[Sinn Fein]

22 January 1998

Adams criticises Taylor

Sinn FÈin President Gerry Adams MP has accused the Ulster Unionist Party of ``irresponsibility and hypocrisy'' following the implicit threat by Deputy Leader John Taylor to withdraw from the negotiations ``if the narrow pro-unionist agenda which is currently reflected in the propositions document is altered in any way.''

Mr. Adams said:

``Mr. Taylor's remarks are part of a concerted campaign by all shades of unionism designed to impose a unionist agenda inside the negotiations process and outside it. This includes the killing of catholics.

``His comments, coming as they do on the back of seven catholic deaths in six weeks, are a continuation of the strategy of threats and blackmail which have marked unionism throughout this peace process.

``Mr. Taylor's reaction to yesterdays IRA statement is evidence of the double standards and hypocrisy which permeates the unionist approach. IRA words have evoked more of a response from Mr. Taylor than the killing of catholics. Nationalists find this deeply offensive.

``We believe that this current crisis can be rectified. But it requires both governments ensuring that their approach to the negotiations is inclusive, and that the process is comprehensive and deals with all of the issues at the heart of this conflict.''

The Sinn FÈin President also commented on the involvement of the UDA/UFF in the recent killings: ``The UDP and PUP's presence at the talks is, by their own admission, the silence of loyalist guns. They have to explain now publicly why those guns are being used to kill catholics. Here is clearly a serious credibility problem for some of those present at Castle Buildings.

``It is also time that the RUC released the forensic details of recent attacks.''

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