When did DUP first meet IRA/Sinn Fein?
26 February 2008
Statement by Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister:
"The new biography by Ed Moloney of Ian Paisley raises questions which require clear and transparent answers from the DUP. It is alleged that at St Andrews two DUP MPs secretly met with Martin McGuinness and that there had been earlier meetings with Sinn Fein both in London and Belfast.
I have long suspected meetings might have taken place, but the DUP has always denied such and insisted no contact occurred till after the DUP Officers sanctioned such (by 15 votes to 1, with me alone voting against) on 24 March 2007. Indeed hitherto DUP members, according to the Leader, faced expulsion if they met Sinn Fein.
Now with it expressly alleged that such a secret meeting took place at St Andrews and earlier meetings in London, it is imperative that the DUP comes clean. What meetings, if any, were held, by whom, with whom and on whose authority?
While meeting Sinn Fein might in one sense now seem small beer, when compared with the antics of the Chuckle Coalition, such meetings at St Andrews and elsewhere would have utterly breached DUP undertakings and policy at the time. The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to know. It is an issue of probity.
If this is a false claim, then can we expect libel proceedings by the 9 DUP MPs as each of them could claim to be defamed if no such meeting took place. It will be interesting to see if such materialises."
