The Protestant Presence  Home Rule    The Troubles    The Future   Links   Home  

In April 1998, the Good Friday peace accord was signed. It was a tentative deal that included both the Ulster Unionists (Northern Irish who wish to remain allied with Britain) and Sinn Fein (the political wing of the IRA, Catholics dedicated to rejoin Northern Ireland to the Southern Irish. The historic agreement provided for a new governing council, or executive, with Protestant and Catholic representation.

An historical agreement, for sure, but the road to implementation proved to be bumpy.

To the Ulster Unionists, anything less from Sinn Fein/ IRA than unequivocal agreement to disarm was a statement in favour of continued terrorism. And although the IRA had accepted a cease-fire, they had not  renounced and continued to use violence.

The Ulster Unionists refused to sit with Sinn Fein/IRA until the IRA sent an unequivocal message that it would disarm.  IRA/Sinn Fein would give no such assurances, and fears grew that the Good Friday accord would die and Northern Ireland would lapse back into the killing frenzy. To the IRA,  the removal of weapons of intimidation, murder and terror is not negotiable!  

The historic day finally arrived on the last Monday of November, 1999, when the 108 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly voted to form a coalition government, with an executive of Protestant and Catholic members. For the first time, Protestant Unionists and Catholic Republicans pledged to share power.

The deal worked out at the meeting of the Assembly in Belfast created an Executive made up of members from the four main political parties. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), lead by David Trimble, would hold four seats on the Executive. Trimble also became the First Minister. The moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), contributed four Catholic members to the Executive, one of whom became the deputy First Minister. The  Protestant Democratic Unionist Party and the Roman Catholic IRA/Sinn Fein each were given two seats on the Executive.

The Executive will take over the running of Northern Ireland's affairs, except for taxation and security matters. The British government officially transferred power to the Executive by the end of the week, marking the first time since 1974 that the volatile British province experienced home-rule government.

Another historic event was expected in Dublin at the end of the week, when the Irish parliament would approve a constitutional amendment revoking its claim to the territory of Northern Ireland. This was regarded as an important step in convincing the majority of Protestants in Northern Ireland that they would not be forced into a union with the Republic without their approval.

The IRA and other paramilitaries agreed to appoint disarmament representatives to deal with the contentious issue of stockpiled weapons. This will be worked out between SF/IRA and General John de Chastelain, a Canadian heading the disarmament commission.

This "rescue package" was worked out at the 11th hour in talks mediated by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell. It allowed Trimble, the UUP leader and new First Minister, to buy time for him to persuade the majority of  Ulster Unionists to give final approval of the peace package, despite the weapons issue. The UUP was promised final approval of the package at a party convention in February, 2000.

On Wednesday, December 1, 1999, in London, the Queen formally gave her seal of approval to a law ending 27 years of Britain's direct rule of Northern Ireland. She used only one word at the brief ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The Queen said, "Approved."

The Agreement is in limbo right now as Trimble resigned as the First Minister, but Blair and Ahern are plotting  a deal to hand over Ulster to Sinn Fein/IRA control in return for leaving Dublin and London alone.

It is apparent that David (tremble) Trimble has been kept as a figure of so-called Unionist approval to the Agreement and is useful to Blair and Ahern to lend an air of legitimacy to the whole rotten deal!

In the meantime, the IRA/Sinn Fein plan is on schedule for a united Ireland and after the latest riots in Ulster, it is obvious that the next target is the disbanding of the R.U.C., and to push for further concessions they arrange a few car bombs, one in London and another at Belfast International Airport,  just to let people know that they can turn on the terror whenever the need arises.

September 11th. 2001

After the horrific terrorist attacks in the USA put pressure on SF/IRA to de-commission , they  reluctantly voiced agreement to destroy some rusty old rifles. Immediately Blair, implemented the pre-arranged deal with SF/IRA and Trimble of the UUP,  to give up more of  Ulster and has agreed to have the foreign "Garda" on the streets of Belfast by next year!!!!   So what have we to look forward to??

Top