got their own way
then they need to jointly agree it and come back to me pretty
quickly, because otherwise the law kicks in and there's nothing I
can do about it."

On Saturday, the DUP said it was willing to bridge the gap
between now and May with preparatory work, "including
departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for
government".

Roles

It said it wanted the extra time "to raise the level of
confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude
towards devolution and local control".

If nominations take place the DUP is expected to put forward
party leader Ian Paisley as first minister, with Sinn Fein
choosing their chief negotiator Martin McGuinness as his deputy.

If a power-sharing executive is formed, it will have four DUP
ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October
2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont.

A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place
since that date.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2007/03/25 23:01:14 GMT
c BBC MMVII

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=MHAUMHGBGBKF&rss=rss2

Paisley And Adams 'Poised For Face-To-Face Talks'

25/03/2007 - 22:56:28

Ian Paisley could hold his first face-to-face meeting with Gerry
Adams in a bid to keep devolution hopes alive in the North, it
was claimed tonight.

Sources close to intense behind-the-scenes negotiations said a
groundbreaking meeting between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn
Féin in Belfast tomorrow was looking increasingly likely.

Both leaders are hoping to strike a new deal to secure a power-
sharing government in May after the DUP's 120-member executive
said it could not nominate devolved ministers by Northern
Secretary Peter Hain's deadline of tomorrow.

Earlier Mr Hain threw down the gauntlet to the two parties to
agree a new deal. By signing a restoration order for devolution
which theoretically could result in the closure of the Assembly
if no locally elected government is formed.

A source said: "The DUP and Sinn Féin are still locked in
negotiations.

"There is a race against time going on, now that Peter Hain has
set off the clock on devolution.

"It looks like tomorrow is going to be a frantic day, full of
bilateral, trilateral and multilateral meetings involving the
parties in the Assembly.

"It is looking more likely that we could see Ian Paisley and
Gerry Adams facing each other across the negotiating table in a
bid to agree a new power-sharing date.

"With the Assembly due to meet at noon to nominate ministers, the
parties are anxious to avoid that taking place because they know
the DUP cannot appoint its ministers. In fact if a plenary
session does take place, that would not be a good sign."

Earlier Peter Hain said he had set in motion the devolution
process because there was a chance that power-sharing could be
achieved.

He insisted that if the parties in the North came back to him
with an agreement plotting a new path back to devolution, he
would be prepared to listen.

A new deal on power sharing, however, would require the
Government pushing through emergency legislation at Westminster
and also putting on hold plans to introduce controversial border
charges in the North on April 1.

Sinn Féin leader Mr Adams said it was vital that the current
intense talks delivered the political institutions which people
voted for in the Assembly Election in the North on March 7.

"Otherwise additional water charges and other punitive and unfair
measures will be introduced by unaccountable British Direct Rule
ministers," the West Belfast MP warned.

Senior DUP negotiators were meeting in East Belfast tonight to
consider the latest talks developments.

It is understood approaches have been made to the Ulster
Unionists and the SDLP, which will also take part in a power-
sharing executive, for meetings at Stormont tomorrow with the DUP
and Sinn Féin.

*********************

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=MHAUMHGBOJQL&rss=rss2

Adams: No Return To Direct Rule If Deal Collapses

25/03/2007 - 22:06:02

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said tonight that the Irish and
British governments must be prepared to implement their Plan B if
the DUP was unwilling to reach agreement.

As efforts continued to strike a deal, the West Belfast MP said:
"Two weeks ago the clearly expressed democratic wish of the
electorate was for the return of the political institutions.

"All of the political parties, except the DUP, are ready to do
this.

"This has to be the outcome of the very intense efforts which are
currently taking place. Otherwise additional water charges and
other punitive and unfair measures will be introduced by
unaccountable British Direct Rule ministers.

"If the DUP remains unwilling or unable to reach an agreement
with Sinn Féin and the other parties, then the governments have
to move ahead with their all-Ireland partnership arrangements."

Mr Adams' warning came as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Mr Blair
discussed developments in the peace process on the fringes of the
European Union celebrations in Berlin.

*********************

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=MHAUMHGBGBCW&rss=rss2

Adair Calls For Unionists To Disarm

25/03/2007 - 23:12:11

Loyalists in the North should decommission their weapons and
disband their terror machines, one of their most notorious former
leaders said tonight.

Johnny Adair made the call ahead of tomorrow's deadline for
power-sharing between Protestants and Catholics in the province.

The infamous west Belfast Ulster Defence Association commander
was forced out of the organisation in 2002 after a dispute but
said IRA disarmament should force his former colleagues to follow
suit.

"The UDA are just a thuggish, criminal organisation," he told the
BBC's Radio Five. "They don't need to be there, they need to go
away."

"There is no threat to the community, there is no threat to
Ulster, so therefore go away."

The shaven-headed body builder served two-thirds of a 16-year
term for directing terrorism through the Ulster Freedom Fighters
(UFF), a cover name for the UDA.

Adair was first released after the 1998 Good Friday peace accord
but was later sent back to prison after becoming involved in
criminality again.

The organisation targeted Catholics, but the veteran ringleader
insisted that only republicans and sympathisers were attacked
during the years of violence.

He has written a biography about his spell as commander of C
Company in west Belfast's loyalist heartland of the Shankill
Road.

C Company was behind around 40 murders in the Belfast area but
Adair claimed he had never murdered anybody or dealt drugs and
said he was virtually penniless.

"My message to the people of Northern Ireland is enjoy the peace
and I hope it lasts. To my enemies, watch this space, I will
return," he added.

He is living in Scotland and has also been based in Bolton in the
north of England.

Current UDA leaders including Jackie McDonald and Tommy Kirkham
have supported political steps in the past, although the UDA has
no elected representatives in the Assembly.

"I think it is a shame, the fact that they have not
decommissioned a bullet or a gun to date and the fact that they
are still extorting, that they are still...selling drugs," Adair
said.

"I believe that they should have gone away a long time ago."

*********************

http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/article2391242.ece

We Have Sympathy, Says Special Branch

[Published: Sunday 25, March 2007 - 12:04]

By Alan Murray

The authors of a damning analysis of Police Ombudsman Nuala
O'Loan's criticisms of the handling of UVF informers in north
Belfast say it's wrong to suggest they have no sympathy for the
victims of terrorism.

THE authors of a damning analysis of Police Ombudsman Nuala
O'Loan's criticisms of the handling of UVF informers in north
Belfast say it's wrong to suggest they have no sympathy for the
victims of terrorism.

The former senior Special Branch officers say that because they
have rejected the Police Ombudsman's criticisms of agent handling
methods, it does not mean they feel no sympathy for victims of
crimes committed by police informants.

The officers say they acknowledge the grief and understand the
frustration and anger of Raymond McCord, the campaigning dad
whose son's murder by the UVF's Mount Vernon unit sparked the
Ombudsman's report.

"Obviously to some extent we failed in our primary objective, the
Government's objective too, of saving life," said one of the
former senior RUC officers.

"More than 2,000 civilians died in the conflict so of course we
obviously didn't get it right every time, but to suggest as Mrs
O'Loan does that there were numerous systemic failures is a
blatantly unsustainable argument."

The officers say they don't feel that meeting with Raymond McCord
would bring any comfort to him, but urge him to read the entirety
of their response carefully.

"We examine the methodology Mrs O'Loan adopts and tear apart her
conclusions.

"That doesn't mean that we are unsympathetic to Raymond McCord or
the relatives of any other victim.

"We would say particularly read pages 20 and 21 carefully because
they refute Mrs O'Loan's portrayal of our position," the former
RUC officer said.

On Friday, the Northern Ireland Office confirmed that it had no
stated official definition of 'collusion'. It added that when the
Secretary of State Peter Hain, in response to the Ombudsman's
Report, stated that he accepted there was collusion, it really
meant that he accepted Mrs O'Loan's assessment that instances of
"wrong doing" had been uncovered.

c Belfast Telegraph

*********************

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1800001&issue_id=15411

Emails Sent In Name Of IRA Suspect

Jody Corcoran

HARDLINE republican emails have been sent to an Irish political
website from somebody who refers to themselves as "Paul Damery",
the name of an IRA suspect wanted for questioning over the
killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.

The Sunday Independent has learned that the emails are from the
mid-United States, although Damery is thought to be in South
America, possibly Venezuela.

It is understood the emails, which began in January - and which
are strong in pro-IRA propaganda - are being sent from the
business address of a woman.

It is thought, therefore, that they are not being posted directly
by Damery, although it could not be established if he is known to
the author.

Gardai are now expected to take an interest in the emails, 24 of
which have been posted on the respected website www.politics.ie.

Cork-born Paul Damery, in his forties, was alleged to be a member
of the IRA gang that murdered Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Co
Limerick in 1996. He is one of two men still wanted for
questioning in connection with the McCabe killing.

Gardai have told agencies in Latin America that Damery is wanted
in connection with a murder and is in their region.

Security forces on both sides of the Irish border believe Damery
aided the escape of the Colombia Three, James Monaghan, Niall
Connolly and Martin McCauley.

The three, who had been sentenced to 17 years each by a Colombian
judge, left Colombia via Venezuela from a safe house they were
living in, several weeks before the judge overturned an earlier
decision that they were not guilty of training narco-terrorist
group Farc.

Damery, whose wife is Venezuelan, is thought to have helped plan
the escape of the three.

Yesterday, Fine Gael senator Brian Hayes said: "I've read what
'Paul Damery' has had to say on Politics.ie.

"Whether this is the person who gardai want to question for the
murder of Detective McCabe remains to be seen. But what the
postings highlight is the absolute contempt that Sinn Fein and
the republican hinterland has for the rule of law in both
jurisdictions on this island.

"The question for Adams and McGuinness is whether the remaining
two suspects for the McCabe murder should now stand trial
inIreland.

Let's not forget that the Sinn Fein leadership and Michael
McDowell, wanted those convicted of the killing of Jerry McCabe
to be set free.

"Part of the deal that the provos wanted, and which our
government were prepared to concede, would have involved not only
the release of the killers, but that the two remaining suspects
(one being Damery) would be allowed to return to Ireland without
standing trial.

"Thankfully the Irish Government did an about turn on the issue,
having being discredited in the process. But is this still the
position of Sinn Fein? Do they want Paul Damery to be entitled to
come home to Ireland without question? That's the issue that Sinn
Fein need to address. Do they still want to be associated with
criminals at large or associated with the rule of law in
Ireland?"

David Cochrane, a spokesman from Politics.ie said: "Politics.ie
runs a free registration system, whereby visitors are allowed to
register to use the services of the website. These free services
namely include the discussion board. All users need sign up
firstbefore they are allowed toparticipate (contribute) to any
discussions.

"When a user signs up to use the website they choose their own
user name, and provide an email address. We use this email
address to verify they have signed up with a valid email address
- they are sent an email when they sign up to the address they
have given. If they change this email address later in their
'profile' settings, we suspend their account and send them an
email to the new address they have provided, this ensures we
always have a correct email address for the users on the site.

"Users are free to choose any user name they like, we will of
course prevent users from using profane or vulgar user names.

"We have 'report' facilities in place, so that should any user of
the site have a concern, issue or problem with any user name or
content, they are free to contact us directly and we make a
decision within hours (normally sooner rather than later) about
appropriate action.

"The editorial policy on the site is two-fold, one is that we aim
to remove any content that would expose Politics.ie in a legal or
libel manner. Secondly, we use the 'report/complaint' system to
ensure that all users are free to participate in highlighting any
objectionable content.

Senator Hayes said Politics.ie should be "congratulated for
exposing the real intent behind some in Sinn Fein who could
understand, that not only have they been defeated, but that we in
democratic Ireland will continue to pursue those who have yet to
stand trial."

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http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1799978&issue_id=15411

Colombia Three Fugitive Hits Election Trail For SF

Maeve Sheehan

ONE of the Colombia Three fugitives has taken to the streets in
Michael McDowell's constituency to canvass for Sinn Fein.

Jim 'Mortar' Monaghan, who is on the run from a 17-year-jail
sentence in Colombia for training left-wing rebels, has surfaced
as an election worker in the Justice Minister's patch of Dublin
South East.

Fresh from his Colombian escapade, Monaghan has been pounding the
streets of Dublin South East distributing election literature on
behalf of Daithi Doolin, a Sinn Fein councillor and general
election candidate. Monaghan has also been circulating literature
in the Dublin South Central constituency of Aengus O Snodaigh,
whose election workers haveincluded IRA convicts.

Monaghan's involvement in Cllr Doolin's campaign has raised
eyebrows amongst rival candidates. He and his fellow fugitives,
Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly, have kept a low profile since
they jumped bail in Bogota in 2005 after being convicted of
training Farc rebels.

They disappeared for several months, eventually re-surfacing in
Ireland. The men face no charges in Ireland although they remain
the subject of an Interpol arrest warrant, which has never been
executed. Cllr Doolin said this weekend that the Colombian
fugitive is one of more than two dozen supporters working on his
campaign.

"We have probably two and a half dozen people working on our
campaigns, supporters and activists across the constituency, many
many people. Jim doesn't have any formal role whatsoever," he
said. "He certainly has no role and never did have a role in my
campaign. He is a supporter, along with many, many other people."

He added: "I don't know when everyone is out canvassing. He's out
as much, I'm sure, as he can give. I'm sure he'd like to give
more but there are time restraints."

Monaghan's re-invention as campaign worker in Dublin South East
will not please Mr McDowell, a vociferous critic of the Colombia
Three and their supporters. The Justice Minister has relentlessly
pursued Sinn Fein over its links to Farc rebels.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said this weekend: "The fact
that JamesMonaghan is campaigning in this election should remind
voters of just how unacceptable the Sinn Fein party is in the
context of a democratic election."

He added: "People are free to choose whoever they want to vote
for, but if the Sinn Fein party emerges in the next Dail as a
group which can have aserious influence over who forms the next
government, there will be an immediate and inevitable consequence
for the Irish State and for the economy."

Monaghan faces an uphill task in securing Cllr Doolin's election
in the largelymiddle-class and affluent constituency.

The issues highlighted by Sinn Fein include a call to have
Merrion Road, home to the British Embassy, re-named Bobby Sands
Street, after the late IRA hunger striker.

Monaghan was believed to be the IRA's head of engineering,
developing bombs while McCauley was his deputy. Connolly, who
lived in Cuba, was Sinn Fein representative in Latin America.
They were arrested entering Colombia on false passports in 2001.

They claimed to be birdwatchers and peace tourists. They were
initially acquitted of charges of training Farcterrorists but an
appeal court overturned the decision and sentenced them to 17
years in jail.

Monaghan is amongst a cast of dozens of suspected bombers and
former IRA activists who now fuel Sinn Fein's election machine.
While Sinn Fein now favours youthful candidates without a past,
the party's line-up for 2007 also includes some with unsavoury
associations.

Monaghan's co-fugitive, Martin McCauley, is also expected to be
supporting his wife, Kristin, who is hoping to secure a seat for
Sinn Fein in Kildare North.

Several sitting TDs are already convicted republicans. They
include Martin Ferris, a gun-runner turned Kerry North TD, Arthur
Morgan, the Louth TD who was convicted for possession of weapons.
Joe Reilly, a Sinn Fein councillor in Meath and election
candidate, served 10 years for possession of explosives.

Dessie Ellis, a candidate in Dublin, served eight years in jail
on IRA explosives charges.

----
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