N. IRELAND: A LOOK BACK AT SOME MAJOR INCIDENTS

(16 Aug 1998) English/Nat
The Good Friday Peace Agreement was intended to put a stop to bomb attacks like the one in Omagh.
But the attack and other recent bombing in Northern Ireland are evidence that the Northern Ireland peace process could be unravelling.
A-P-T-V looks back on the major incidents since the peace agreement was signed.
Even before the massive bomb in Omagh, the Northern Ireland peace process was already looking a little shaky.
Responsibility for the car bomb that exploded in the predominantly Catholic border town of Newtownhamilton, injuring two people at the end of June, was claimed by the outlawed Irish National Liberation Army.
That's a Republican splinter group that opposes the July 1997 truce.
The ceasefire was signed by the Irish Republican Army, the I-R-A.
But groups calling themselves names such as the Real I-R-A, and the Continuity I-R-A have pledged to continue the violence until their demands are met.
It is not just the Catholic community, however, which is guilty of continued violence and destruction.
The burning of ten Catholic churches by hardline Protestants, coming on the same day as Northern Ireland voted in the first elections to the new Assembly, was a repeat of the previous year's attacks.
Protestant arson attacks also claimed the lives of three young Catholic brothers, whose house was burnt down as they were trapped upstairs.
10-year-old Richard, 9-year-old Mark and 7-year-old Jason Quinn were killed despite their family being mixed religion.
The Good Friday Peace Agreement was meant to end these atrocities.
Tony Blair, elected as British Prime Minister on May 1st, made a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland one of the main priorities of his premiership.
Mo Mowlam was appointed Northern Ireland Secretary to breath new life into the peace process.
Her relaxed style appeared to go down well with people on the streets of Belfast.
She flew straight to the province where she reiterated her will to see all-party talks renewed.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I hope that the advantages I might bring to the job is a sensitivity in some senses, but at the same time, a directness and an openness."
SUPER CAPTION: Mo Mowlam, Northern Ireland Secretary
When Blair became Prime Minister, peace talks between Sinn Fein and the British government had been stalled since February 1996.
Blair set to work to bring Sinn Fein back into the fold.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"My message to Sinn Fein is clear: the settlement train is leaving. I want you on that train but it is leaving anyway and I will not allow it to wait for you."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister
Although Blair's predecessor John Major had sought to achieve peace, he was severely hampered by his small parliamentary majority and his reliance on the Ulster Unionists to support bills through the House of Commons.
As a result Major couldn't afford to alienate the Northern Ireland Unionists by compromising with the nationalist Sinn Fein.
With Blair's massive majority he had no need to pacify the Unionists despite his unpopularity with those wanting Northern Ireland to remain part of Britain.
Only weeks after Blair's election, talks resumed between Sinn Fein and the British government.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There are quite a number of difficulties, as you all well know, but there's a very strong desire within Sinn Fein to overcome those difficulties."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein's chief negotiator
Shortly afterwards the I-R-A announced a ceasefire, which came into effect at noon on July 20th.
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