Ahern challenges Paisley over attack on McAleese

THE bitter political row sparked by Ian Paisley’s attack on President Mary McAleese intensified last night as Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern warned the DUP leader his remarks were “unacceptable”.

The two clashed as London and Dublin launched a new push for power-sharing with all-party talks.

Mr Ahern described his exchange of views with Rev Paisley as "robust" after the DUP chief caused outrage by branding the Irish President "dishonest".

Mr Ahern said he made it clear that the Government would never refer to a head of state in that manner, including the British Queen.

"I said to him that I, on behalf of the Irish people, categorically found his remarks unacceptable, unwarranted and untrue. A discussion continued and it's fair to say it was robust," Mr Ahern said.

But Rev Paisley countered: "I told him in no uncertain language that when she made remarks about Northern Ireland and called us unionists Nazis, that they were strangely silent."

Northern Secretary Peter Hain said: "The British Government holds President McAleese in very high regard. The Queen holds her in high regard. I personally am a great admirer of hers."

The row set the tone for the first day of talks.

Rev Paisley insisted Sinn Féin should not be involved in negotiations while criminality continued and he also launched a fresh attack on the Irish Government.

"There is no healing of any wounds, as far as unionism is concerned they are backing the IRA to get them back into government," he said.

Expectations for the talks were lowered last week with the publication of the Independent Monitoring Commission report that stated the IRA continued intelligence gathering and involvement in crime.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams questioned whether the two governments had allowed Rev Paisley to take charge of the process and called for the return of devolution.

"People need to have some sense that local, accountable representatives are administering their affairs," he said.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said republicans had to take some responsibility for the current paralysis.

"Suspension was created because of the activities of the IRA and the failure to decommission," he said.