Proximity Talks Between Parties
From the collection of
From the collection of
A shaky start to cross-party talks at Stormont.
Ken Reid reports for UTV Live on the beginning of 1996's 'Proximity Talks' between the Northern Irish political parties at Castle Buildings, Stormont. Irish foreign minister Dick Spring and Northern Ireland secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew speak to the press afterwards, as does the SDLP's John Hume. The two main Unionist parties have not turned up on the first day, with Ian Paisley saying that he is willing to hold talks, but not at Stormont.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Sinn Fein turns up, expecting to be barred from entering the talks process. This turns out to be the case, and Gerry Adams speaks to the gathered press about the situation, which sees his party blocked from the process during a period when the IRA have resumed their campaign of violence.
Starting in 1993, UTV Live took over as Ulster Television's local news series, running a flagship programme each evening, with other bulletins throughout the day. In the 1990s it captured the unfolding story of the push towards a peace settlement in Northern Ireland, through all its twist and turns, which ended with the historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998.