They stressed that there is concern that some progress has to be made prior to the European elections which Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley is determined to turn into a second referendum on the Agreement. Both governments fear that if the UUP lose the third Northern Ireland Euro-seat this would cause a crisis of confidence in David Trimble's leadership within the party. Trimble however may have grave difficulty selling the new initiative given that there were serious reservations expressed by a number of Assembly team about the Hillsborough Declaration on Holy Thursday. Conversely Gerry Adams continues to look over his shoulder for signs of dissent within mainstream republicanism . It is understood that Adams told Blair during a meeting with the Prime Minister in Downing Street last Thursday that when the Sinn F in leadership consulted the republican movement about Hillsborough over the Easter holidays, around 40 per cent rejected the declaration out of hand.
Someone has to say it.
Those who share the ideology of these groups which is the anti-agreement parties are not saying it. The Red Hand Defenders' actions are keeping guns in IRA hands. Their campaign against Catholics gives justification for the IRA's retention of weapons.