Dissident Republicans In Government Talks?

Not-so-secret talks may have been held between the UK Government and republican dissidents - or at least that's the interpretation being put on the latest development in a story first hinted at by a republican figurehead.

The NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, has refused to "confirm or deny" whether or not there has been contact between them and dissident republicans.

Mr Paterson was speaking after Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness claimed earlier this month the Government had been talking to the terrorists.

The Stormont Deputy First Minister appeared to have direct knowledge of the exchanges - which are said to be very similar in content and context to those in which he was party to when negotiations to end the Provisional IRA's campaign of violence were underway.

Martin McGuinness also told the BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that the Irish government had also been meeting with dissidents for years.

"They may well deny that, that doesn't concern me in the least. I know it's happening," he said, with a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin insisting later "it has never been our practice to speak to these people".

The comments followed the NI Secretary of State previously denying that the Government "wanted discussions with dissidents".

Now, this morning, Mr Paterson said that the UK Government never talked about "operational issues" but was ambiguous on talks and said: "Our position is completely clear, and consistent with previous governments, you cannot have meaningful talks, serious discussions, real negotiations whatever you want to call them with people who are not absolutely committed to peaceful means of pursuing their goals."

Mr Paterson was talking to Radio Four's Today programme following last weekend's no-warning bomb in Lurgan, Co Armagh, which was blamed on dissident republicans and injured three children.

Mr Paterson added: "These attacks are disgusting, they will not achieve anything.

"Political violence does not achieve its aims."

He was speaking as structural engineers in Londonderry were assessing buildings damaged in a 200lb dissident car bomb attack earlier this month on Strand Road police station.

The dissident republican booby trap car bomb exploded outside the Police headquarters on 3 August.

Engineers are now deciding whether nearby buildings should be saved or demolished.

Dissidents are also believed to have been responsible for leaving booby-trap bombs under the cars of a soldier, policewoman and civilian police station guard in Bangor, Kilkeel and Cookstown.

See: Dissent Over Talks Claim

(BMcC/GK)