Post by Wasp on Feb 27, 2008 22:51:37 GMT
A meeting between the IRA and a group looking into how Northern Ireland should deal with its past is highly unlikely, republican sources insisted tonight.
The Consultative Group on the Past, which is headed by former Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames and ex-Northern Ireland Policing Board deputy chair Denis Bradley, has met with MI5 as part of its deliberations on a way forward and had hoped for discussions with the Provisional leadership.
However, republican sources appeared to dash the group`s hopes of any talks.
"The consultative group was set up by the British Government," a source said.
"Its terms were set by the British Government.
"A meeting with the IRA is highly unlikely"
The Eames/Bradley Consultative Group was set up last June by the then Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to examine whether a South African-style Truth Commission was needed to help the province to come to terms with the Troubles.
Among its members are former Irish and British Lion rugby legend Willie John McBride, Armagh gaelic footballer Jarlath Burns and Presbyterian minister the Rev Lesley Carroll.
The group has held a number of public and private meetings to gauge opinion.
It has been keen to find out if all sides involved in the conflict would co-operate in any truth process.
The group is expected to report back to the British Government this summer.
Hardly surprizing any meeting was highly unlikely.
The Consultative Group on the Past, which is headed by former Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames and ex-Northern Ireland Policing Board deputy chair Denis Bradley, has met with MI5 as part of its deliberations on a way forward and had hoped for discussions with the Provisional leadership.
However, republican sources appeared to dash the group`s hopes of any talks.
"The consultative group was set up by the British Government," a source said.
"Its terms were set by the British Government.
"A meeting with the IRA is highly unlikely"
The Eames/Bradley Consultative Group was set up last June by the then Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain to examine whether a South African-style Truth Commission was needed to help the province to come to terms with the Troubles.
Among its members are former Irish and British Lion rugby legend Willie John McBride, Armagh gaelic footballer Jarlath Burns and Presbyterian minister the Rev Lesley Carroll.
The group has held a number of public and private meetings to gauge opinion.
It has been keen to find out if all sides involved in the conflict would co-operate in any truth process.
The group is expected to report back to the British Government this summer.
Hardly surprizing any meeting was highly unlikely.
