Republican News · Thursday 31 October 2002

Sinn Féin briefing at Westminster

Mitchel McLaughlin and Dodie McGuinness are pictured last Wednesday, 23 October, at the House of Commons, where they briefed a packed meeting of Irish community activists, MPs, human rights campaigners and trade unionists on the latest crisis to beset the peace process.

In a hectic schedule, McLaughlin also had meetings with a group of first-time Labour MPs and another with a group of Lib Dems and Tories, which Sylvia Hermon turned up at. Some of the exchanges at the latter meeting were described as "frank", but thos epresent left under no illusions about the Sinn Feein view of the current crisis.

The Sinn Féin national chair also held briefings with the editorial boards of some of the major newspapers, including the Observer, the London Times and the Financial Times.

That morning, Mcaughlin hosted a press conference at the Foreign Press Association at which he reiterated Sinn Féin's demand that the institutions be re-established.

Pat Doherty MP is currently in London for a further series of editorial board meetings.