These discussions led to unofficial contacts with the British Northern Ireland Office under the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , Peter Brooke , and with the government of the Republic under Charles Haughey -- although both governments maintained in public that they would not negotiate with terrorists .
These discussions led to unofficial contacts with the British Northern Ireland Office under the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , Peter Brooke , and with the government of the Republic under Charles Haughey -- although both governments maintained in public that they would not negotiate with `` terrorists '' .