State Papers: Sinn Féin secretly met with Ulster Unionists amid deadlocked peace process

(Left to right) Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly and Martin McGuinness in 2004. Both privately met the Minister for Enterprise and UUP member of the Legislative Assembly, Reg Empey, along with another UUP colleague, Chris McGimpsey in 2001. Photo: AP/Roman Koszowski

Secret meetings were held between a small group of senior Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist Party representatives in Stormont during 2001 at a time when progress in the peace process seemed deadlocked, confidential documents have revealed.

State papers show the Minister for Enterprise and UUP member of the Legislative Assembly, Reg Empey, along with another party colleague, Chris McGimpsey met privately each week with Sinn Féin deputy leader, Martin McGuinness and his MLA colleague, Gerry Kelly.

Mr Empey revealed the existence of such meetings to a senior Irish government official in May 2001 when peace talks had stalled over the issue of decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and reform of policing in Northern Ireland.

Read More about #State Papers

The UUP minister described having a good personal friendship with Mr McGuinness, despite the fact that their two parties were involved in a lengthy, ongoing row over the decommissioning issue.

However, he professed to be “deeply disappointed” that Mr McGuinness had failed to even hint to him in advance that he was going to make a statement to the Bloody Sunday Tribunal to confirm his IRA rank in Derry in 1972.

Mr Empey said the timing of the statement was “very unhelpful” to the UUP as it allowed unionists opposed to the Good Friday Agreement to become active again and meant the assembly would be facing a divisive motion on the issue.

He also criticised the Sinn Féin trait of allowing issues go to the wire before reaching a deal. Mr Empey stated his belief that the IRA’s approach on decommissioning was largely linked to their fear of further splitting the organisation.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

The revelation about the secret meetings, which were being held almost every Thursday, came as a surprise to Irish officials.

It also appeared that the UUP leader, David Trimble, may not have been aware that such meetings between UUP and Sinn Féin representatives were being held.

While notifying senior figures in the Irish government and civil service about the meetings, the secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dermot Gallagher, urged them to keep it strictly to themselves.

“It would be unfortunate and very unhelpful indeed if there was any reference whatsoever to it by colleagues,” said Mr Gallagher.