The talks that began 12 days ago tested everyone's patience, writes
Dan Keenan,Northern News Editor
MONDAY, JANUARY 25TH
British prime minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen arrived at Hillsborough Castle to try to strike a deal on the stalled talks on the devolution of justice powers and the vexed question of parades.
The premiers set up their office in the Northern Secretary’s quarters in the castle, with the parties located in their respective rooms, mostly on the ground floor. It was open house – anyone could mix and mingle on an informal basis. Bilaterals were held, pieces of paper were passed. Arlene Foster, then acting First Minister, ordered in some Chinese meals.
At one stage Peter Robinson and Foster, who was much praised by insiders for “humanising” the dealings among the parties, dropped into the SDLP room to share some buns and other goodies. There was much talk but little sign of “product”. The lights glowed that first night till after 3am.
TUESDAY 26th
Talks reconvene in the morning and continue throughout the long, cold and barren afternoon.
Growing public cynicism is reflected in the tone of Gerry Anderson’s morning show on Radio Ulster. “Hillsborough made me like this, I used to be a happy man!” he cries, in an explosion of mock angst. “How can people spend so much time talking about something and not mentioning anything? All you hear is, ‘We are discussing the issues’. What issues? What are you talking about? What’s wrong? What is holding it up? Why is Gordon Brown there? Why is the fat boy from Dublin [Brian Cowen] there? . . . Why can’t you agree? ”
Late that night, there was a sudden flurry of activity. Camera crews were beckoned inside the castle at short notice to film the first plenary session of round-table multi-party talks with Brown and Cowen as joint chairmen.
Following this, reporters witnessed the most bizarre event of an already unusual week. Robinson led his (mostly teetotal) talks team down the main street and into the Hillside pub for a meal.
No doubt feeling sympathetic and with a view to his impending leadership bid, SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell ordered hot sausage rolls for distribution among the fourth estate.
WEDNESDAY 27TH:
The dawn brought with it a fresh gloom. DUP Minister Edwin Poots stepped into the morning cold to talk down the optimism and there were broad hints of recrimination.
Brown spoke of leaving the talks, described as a “pathway to progress”, vowing to revisit them with the Taoiseach in 48 hours.
The talking recommenced, and the sense of public disillusionment grew. Negotiations fatigue was reflected in the decision by the Talkback phone-in programme on Radio Ulster to declare itself a politics-free zone for the day.
THURSDAY 28th
Snippets of news emerged pointing to a lightening of the atmosphere.
A photograph of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, situated on a table near the Sinn Féin rooms, was repeatedly put face down – and then restored to its standing position. Some Hillsborough staff insisted on keeping Her Majesty upright, whispered one insider.
FRIDAY 29th-SATURDAY 30th
Public boredom, mixed with anger, despair and fatigue, grew, but behind the Hillsborough windows the work continued. At some point, in that blurred border between Friday and Saturday, the bones of a deal were agreed.
The parties agreed the Sabbath should be taken as a day of rest and the governments agreed.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1st:
Sinn Féin met formally in Parliament Buildings and its business was done in just over an hour. However, the press pack waited, and waited, for the DUP. Things were going badly behind closed doors of their offices. Reports had the party in turmoil. A secret ballot was held and some 14 of the party’s 36 Assembly members (or 34 if you exclude the speaker and Iris Robinson, who had by now resigned) showed they couldn’t live with the deal on offer.
TUESDAY 2nd
The talking continued.
WEDNESDAY 3rd
The Northern Secretary was obliged to return to Westminster for Northern Ireland Questions, while Micheál Martin remained alone in Hillsborough Castle.
Talk spread that Peter Robinson had little choice other than to offer his rebellious Stormont colleagues a “back me or sack me” ultimatum.
That night Robinson announced his return as First Minister, having stood aside three weeks earlier. The signal was well read within DUP ranks: Robinson was back.
THURSDAY 4th
So-called “parallel talks” were conducted between DUP hardliners Gregory Campbell and Nigel Dodds, and Shaun Woodward at Hillsborough. Among the topics was British government support for the 10,000 or so members of the Presbyterian Mutual Society who lost millions in its collapse.
At Stormont, Peter Robinson called his Assembly group for a meeting at 10pm. Just before midnight, he emerged to announce the deal was done and he had unanimous backing from his party.
FRIDAY 5th
Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen arrive early in Hillsborough to join Micheál Martin, Shaun Woodward, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. The deal is finalised and published.