Father James Chesney – Evil bastard

EVIL

There have been plenty of scandals to do with the Catholic Church in recent years, mainly to do with sick scumbags and their predilection for kinds. This case does not relate to paedophilia but is no better.

According to the Irish Times Al Hutchinson, Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman, has today published a report concerning the IRA bombing of a village on 31 July 1972 and the involvement of catholic priest James Chesney

Nine people – five Catholics and four Protestants – died and 30 were injured after the no-warning car bombs exploded along the main street of Claudy. Three of the victims were children. No one was ever convicted for the bombings and the IRA did not admit the attack

Mr Hutchinson’s report, released today, endorses an allegation that at the time the RUC had top-grade intelligence that Chesney was a senior figure in the IRA gang that planted three bombs in the Co Derry village on July 31st, 1972.

Chesney was transferred to a parish in Co Donegal following secret talks between the then northern secretary William Whitelaw and the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal William Conway. He was never arrested or interviewed by police about the Claudy bombing or any other IRA activity. He died in 1980 aged 46.

In December 2002, former PSNI assistant chief constable Sam Kinkaid, who reviewed the original RUC investigation, admitted there were serious deficiencies in that investigation and said the RUC were made aware of the talks. Mr Kinkaid apologised to the bereaved for how the police handled the investigation. His claims prompted the long-running investigation by the Police Ombudsman. The thrust of Mr Kinkaid’s allegations are backed up by Mr Hutchinson’s report.

Mr Hutchinson’s officers examined diaries belonging to Dr Conway which confirmed contact with him and Mr Whitelaw over Fr Chesney and correspondence between the RUC, which was led by chief constable Sir Graham Shillington, and the British government.
Mr Hutchinson’s report disclosed:

- Detectives believed Fr Chesney was the IRA’s director of operations in south Derry and was a prime suspect in the Claudy attack and other terrorist incidents.

- A detective’s request to arrest the cleric was refused by an assistant chief constable of RUC Special Branch who instead said “matters are in hand”.

- The same senior officer wrote to the government about what action could be taken to “render harmless a dangerous priest” and asked if the matter could be raised with the Church’s hierarchy.

- In December 1972, Mr Whitelaw met Dr Conway to discuss the issue. According to a Northern Ireland Office official, “the cardinal said he knew the priest was a very bad man and would see what could be done”. The church leader mentioned “the possibility of transferring him to Donegal...”

- In response to this memo, RUC chief constable Sir Graham noted: “I would prefer a transfer to Tipperary.”

- An entry in Dr Conway’s diary on December 5th, 1972 confirmed a meeting with Mr Whitelaw took place and stated there had been “a rather disturbing tete-a-tete at the end about C”.

Mr Hutchinson said there was no evidence that the police had information that could have prevented the attack. However, he said the RUC’s decision to ask the British government to resolve the matter with the Church, and then accept the outcome, was wrong. However, Mr Hutchinson said the decisions made must be considered in the context of the time. “I accept that 1972 was one of the worst years of the Troubles and that the arrest of a priest might well have aggravated the security situation,” he said.

As regards the role of Church and State officials, Mr Hutchinson said his investigation found no evidence of criminal intent on the part of any British government minister or official or any official of the Catholic Church. “The morality or ‘rightness’ of the decision taken by the government and the Catholic Church in agreeing to the RUC request is another matter entirely and requires further public debate,” he said. “Placing this information in the public domain in a transparent manner enables that debate to take place.”

I find it sickening that a piece of human shit like Chesney went unpunished. That said, given the explosive situation in Northern Ireland, perhaps prosecuting this scumbag may have made a bad situation even worse, certainly if Loyalist terrorists had declared open season on all catholic priests. Suffice it to say that the situation in Northern Ireland would have been far worse. Whitelaw was in a position I would not wish on anyone.

But putting Chesney in Donegal? That’s a bit like exiling a Romford criminal to Hornchurch! It is for the likes of Chesney that I hope there is such a thing as Hell. He deserves to spend an eternity in such a place.

When it came to Northern Ireland, I always used to take a “plague on both your houses” approach to the murdering bastards on both side of the sectarian divide. Like a lot of people I was, however, pleasantly surprised when Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness formed an effective working relationship.

Even though some things in Northern Ireland do remain newsworthy: according to the Observer the South Belfast seat may be contested (for the first time ever) by catholics standing for both the SDLP and the Conservative and Unionists.

The sitting SDLP MP Alasdair McDonnell is likely to face Conservative and Unionist candidate Peter McCann. A former BBC senior executive McCann is a Catholic from the west of the city.

A spokeswoman for the UUP said no one could comment as there was an "ongoing selection process" taking place. She said the decision would be taken in the middle of January.

I will be the first to admit that this is not much of a story in the grand scheme of things. But perhaps, just perhaps this is an example of a tiny crack in the ridiculous sectarian divide that has blighted Northern Ireland for centuries.

I look forward to the day when the Mid Ulster seat is contested by Harry Burns (Sinn Fein) and Dermot Sullivan (DUP)!

IRA Army Council defunct

The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) declared that the IRA has disbanded its terrorist structures and relinquished the leadership necessary to wage war.

In a 12-page report the IMC said: "We are aware of the questions posed about the public disbandment of (Provisional Irish Republican Army's) PIRA's leadership structures. We believe that PIRA has chosen another method of bringing what it describes as its armed struggle to a final close. Under PIRA's own rules the Army Council was the body that directed its military campaign. Now that that campaign is well and truly over, the Army Council by deliberate choice is no longer operational or functional."


The report concluded: "The mechanism which they have chosen to bring the armed conflict to a complete end has been the standing down of the structures which engaged in the armed campaign and the conscious decision to allow the Army Council to fall into disuse. By taking these steps PIRA has completely relinquished the leadership and other structures appropriate to a time of armed conflict."

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the report confirmed that the IRA had ceased to function. "This groundbreaking report by the IMC makes clear that the Army Council is now redundant... As the IMC made clear, 'the leadership structures have definitely ceased to function in the way they did during the ‘time of conflict'

The British and Irish Governments had asked the IMC, made up of security experts and politicians from the UK and Ireland, to compile a special report on the status of IRA structures. Prior to the official release of the report today, it was speculated that the IMC would conclude that the Army Council remained in place, but was not engaged in any illegal activity.

Today in its report the IMC, which monitors paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, said the IRA's redundant structures were gradually disappearing, but said it did not expect any announcements from the republican movement as that process concluded. "We believe that for some time now it has given up what it used to do and that by design it is being allowed to wither away," said the report. It added: "In our view the way in which the leadership has adopted an entirely different course, disbanded terrorist-related structures and capacity and engaged in different activities, and members have moved on to other things, means that the PIRA of the recent and violent past is well beyond recall."

Here's hoping that the effective disbandment of the Army Council is the final nail in the PIRA coffin. Here’s hoping, therefore, that the PIRA is now just part of Northern Ireland’s bloody past and not its present.... and that the “dissident” IRA groups remain a toothless rabble.

Paisley and McGuinness

Earlier this month Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness met Edward Kennedy during a US visit. Previously Paisley would have vilified Kennedy, for his allegiance with Irish Catholics but now he thanked him for his support of successful peace talks. Kennedy on his part called Paisley and McGuinness "almost idealist" in seeking to move their country forward.

I know the Poor Mouth would have to bulk up even to make flyweight in the political blogosphere but if I had to choose one political item that has made me a little less world-weary (as opposed to the thousands of things that have sent my weltschmerz levels thought the roof) it must be the Paisley/McGuinness collaboration.

Let’s face it. who really would have thought this time last year that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness would be in the same room as each other, let alone be visiting the USA as the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland? I can imagine that there are a lot of people as pleasantly surprised as I am at this turn of events. Who would have thought that Paisley and McGuinness would be praising the Irish cricket team’s success at the World Cup (or that McGuinness liked cricket – I can imagine that admission had some GAA diehards spluttering into their stout!) Who would have thought that they would have been dubbed the Chuckle Brothers (not the real Chuckle Brothers, mind you)

Seriously, the two have put serious differences aside and have worked damned hard in their new roles. The smiles may seem a bit contrived at times but they do seem to have developed a good working relationship. I am sure there will be plenty of scope for disagreement and argument as time goes by but right now they represent stability and that can only be good for Northern Ireland in terms of continued peace and of course prosperity – Northern Ireland must appear a far more attractive place for investment than it has for a very long time.

Although nothing is ever absolutely certain, I do hope that 2007 is a watershed year for Northern Ireland

UFF stand down gets mixed response

The Ulster Freedom Fighters, the assassination unit of the Ulster Defence Association has finally stood down. In a statement released on Remembrance Sunday, the UDA said: "The Ulster Defence Association believes that the war is over, and we are now in a new democratic dispensation that will lead to permanent political stability.But we believe the political parties and the political institutions are themselves still in a period of transition. In that context, the organisation intends to continue through a process of transformation that will ultimately achieve a Northern Ireland based on equality, justice and inclusivity."


The group indicated that it would "put arms beyond use", but this did not mean the full destruction of its remaining arsenal. The other main loyalist terror group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, has said it will seal arms away. Senior UVF sources have said there would be no question of arms being destroyed or handed over to a third party.


However, the Belfast Telegraph reports today that pressure is mounting on the UDA to follow its words with actions. With the UFF stood down and its members ordered to end all criminality, the UDA has now been urged to spell out exactly what its new role is.


Victims' relatives, security forces and politicians from all sides told the UDA that words are not enough. Victims, politicians and security sources said that the UDA's statement is not enough and it will have to give up its guns. The DUP's Gregory Campbell said he believed the UDA has a lot to do to prove what they say. "If the statement takes them closer to where they need to get to that is fine, but they are going to have to get rid of their guns. People will remember that with the provisionals it only got to the point of moving forward when they agreed to get rid of their guns. It is exactly the same for the UDA." Mr Campbell added that it would be "worthwhile if a meaningful step was taken to apologise to their victims and not follow that apology creating more victims".


His party colleague Jeffrey Donaldson said he believed the UDA leadership had the support of the rank and file. "I welcome the statement that has been made. I think it is a clear step forward in the right direction. However, as we have done with all paramilitary groups we will judge the progress that is made by the activities that occur following the statement and that has to include an end to both criminal and paramilitary activity.


The mother of UDA murder victim Daniel McColgan (22), a postman shot dead by loyalist gunmen as he arrived for work five years ago, called the statement " meaningless words". However, Kathleen Tracey, whose brother Charlie McCafferty was one of five victims in the Annie's Bar massacre by the UFF at Top of the Hill in Londonderry in 1972, welcomed the move. "I suppose it's for the good. If it does any good, that's all we're looking for. If it takes things forward, we need to keep going forward, not going back, there's no point in going back," she said.

Peace in Northern Ireland brings together more strange bedfellows.

Having seen Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness working together I suppose anything is possible in Northern Ireland these days (although finding out that Martin McGuiness was an avid cricket fan did push the bounds of astonishment to its very limit!). In such a climate it comes as no huge surprise to hear of an artistic collaboration between a former republican prisoner and the son of one of Northern Ireland's best-known loyalist leaders.

Danny Devenny, who began to design murals and posters while serving time as a republican prisoner in the H-block, and Mark Ervine, the son of the late David Ervine, who was head of the Progressive Unionist party ( the political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force) have already worked together on two spectacular new murals in Belfast. One is a version of the famous Picasso painting Guernica, the other a celebration of the International Brigades who fought against Franco in the Spanish civil war. Now they join a proposal for the painting of a dozen murals based on Beatles' LP covers, to adorn walls in Liverpool to celebrate the city as the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

"I could certainly never have imagined 20 years ago that I would be working with a former republican prisoner on this." He hoped he and Devenny would be able to work with young Liverpudlians and pass on the tradition of the mural to a city that had many links with Belfast. "It's something we feel is important because a lot of people from both communities have been involved in it.”

Devenny said he hoped that the fact the two of them were working together would encourage others to do the same. "He still has his loyalist opinions, which I respect," said Devenny, "and I still have my republican ones, but we found we had so many things in common. We wanted to show people, and particularly young people, that if we could work together anyone could."

Their work was spotted by Peter Morrison and Gregory Brennan, two Liverpudlians who went on the murals tour during a visit to Belfast in 2005. They decided that the murals and the team behind them could make a permanent difference to the Liverpool landscape and approached the two men with the idea for what is now called the Liverpool Mural Project. "What a great example for cross-community relations in Liverpool," said Mr Morrison. "It could lead to so many other things and could be an example for other conflict zones."

The idea was taken to the body handling the plans for Liverpool's year as the city of culture, the Liverpool Culture Company. "They turned it down and told us they didn't think it was 'edgy enough', but we are determined to see it happen," said Mr Morrison. Now a campaign has begun to urge a change of mind. Those involved say the project would be a great way to brighten up Liverpool and would not cost much.

The idea also has the backing of writers and academics in Liverpool and Belfast. Jimmy McGovern, the Liverpool scriptwriter who penned Cracker, Priest, and Hillsborough, is urging the organisers to co-opt the idea. "God knows the Liverpool Culture Company needs a winner or two right now so when something as inspired as the Liverpool Mural Project comes along you'd expect the company to grab it with both hands."

Operation Banner ends

Operation Banner, the Army's emergency operation in Northern Ireland, finally comes to an end tomorrow at midnight. Lasting 38 years it was the Army's longest continuous ever campaign involving more than 300,000 personnel. 763 soldiers were killed during the operation.

The Army will maintain 5,000 troops on garrison duties, thus bringing Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. Security will be the responsibility of the police.

As I have said before I am pretty agnostic on the future of Northern Ireland (whether it stays part of the UK or forms part of a united Ireland that is). Whatever happens the resolution must be peaceful. I hope that (nationalist AND loyalist) terrorism has been consigned to the dustbin of history and we never see a similar operation in Northern Ireland again

A fitting Tribute

Tony Blair is far universally popular (Jams O'Donnell states the blidningly obvious once again), the positive aspects of his time as Prime Minister (and there IS a lot to be proud of) have been overshadowed in the public mind by Iraq, but there is one area where his stock remains very high and with justification - Ireland . Whatever else one may think of the last ten years, brokering peace in Northern Ireland is without doubt one of the finest achievements.

Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern paid one of the most glowing tributes to Blair yesterday: “Tony Blair has been a friend to Ireland. And I am proud also to count him as a friend of mine...From his first days as prime minister he devoted unprecedented time and attention to bringing the appalling conflict in Northern Ireland to an end. The Good Friday Agreement stands as a noble testament to his commitment to address the problem of Northern Ireland in a fair and balanced way. The ending of his term of office coincides with the success finally achieved at Stormont on May 8th,"

Irish Independent columnist Martina Devlin was quite correct when she wrote in February “Tony Blair was the first British prime minister not to treat us as poor relations or hapless incompetents."

It has taken time, there have been pitfalls but Northern Ireland has a government in which formerly intractable foes are now working together. They may not be friends but the appear to have common purpose. This may not last but there is every chance that that Northern Ireland politics will develop into the slugfest we see in Westminster rather than return to sectarian violence.

The Irish Examiner’s brief editorial sums up the Irish view on Blair succinctly:

Where Ireland is concerned, few would deny that his record marks him out as one of the leading British prime ministers for centuries. For more than 10 years, he has devoted unprecedented time and energy to resolving the North’s seemingly intractable problems. As Taoiseach Bertie Ahern succinctly put it, he will have an honoured place in the nation’s history.

The same cannot be said, however, of his role in the Iraqi debacle. The war was a pyrrhic victory and failure to win peace undermined his leadership of the Labour party. Typifying the Bush-Blair axis of denial, he insists he did what he thought was right. However, if Iraq was his failure, Northern Ireland was Tony Blair’s enduring triumph.

My 800^th post on the Poor Mouth. I clocked up 100 posts on Plant Porn and Pussycats today too.

News organisations from all over the world are in Belfast today to see the formal installation at the Stormont of an administration headed by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness (First Minister and Deputy First Minister, respectively). Both men had been working together since a ground breaking agreement in March.

DUP ministers will head the departments of finance, the economy, the environment, and culture and leisure. Sinn Fein will have education, agriculture and regional development while smaller parties will handle employment, health and social development. An intricate array of checks and balances has been built into the new system. In addition, the work of each department will be scrutinised by a committee headed by Assembly members from parties different to that of the ministers. Powers over policing have yet to be transferred to Belfast, but may follow in the next few years.

Mr Paisley attempted to step up pressure on Gordon Brown to supply more money. He said in an interview: "There's no use having a nice vehicle sitting in your driveway if you haven't the fuel to put into it. It will not move an inch. It might be nicely polished. It might be beautiful looking but it is not going to do anything."

But using a notably constructive tone, he declared: "I would like to see a good hard-working parliament here, with good speeches and people dedicated to do what they have been sent here to do. There is talent in the Assembly and I want to see the talent of everybody used to the maximum for the good of Northern Ireland and all of its people."

Gerry Adams said: "There is huge goodwill for the return of the power sharing institutions in the North and growing support for our proposals to build an Ireland of equals."

The UVF gives up the armed struggle - and about time too

Yesterday the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) announced at long last that it would no longer use terrorism in pursuit of its aims.

Veteran loyalist Gusty Spence read out a statement (which also applies to the Red Hand Commando) yesterday morning. From midnight (on 4 May) the UVF would " assume a non-military, civilianised, role". All recruitment and training would cease, all active service units would be deactivated and all weapons put “beyond reach”. (beyond reach means it gives up no weapons. This is an issue that will have to be resolved)

The statement also addressed criminality among its members: " we state unequivocally, that any volunteer engaged in criminality does so in direct contravention of Brigade Command and thus we welcome any recourse through due process of law."

The UVF had declared a ceasefire in 1994 but but since then its members have been blamed for more than 20 murders. In 2005, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain ceased to recognise their cease fire following rioting in which shots were fired at the police.

The statement has been welcomed: Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd said: "This is a welcome statement if it signals a recognition of the new political reality where there is no room for armed or violent actions." Peter Robinson of the DUP said: "The decision that the UVF is moving to a civilian mode is undoubtedly a major development and it is critical that all paramilitary groups follow this clear path."

At the same time yesterday, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness were in Scotland to meet Chancellor Gordon Brown to push the case for a generous "peace dividend" for Northern Ireland. Gordon Mr Brown had promised major investment if a stable power-sharing Executive was re-established at Stormont.

It is high time the UVF has finally renounced terrorism. Republican and loyalist violence achieved absolutely nothing but creating several thousand dead. On the other hand watching Paisley and McGuinness (seemingly and certainly against all expectations) working together within a political framework shows what should have been happening all along.

Politicians in handshake shock

Paisley & Ahern

The act of two politicians shaking hands is pretty mundane but when the handshake is between DUP leader Ian Paisley and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern it is a news event

Mr Paisley arrived at Farmleigh House, Dublin, yesterday for talks with Mr Ahern. As he arrived he bellowed: "Good morning. I better shake hands with this man". There was a warm handshake with the Taoiseach with Mr Paisley slapping Mr Ahern affectionately on the right shoulder.

The meeting discussed the future relationship between the Irish Government and the new Stormont administration, also possibly the contribution from the Republic towards the economic peace dividend. Mr Paisley said: "I believe it is important to engage with our closest neighbour from a position of mutual respect and with assured confidence. Today, we can confidently state that we are making progress to ensure that our two countries can develop and grow side by side in a spirit of generous co-operation. "

Meanwhile in Belfast Sinn Féin announced the posts its ministers will hold in the devolved executive from next month. Conor Murphy, MP for Newry and Armagh and a former IRA prisoner, will be the new minister for regional development. Michelle Gildernew, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, will be the agriculture minister. Catriona Ruane, a South Down assembly member, will be in charge of the education department, and Gerry Kelly, who escaped from the Maze prison in 1983, is taking a junior post in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.

How times change: First the DUP and Sinn Fein agreeing to share power in the new executive, now Paisley fostering of good relations with the Republic. Mr Paisley has come a long way over the last 40 years: In the sixties he he was more likely to shout "No Surrender" then pelt a taoiseach with snowballs (as he did to Sean Lemass). The announcement of the posts Sinn Fein are due to take simply adds to the astonishing change of events in Northern Ireland.Not much more than a decade ago the IRA was still planting bombs

Here's hoping that the two fromer implacable foes can make it work for Northern Ireland

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Adams's Statement

Again this is taken from today's Independent. The IRA's terrorism failed utterly to achieve its aim of a united island. Peaceful political engagement may succeed in the (very) long run. (for what it's worth I am neutral on the issue).

"I want to begin my remarks by welcoming the statement by Ian Paisley. While it is disappointing that the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have not been restored today, I believe the agreement reached between Sinn Fein and the DUP, including the unequivocal commitment, made by their party executive and reiterated today, to the restoration of political institutions on 8 May, marks the beginning of a new era of politics on this island.

"The discussions and agreement between our two parties shows the potential of what can now be achieved.

"Sinn Fein entered into these discussions in a positive and strategic way strengthened by our recently renewed and increased mandate. I want to once again thank everyone who supports our party.

"Támuid buíoch daoibh go léir [We are thankful to all of them.]

"In all of the initiatives we have taken in recent times we have been guided by the need to deliver for the people of Ireland. So, in our discussions we have listened very carefully to the position put forward by Ian Paisley and his colleagues.

"The relationships between the people of this island have been marred by centuries of discord, conflict, hurt and tragedy.

"In particular this has been the sad history of orange and green. Ach tá tus nua ann anois le cuidiú De [But there is a new start now, with the help of God].

"Sinn Fein is about building a new relationship between orange and green and all the other colours, where every citizen can share and have equality of ownership of a peaceful, prosperous and just future.

"There are still many challenges, many difficulties to be faced. But let us be clear. The basis of the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP follows Ian Paisley's unequivocal and welcome commitment to support and participate fully in the political institutions on 8 May.

"In the lead-up to restoration, important work has to take place preparing for government. And you have the outline of that also.

"As an immediate step both Sinn Fein and the DUP have asked the British Government not to issue the water bills.

"Tus maith, leath na hoibre - a good start is half the work.

"The two governments also have other work to do.

"We are committed to, and today discussed, further engagements with the British Chancellor, with the Irish government, and with others to ensure that the incoming executive has the best possible resources to fulfil our responsibilities.

"We have all come a very long way in the process of peace-making and national reconciliation. We are very conscious of the many people who have suffered. We owe it to them to build the best future possible.

"It is a time for generosity, a time to be mindful of the common good and of the future of all our people.

"I am pleased to say that collectively we have created the potential to build a new, harmonious and equitable relationship between nationalists and republicans and unionists, as well as the rest of the people of the island of Ireland.

"Sinn Fein will take nothing for granted in the days and weeks ahead but we will do all that we can to ensure a successful outcome and we ask everyone to support us in our efforts."

Paisley’s Statement

Both Paisley’s and Adams’s statements yesterday are well worth reading, Both are taken from today’s Independent . After so many years of “no surrender” rhetoric, Paisley’s words are those of a politician looking to get down to the business of running a country. There will be plenty of squabbles and rows in the months and years to come, but the DUP and Sinn Fein have created a golden opportunity. I hope they do not fail by reverting to past types and reopening wounds.

“In 2003 the DUP became the largest political party in Northern Ireland and the last three and a half years has seen our strategy deliver very significant advances for the Unionist people.

"Our goal has been to see devolution returned in a context where it can make a real and meaningful improvement in the lives of all the people of this part of the United Kingdom. On 7 March, the Unionist community gave us a mandate to deliver on this pledge.

"On Saturday the DUP executive overwhelmingly endorsed a motion committing the party to support and participate fully in government in May of this year. This is a binding resolution.

"In the past the Government has set arbitrary deadlines but now, as laid out in our resolution, we, as a party, have agreed the timing, the setting-up and working of the institutions. Today, we have agreed with Sinn Fein that this date will be Tuesday, 8 May 2007.

"As the largest party in Northern Ireland, we are committed to playing a full part in all the institutions and delivering the best future for the people of Northern Ireland.

"In the period before devolution we will participate fully with the other parties to the executive in making full preparations for the restoration of devolution on 8 May.

"This meeting represents an important step on the road to the setting-up of an executive in six weeks' time. It has been a constructive engagement and we have agreed that in the weeks between now and the restoration of devolution on 8 May there is important preparatory work to be carried out so that local ministers can hit the ground running.

"This will include regular meetings between the future first and deputy first minister.

"The work must begin as quickly as possible and we have been considering a work programme to bring us to the agreed date for devolution which we are now asking the Government to legislate for.

"There is still vital work to be done to ensure the most favourable financial package possible is in place to allow devolution to succeed and prosper. To this end we have agreed with Sinn Fein to seek an early meeting with the Chancellor.

"In the next few days detailed work will begin, involving all of the executive parties, to allow a programme for government to be finalised for the start of devolution. This will require regular meetings in the next few weeks.

"The two parties have already asked the Prime Minister to ensure that no water charge bills should be issued and the matter should be left for a local executive to determine. We hope, trust and believe that the Secretary of State will listen to the voice of the people of Northern Ireland.

"After a long and difficult time in the province, I believe that enormous opportunities lie ahead for Northern Ireland.

"Devolution has never been an end in itself but is about making a positive difference to people's lives. I want to make it clear that I am committed to delivering not only for those who voted for the DUP but for all the people of Northern Ireland.

"We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future.

"In looking to that future, we must never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, emerging. We owe it to them to craft and build the best future possible and ensure there is genuine support for those who are still suffering.

"With hard work and a commitment to succeed, I believe we can lay the foundation for a better, peaceful and prosperous future for all our people

Now get on with the business of government

This is one of the photos I feared never would be taken. Even if thsiles are forced it is a landmark. The Irish Independent describes it as a snapshot for the history books, a picture that says that the Troubles are over and real politics can begin.

Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist party will be going into government together on May 8, no threats, no conditions and no begrudgery. It is the culmination of months of work but the DUP and Sinn Fein have put their hatred aside and have finally agreed to power sharing.

"We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future." Paisley said. Adams provided an echo by accepting that "the relationships between the people of this island have been marred by centuries of discord, conflict, hurt and tragedy.. The discussions and agreement between our two parties shows the potential of what can now be achieved."

Mr Paisley said he would now hold regular meetings with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, who last night accepted the post of Deputy First Minister. Many will watch with fascination to see what relationship develops between the Protestant patriarch and the one-time IRA commander.

Even if Paisley and McGuiness are the last two people I would like to have seen running Northern Ireland they were they represent the two largest parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The people have spoken. I hope they do their very best to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the six counties.