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Irish and Sinn Fein leaders almost came to blows

Mandelson a disaster as North boss says Ahern

By
KENNETH HAYNES,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, September 27, 2009, 8:31 AM
Updated Sunday, September 27, 2009, 9:13 AM

 

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Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen speaking to the media with Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness and former First Minister Ian Paisley
Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen speaking to the media with Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness and former First Minister Ian Paisley
Photo by AFP/Getty Images

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen and Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness came very close to blows and a stand up fight during negotiations on Northern Ireland.

The revelation comes in the new book by former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, which is serialized in the Sunday Times Irish edition.

Ahern reveals McGuinness and Cowen lost their cool in talks in early 2004 over Ahern’s allegations that Gerry Adams was in the IRA. During the discussions Cowen, now taoiseach but then minister for foreign affairs, became incensed by the insulting tone he felt Sinn Fein were using.

“Eventually he stood up and banged his fist on the table. ‘You will not speak to the taoiseach of our country in that way!’ he roared. McGuinness jumped up and the two of them stood eyeball to eyeball, neither saying anything.”

Ahern also reveals that while he spoke to Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, almost every week during his 11 years as taoiseach, he felt he hardly knew him at the end. Adams was “hard work,” and “sometimes he could be cross and difficult.” Ahern writes.

However, McGuinness was easier to get along with.

“While Adams could be narky, Martin McGuinness was more personable. He would ask about my family and talk about sport or fishing. He was more friendly and approachable. He was also more emotional in talks. Gerry would usually be fairly bland about things, so you could never be sure if he was happy or annoyed. If Martin was angry, you knew it.”

Ahern is also highly critical of former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson who he says “slowed the peace process.”

“We never really hit it off with Mandelson. Talks with him were always heavy weather. Partly it was his manner, which was a bit standoffish “I think he liked being up at Hillsborough Castle, where he could play the ‘viceroy.’ We were always doubtful about him. Nobody thought he compared to Mo. Mowlam”

“There was no doubting his intelligence, or even his charm when he decided to turn it on. But he had unfettered access to Tony Blair [the then prime minister], which made it difficult to go over his head,” the former taoiseach says. “When he went in January 2001, we were glad to see the back of him.”

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12 Comments

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Posted by GeorgeDillon on Jun 25, 2010, 08:37 PM EDT
I'd like to come to blows with the bloated Brian Cohen! He deserves a good thrashing for what he has done to Ireland.
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Posted by hancock on Jun 16, 2010, 12:16 PM EDT
Thats the next Head of Northern Ireland you're talking about.
Report abuse
Posted by jackthelad on Jun 09, 2010, 08:30 PM EDT
Yes plasticpaddy, Sinn Fein are a political party...and you are Elvis Presley.
Report abuse
Posted by plasticpaddy on Apr 16, 2010, 06:40 PM EDT
Sinn Fein are a political party, I think you are very confused rosks304
Report abuse
Posted by irishathens on Mar 19, 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
I wish they would all apply "What happens on tour stays on tour" instead of trying to make money on the back of others by exposing meetings they were paid to attend.
Report abuse
Posted by kickstar on Feb 26, 2010, 12:42 AM EST
Almost half the people in Northern Ireland Consider themselves Irish Nationalists, So what message was the Dublin Government trying to send them engaging Northern Nationalists Adams,McGuinness through a Foreign Affairs Minister, And then to add insult to injury by confirming that fact by the ignoramus statement "You will not speak to the taoiseach of our country in that way!" A real Free Stater comment. But of course we know that ignorant Pig Cowen is Free Stater to the soles of his Crubeens.
Report abuse
Posted by rosks304 on Feb 19, 2010, 09:47 PM EST
Call a spade a shovel,Sinn Fein are Terrorists,dont make them mad otherwise they ill start blowing up women and children again.smarock10@yahoo.com
Report abuse
Posted by moygannon on Jan 29, 2010, 04:17 PM EST
Cannot understand the argument over the Justice System in North Ireland. Perhaps getting complete control of a justice system in any country is the beginning of arnachy. What could not be attained by violence will be accomplished with politics
Report abuse
Posted by ripley838 on Jan 18, 2010, 09:20 AM EST
I'm not sure Mr. Ahern can be trusted in every comment he makes, especially when he's being paid handsomely to make his comment.
Report abuse
Posted by johnymac on Dec 26, 2009, 01:09 PM EST
sma, your comments indicate a degree of ignorance on any political question of any kind. Perhaps you would be better posting your comments on fascism. com, where you might enjoy the company of your fellows? Cheers, mate.
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Posted by rosks304 on Dec 22, 2009, 01:32 PM EST
Northern Ireland is on the wrong continent,it should be in Africa where there most of the leaders are ex Terrorists and backward. smarock10@yahoo.com
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Posted by rosks304 on Dec 21, 2009, 01:46 PM EST
You certainly picked my 2 favourites ,Bliar and Adams,both should be behind bars. smarock10@yahoo.com
 


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