Video interviews with Joseph Crilly (playwright), Tim Pat Coogan (historian), Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein MLA for Newry and Armagh) and Fr. Gerry Reynolds (Redemptorist priest in Clonard) for ITN on 10 February 2000. Eleven days earlier the second de Chastelain Report was published stating that no IRA decommissioning had yet taken place. This event occurred in a period of heightened political tension in which it was indicated that David Trimble could resign as First Minister of Northern Ireland on the decommissioning issue. Amid hurried talks to prevent the collapse of power-sharing government, the interviewees discuss the historical difficulties surrounding decommissioning. One day later Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, suspended devolved government and returned direct rule to Northern Ireland.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 10 February 2000
Name of First Interviewee: Joseph Crilly
Name of Second Interviewee: Tim Pat Coogan
Name of Third Interviewee: Conor Murphy, Fr. Gerry Reynolds
Role at time of Interview: Joseph Crilly (playwright), Tim Pat Coogan (historian), Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein MLA for Newry and Armagh), Fr. Gerry Reynolds (Redemptorist priest in Clonard)
Purpose: News
Media: Audiovisual
Copyright: ©2013 ITN All rights reserved
Link: Watch the interview
Programme/Book/Article: ITN
Time Period covered: 1916-2000
Key Individuals: Joseph Crilly, Tim Pat Coogan, Conor Murphy, Fr. Gerry Reynolds
Key Words: Power-sharing, decommissioning, IRA, Trimble resignation, Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, the arts