This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35115892
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Seamus Mallon: Sinn Féin 'played John Hume like 3lb trout' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former deputy first minister Seamus Mallon has said Sinn Féin used his party leader John Hume in order to gain respectability in the United States. | Former deputy first minister Seamus Mallon has said Sinn Féin used his party leader John Hume in order to gain respectability in the United States. |
| He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback that any sacrifice the SDLP made was worth it if it saved a single life. | He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback that any sacrifice the SDLP made was worth it if it saved a single life. |
| Mr Mallon said former SDLP leader John Hume was "no fool" but that Sinn Féin leaders played him "like a 3lb trout". | Mr Mallon said former SDLP leader John Hume was "no fool" but that Sinn Féin leaders played him "like a 3lb trout". |
| Mr Hume's presence gave republicans a status almost validating what they did in the previous 30 years, he said. | Mr Hume's presence gave republicans a status almost validating what they did in the previous 30 years, he said. |
| Mr Mallon reiterated previous comments that the British and Irish governments should have made IRA decommissioning a precondition for Sinn Féin's participation in the Northern Ireland Executive. | Mr Mallon reiterated previous comments that the British and Irish governments should have made IRA decommissioning a precondition for Sinn Féin's participation in the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| He blamed the failure to achieve disarmament for the severe political damage suffered by both the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists during the 1990s. | He blamed the failure to achieve disarmament for the severe political damage suffered by both the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists during the 1990s. |
| Bullies | Bullies |
| The former deputy first minister said he often regrets not having served as leader of the SDLP, but he had to put the need to look after his seriously ill wife, Gertrude, over his political ambitions. | The former deputy first minister said he often regrets not having served as leader of the SDLP, but he had to put the need to look after his seriously ill wife, Gertrude, over his political ambitions. |
| Mr Mallon remains strongly critical of both the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin's current behaviour, describing them as "the two biggest bullies on each side". | Mr Mallon remains strongly critical of both the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin's current behaviour, describing them as "the two biggest bullies on each side". |
| "What worries me most is that the two major parties don't seem to, in their hearts, believe in the whole thesis of the Good Friday Agreement," he said. | "What worries me most is that the two major parties don't seem to, in their hearts, believe in the whole thesis of the Good Friday Agreement," he said. |
| "Is the present executive showing any benevolence, except to their own supporters and those who vote for them?" | "Is the present executive showing any benevolence, except to their own supporters and those who vote for them?" |
| He said he would not include all executive parties in his criticism, because it is a "two-party show". | He said he would not include all executive parties in his criticism, because it is a "two-party show". |
| Catalyst | Catalyst |
| In a statement, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "It is unfortunate that Seamus Mallon talks of his one-time party leader in this fashion, especially given John Hume's current health. | In a statement, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "It is unfortunate that Seamus Mallon talks of his one-time party leader in this fashion, especially given John Hume's current health. |
| "And in spite of the naysayers, which included Seamus Mallon and much of the Irish establishment, the courage and the vision of John Hume and Gerry Adams and others brought about the Irish peace process and an end to the conflict. | "And in spite of the naysayers, which included Seamus Mallon and much of the Irish establishment, the courage and the vision of John Hume and Gerry Adams and others brought about the Irish peace process and an end to the conflict. |
| "The Hume/Adams document of 1993 became the catalyst for the achievement of the Good Friday and other agreements, which have underpinned the peace and political processes. | "The Hume/Adams document of 1993 became the catalyst for the achievement of the Good Friday and other agreements, which have underpinned the peace and political processes. |
| The statement continued: "Mr Mallon also seems to be particularly embittered at the fact that the electorate has consistently rejected the increasingly negative politics of the SDLP, which he once personified. | The statement continued: "Mr Mallon also seems to be particularly embittered at the fact that the electorate has consistently rejected the increasingly negative politics of the SDLP, which he once personified. |
| "We should also remember that Seamus Mallon in his role of deputy first minister, didn't even speak to his co-equal, First Minister David Trimble, and that the political institutions collapsed repeatedly on their watch." | "We should also remember that Seamus Mallon in his role of deputy first minister, didn't even speak to his co-equal, First Minister David Trimble, and that the political institutions collapsed repeatedly on their watch." |
| Seamus Mallon's interview will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback on 28 December 2015. | Seamus Mallon's interview will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback on 28 December 2015. |