Sinn Fein Resists Expulsion from Northern Ireland Peace Negotiations

The Irish Republican Army's (IRA) political ally, Sinn Fein, has refused to budge from its position in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, despite the British and Irish governments' attempts to expel it due to recent killings blamed on the IRA. The other six participating parties gave up and went home after three days of talks in Dublin Castle, while Sinn Fein pursued its own injunction from the Irish High Court to prevent negotiators from discussing new governmental structures between the British-ruled north and independent Irish Republic. This move has stalled the negotiations, leaving the future of the peace process uncertain.

Key Takeaways:

• Sinn Fein resisted attempts by the British and Irish governments to expel it from the Northern Ireland peace negotiations due to recent killings blamed on the IRA.
• The other six participating parties gave up and went home after three days of talks in Dublin Castle.
• Sinn Fein pursued its own injunction from the Irish High Court to prevent negotiators from discussing new governmental structures between the British-ruled north and independent Irish Republic.
• The court action has stalled the negotiations, leaving the future of the peace process uncertain.
• Mo Mowlam, Britain's minister responsible for governing Northern Ireland, accused Sinn Fein of violating the principles of nonviolence that govern the talks.
• Sinn Fein's lawyer, Adrian Hardiman, argued that the governments were denying the party its right to a fair hearing by providing no proof that the IRA killed two men last week in Belfast.
• Sinn Fein named the talks chairman, former Sen. George Mitchell, his Canadian and Finnish deputies, and Mowlam as co-defendants in the court action.

Statistics:

• 3 days: the duration of the talks in Dublin Castle before Sinn Fein pursued its injunction from the Irish High Court.
• 1: the number of parties left in negotiation after Sinn Fein refused to back down.
• 2: the number of men killed in Belfast last week, blamed on the IRA.
• 1: the number of court action taken by Sinn Fein against the British and Irish governments.
• 1: the number of minister responsible for governing Northern Ireland, who accused Sinn Fein of violating the principles of nonviolence.

Sources:

• Shawn Pogatchnik Associated Press
• Mo Mowlam, Britain's minister responsible for governing Northern Ireland
• Adrian Hardiman, Sinn Fein's lawyer
• George Mitchell, former Sen. and talks chairman