Priest denies claims in new IRA book

A priest at the centre of the peace process has denied claims in a new book that he was involved in secret talks between the IRA and the British government in 1986.

In the Secret History of the IRA, journalist Ed Moloney claims Fr Alec Reid was involved in secretive negotiations between Gerry Adams and the British authorities that were carried out without the knowledge of the IRA army council.

However, in a letter to the Irish News in Belfast, Fr Reid said he was not involved in any negotiations in 1986, although he had written to the British authorities without receiving any reply.