Transcript of an interview with John Reid, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, by Julian Glover for the Guardian in October 2002. Between February 2000 and September 2002 devolved government in Northern Ireland was suspended on three separate occasions over the issue of IRA decommissioning. Confidence in the stability of the Northern Ireland Assembly was also undermined by continued paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and abroad, community tensions in Belfast and allegations of a republican spy-ring at Stormont. In this interview Reid discusses the future of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. Two weeks after the publication of this interview Reid announced a fourth suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland and a return to direct rule.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 3 October 2002
Name of First Interviewee: John Reid
Role at time of Interview: Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Interviewer: Julian Glover
Purpose: News
Media: Transcript
Copyright:
Link: Read the transcript
Programme/Book/Article: The Guardian
Time Period covered: 1998-2002
Key Individuals: John Reid, David Trimble
Key Words: Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, DUP, UUP, IRA, Columbia Three, power-sharing