Record of Telephone Conversation between Danny McNeill, Sammy Wilson and Peter Robinson on Ian Paisley's Allegations on 9 April 1991

Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

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PAB/7088/DGMcN/RG

FROM: D G McNEILL, PAB
DATE: 9 APRIL 1991

Copy No [ ] of 10

cc Mr Ledlie [3]
Mr Pilling [4]
Mr Deverell [5]
Mr Alston [6]
Mr Thomas [7]
Mr Petch [8]
Mr Marsh [9]
File [10]

PS/PUS (B&L) [1&2]

POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND THE PROVISIONALS

1. I called briefly with Peter Robinson MP today on a matter unconnected with the above subject .Sammy Wilson was in his room when I arrived.

2. When I was there the fact that Dr Paisley had challenged me about information which he had to the effect that I had engaged in talks with Sinn Fein/PIRA came up. The atmosphere in which the discussion took place was friendly and relaxed but had some of the elements associated with a sports club locker room; that is they were probing and searching even though we were all laughing and joking.

3. They said that Ian Paisley had not discussed this with them beforehand but had mentioned it afterwards. Peter Robinson said Ian Paisley had thought that the information he had was accurate. I repeated what I had said to Paisley - that I had not been talking to anyone in Sinn Fein or PIRA and then asked if Ian Paisley now accepted that. Robinson did not answer directly but countered by saying "but you have written a paper (perhaps he said papers) on the prospects of PIRA ceasing violence and turning political". I did not deny this but said that I wrote papers on many issues of political significance, including papers on the DUP which sometimes were written without direct consultation with the DUP but were analyses of their public positions, and that anything I wrote about PIRA/Sinn Fein was based on an analysis of their public statements and certainly not after dialogue with them.

4. I did not pursue how Peter Robinson came to know or guessed that I (or PAB) had written paper(s) and the conversation moved on without any signs of animosity or disbelief on their part.

(SIGNED)

D G McNEILL
Political Affairs Division
SH Ext 2238

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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Record of Telephone Conversation between Danny McNeill, Sammy Wilson and Peter Robinson on Ian Paisley's Allegations on 9 April 1991

Tuesday, 09 April 1991

Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)