Ulster
deadlock: Drowned at birth in sea of acrimony and blame
From DAILY TELEGRAPH July 16th, 1999
As the SDLP's Alban Maginness became the 10th and final member of the executive,
there were shouts of "Cheerio" and "P45" from the DUP. Lord Alderdice confirmed
that the absence of Unionists on the executive meant that the body had to
fall. Mr Mallon delivered a scathing attack on Unionists who had tried "to bleed this process dry", accusing them of "dishonouring" the Good Friday Agreement and "insulting its principles".
As he ended by announcing his resignation, it was clear that the agreement
was in freefall. Mr Adams was interrupted by Mr Paisley, who then refused
to speak when Mr Adams gave way to him. "I will not speak on the grace and favour of a member of the Army Council of the IRA," said Mr Paisley, to giggles from nationalists. As Mr Adams accused DUP members of being the "founders of Ulster Resistance", Mr Paisley's men began to chant the names of IRA atrocities in an attempt to drown out the Sinn Féin president. "Tullyvallen",
"Teebane", "Ballykelly", "La Mon", "Bloody Friday", they intoned.
The agreement, said Mr Paisley triumphantly, should be "buried in a grave never to be resurrected". Mr Adams, who had looked relaxed and in good humour
throughout, did not beg to differ and the assembly was adjourned with every
likelihood that it would never meet again. |
