Although a senior figure on the pro-treaty side of Ireland 's political divide , Desmond FitzGerald had remained friendly with anti-Treaty republicans such as Belfast man Seán MacEntee , a minister in Éamon de Valera 's government , and father-in-law of Conor Cruise O'Brien .
Although a senior figure on the `` pro-treaty '' side of Ireland 's political divide , Desmond FitzGerald had remained friendly with anti-Treaty republicans such as Belfast man Seán MacEntee , a minister in Éamon de Valera 's government , and father-in-law of Conor Cruise O'Brien .