IN/0265

Real hope and shattered dreams

From the euphoria of the vote for peace, above left, in the referendums to the tragedy of Omagh, right,1998 was a rollercoaster year for a peace process which seemed to be badly off the rails with the outbreak at the start of the year of some of the worst violence in the history of the troubles. Paul McKillion looks back at the key events

JANUARY
1 Eddie Treanor killed, second loyalist killing after murder of Billy Wright at the end of 1997.
Gazza 'plays' flute in front of Celtic fans
UFF, linked to Treanor killing, withdraws support for the peace process.
Mowlam visits loyalists in the Maze; gamble pays off.
12 Terry Enright killed by LVF. Married to niece of Gerry Adams, cross community worker.
19 Feargal McCusker murdered by LVF.
20 Jim Guiney, loyalist murdered by INLA, and LarryBrennan, Catholic, murdered by UFF.
Ben Hughes killed by UFF. Ronnie Flanagan says: "I have no doubt some of the recent murders have been carried out by the UFF
24 Liam Conway murdered by LVF in north Belfast 26 John McColgan murdered in west Belfast by loyalists.
UDP jumps before it is pushed out of talks because of UFF involvement in three murders.
30 New inquiry announced into Bloody Sunday after years of campaigning.
FEBRUARY
2 26th anniversary of Bloody Sunday - 30,000 march original route.
Loyalist death threats to Hutchinson and Mowlam.
10 Brendan Campbell killed by Direct Action Against Drugs - cover name for IRA.
11 Prominent loyalist Robert Dougan killed - fears of repeat of January retaliation.
12 IRA says ceasefire intact - bid to keep SF in talks.
17 Adams says he is "totally pissed off" at stalled peace process and efforts to kick them out of talks.
18 SF seeks court injunction against expulsion.
21 Flanagan denies driving SF out of talks for a fortnight, saying: "It's a matter for the politicians".
24 Car bomb wrecks Portadown - C1RA blamed.
25 Shankill Butcher film comes out
26 Karen Reilly family "devastated" as appeal judges order retrial for Paratrooper Lee Clegg after quashing conviction for her murder.
Hugh Smyth ejected from Forum for labelling Ian Paisley Jr a 'hypocrite".
MARCH
1 Tributes pour in for Dermot Morgan (Father Ted) 4 Poyntzpass murders - cross community friends Philip Allen and Damien Treanor murdered
in pub by LVF
Paisley Jr and Sammy Wilson at loyalist rally in Portadown.
9 Linfield and Glentoran fans scrap on streets in weekend of Irish League soccer violence.
10 Roisin McAliskey freed by Jack Straw on medical grounds after 16 months in custody awaiting decision on extradition.
13 Reynolds announces he will retire.
Unionists seek SF expulsion for Kevin Conway murder.
16 David Keyes (arrested for Poyntzpass murders) murdered in the Maze. LVF inmates blamed.
19 Ken Maginnis takes down two tricolours in House of Commons dining room and throws them into the Thames - while Trimble is in
Washington for the St Paddy's day celebrations.
21 UUP claims to be near historic agreement with SDLP.
Blair says peace deal is "astonishingly close".
4,000 at Garvaghy Road for peaceful rally calling for dialogue on the coming marching season.
25 SF says it will contest assembly seats but is constitutionally restricted from doing so.
Dance Lexie Dance nominated for short film Oscar.
26 Mitchell sets April 9 for agreement.
28 NIO document leaked on work to secure a yes vote.
Ex-RUC man shot dead by INLA in Armagh.
30 Christian Brothers express "deep regret" to anyone ill treated in their schools or residential centres.
APRIL
I Countdown to a deal begins - Ahern and Blair in talks.
3 "Unionism and nationalism can never be reconciled" - Willie Thompson UUP MP.
4 Delay over Mitchell's 'blueprint' document.
6 SF admits 12 resignations from party - but denies wholesale defections to Republican SF.
8 "Hand of History" - Blair at Hillsborough Castle.
10 Paisley heckled by loyalists at Stormont.
11 Good Friday agreement (GFA) signed.
13 SF needs "period of consultation" before signing.
15 Nine IRA men released from Portlaoise.
17 Forecast of "fundamental change to RUC from SDLP.
21 Pressure on GAA to lift ban on security forces.
22 LVF murder Catholic Adrian Lamph in Portadown.
23 Parades Commission report blocked by Blair - too sensitive a time for it to be released.
24 Two loyalist members of Parades Commission resign.
27 Murder of Catholic student Ciaran Heffron by LVF over weekend. Reports that his killers were spotted at a no vote rally.
Chris Patten to head RUC reform commission.
29 Finucane murder issue - collusion alleged between security forces and loyalists.
30 Trimble ultimatum to UUP rebels to get in line or else.
MAY
6 Paisley town Ballymena says yes to agreement.
John Major and Blair fly in for the push for yes vote.
7 Emergence of Oglaigh na hEireann - Real IRA.
11 SF breaks 75 years of abstentionism and votes to take seats in proposed assembly at Ard Fheis where appearance of Hugh Doherty of the
Balcombe Street gang causes fury.
12 £150m economic package for Nl announced.
14 Blair back for yes campaign.
15 Michael Stone in UDP yes rally in Ulster Hall - again causes controversy.
16 LVF announces "unequivocal ceasefire" as part of no campaign.
20 Bono onstage with Trimble and Hume.
21 Blair and his handwritten pledge.
22 Referendum day
23 Special Sunday edition of Irish News with the result
26 Harryville picket ends
27 Donaldson rejected for assembly by UUP.
28 Elton John at Stormont.
29 Churches appeal for mediation over parades.
News of wages new assembly members will be paid.
JUNE
3 Loyalist 'Jackal' dies of cancer.
4 GAA refuses to ditch rule 21.
5 Victims' relatives back peace and assembly.
19 Divisions in UUP over prisoner releases - Trimble and Taylor abstain from House of Common vote.
25 Newtownhamilton bomb - CIRA/RIRA/INLA responsible.
26 Predictions of Hume as first minister.
27 Assembly election results.
JULY
1 First meeting of assembly.
Falling out between Alliance leader John Alderdice and deputy Seamus Close over the post of speaker.
2 Trimble and Mallon's handshake as first and deputy first ministers symbolises the new relationship between nationalism and unionism.
3 A 200-year-old church burnt down.
4 Behind-the-scenes attempts to resolve Drumcree fail.
5 Government pledges to "hold the line" against protesters as Drumcree begins.
6 10,000 at Drumcree continues, violence spreads to loyalist areas throughout Northern Ireland..
8 Mallon heckled at Garvaghy Road.
9 Orange leaders to meet Blair as besieged Garvaghy residents receive supplies from well-wishers.
10 Orangemen storm the barricades. David McNarry says they can "paralyse the country in a matter of hours"
11 Standoff continues as proximity talks in Armagh conducted by Downing Street chief of staff Jonathen Powell continue.
13 Jason, Mark and Richard Quinn burnt to death when their Ballymoney home is petrol bombed.
Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and Orange Order chaplain William Bingham appeal for Drumcree to be called off.
14 Funeral of the Quinns. Trimble hits out at suggestions that the murder was not sectarian.
Nationalist anger at Paisley's remark that "republicans carried out far worse murders".
16 Clinton's pledge to surviving Quinn brother to find peace in Northern Ireland.
17 Numbers plummet at Drumcree from 10,000 to 1500.
Blair pledges that the RUC will remain the RUC.
18 RUC release Drumcree figures - total of 2,561 public order offences during the standoff. 50 RUC families forced out of homes.
19 Maureen Kearney blames IRA for killing son Andrew.
Proximity talks on Drumcree continue to fail.
Oglaigh na hEireann claim mortar attack on Newry RUC base (car bomb defused the week before)
23 Demo in London with Martin Bell and Lord Tebbit calling for release of two Scots Guardsmen jailed for murder of teenager Peter McBride in
the nationalist New Lodge area of Belfast.
25 Lord Saville rules soldiers giving evidence to Bloody Sunday inquiry are entitled to "partial anonymity".
27 Maureen Kearney appeals for Sinn Fein not to be excluded from executive blaming murder of her son on "renegade elements of the IRA".
27 Bernadette Sands-McKevitt of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement says republican violence will never cease until British rule in Ireland
has ended.
28 Ronnie Flanagan announces flags will not be flown on public holidays outside RUC stations.
30 Exclusion of volunteers from early release scheme will not mean a return to violence says LVF source.
AUGUST
3 "Single issue" keeping Bogsiders and Apprentice Boys apart over relief of Derry march.
4 Derry relieved; deal agreed after three-day negotiations.
6 Mowlam believes "war is over" - response to calls for SF to announce permanent end to war.
10 Policeman in hospital after attack by nationalist youths at end of Apprentice Boy march.
LVF says war is over - but this is doubted by many, including Terry Enright's mother Mary.
13 Queen appears to back Parades Commission and the security forces for upholding ban on Drumcree parade.
Links made between Drumcree and the Quinn deaths.
14 David McNarry says adviser to queen may be republican - "they are everywhere".
15 Omagh - 28 killed in blast. One road fatality when ambulance collides with car outside Belfast.
19 RIRA announces that "all military operations had been suspended".
IRSP says "armed struggle" could no longer be justified - expectations of INLA ceasefire.
24 Christopher McWilliams, OC of the INLA in the Maze, declares the "war is over".
25 Reports GAA HQ would have to consider ending ban on foreign sports at its ground, after moves to stage fundraising soccer match for
Omagh in Healy Park.
26 Blair in Omagh promises draconian legislation to hunt down dissident republicans. Backing from Ahern. Sinn Fein said it was "internment in
another guise".
29 Despite resistance in ranks, RIRA leadership says "campaign of violence is futile in the circumstances of Omagh and the Mitchell agreement"
Indicate a ceasefire would be called.
31 PIRA warns RIRA must disband "sooner rather than later". Makes first reference to the disappeared, pledging to "do all in our power" to
alleviate the suffering of the families. However, no response on the "war is over" debate.
SEPTEMBER
2 On the eve of Clinton visit, Gerry Adams announces that "SF believe the violence we have seen must be for all of us now a thing of the past,
over, done with and gone".
3 Clinton arrives.
4 Clinton visits Omagh and addresses the people: "Your destiny is peace"
5 Sean McGrath dies - the 29th victim of Omagh bomb.
7 RUC man critically injured by blast bomb in Drumcree.
9 RIRA calls "complete cessation" of violence.
Ahern warns CIRA to state position or face the full rigours of the law.
10 No executive seats until guns destroyed - Trimble's message to Adams before their Stormont meeting.
11 "He is a man I can do business with": Adams on Trimble. But he says he cannot deliver on decommissioning.
12 First wave of prisoners released under the Good Friday agreement. Three loyalist and three republican.
14 Assembly meets for the first time since June. Ahern predicts IRA decommissioning within two years, but only if the deal is fully implemented.
16 GAA finally rejects request from Omagh Town football club for a fundraising soccer match on Healy Park.
23 Trimble meets Adams who gives notice that any attempt to exclude SF from political process will be viewed as a very serious development.
Trimble then meets Ahern in Dublin insisting that IRA decommission before SF get executive seats.
24 Trimble branded "a traitor" by loyalists gathered in Portadown to protest at him meeting Orangemen over Drumcree issue.
25 Mallon warns of the damage caused by focus on decommissioning.
Source close to the RIRA says war is over for good.
28 Peter McBride's family welcome reports that his killers will be expelled from the British army.
Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters calls for Breandan Mac Cionnaith to be "taken out" of coalition in 2,000 strong show of strength
in Portadown.
29 Government warns there is no turning back from the Good Friday agreement as October 31 deadline looms for the establishment of the north
south council and the executive.
30 At the Labour conference in Blackpool, Mallon says republicans should make a "confidence building.
Trimble firm on arms.
OCTOBER
1 Key players dub October "crisis month" as deadlock over arms remains unbroken.
2 Archbishop Desmond Tutu warns politicians must answer to the people if peace process stalls.
7 Davy Jones, hours after RUC man Frankie O'Reilly dies from blast bomb injuries, says cost of upholding civil liberties "can be very high".
Attack claimed by previously unknown Red Hand Defenders.
8 Wrangling between Fait leaders Sam Cushnahan and Glynn Roberts threatens the organisation.
10 Meeting between Martin McGuinness and Bertie Ahern fails to make progress on decommissioning.
12 News that Pope plans to visit Ireland.
15 Lawrence Rush, husband of Omagh victim Libby, pledges to push republican councillor Francie Mackey from office.
17 Nobel Peace Prize to go to Hume and Trimble.
20 Trimble meets Blair in London and tells him no executive seats for Sinn Fein without decommissioning.
21 Eames at Armagh diocesan synod launches fresh initiative to resolve Drumcree crisis.
23 Armagh County Grand Master Dennis Watson suspends Davy Jones for "breaching Orange protocol".
24 Jones's suspension lifted.
26 Conor Cruise O'Brien's book writes in memoirs that unionists may some day have to negotiate entry into a United Ireland. Quits UKUP.
Ahern concedes there is no chance that the executive can be established by October 31.
Trimble says it was "bunkum" to suggest October 31 is the absolute deadline.
McGuinness says they are trying to "rewrite the agreement".
28 Reported that Donegal Celtic plan to play the RUC. Calls from Sinn Fein to pull out of the match.
29 Review board fails to reach a decision on future of the Scots Guards.
NOVEMBER
2 North Belfast man Brian Service (35) murdered by dissident loyalist group Red Hand Defenders.
3 Ahern first taoiseach in over 30 years to visit Stormont.
Talks about north south bodies.
4 Review board decides Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher can remain in British army.
Francis Mackey pledges to stay in post following a formal SF motion calling for his resignation.
5 Work colleagues of Mackey object to his return to Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital.
10 SF meet with Blair to discuss stalled peace process.
11 Maze to close by year 2000 if GFA holds. Critical report says it is too is unsafe for staff and prisoners.
13 Donegal Celtic pull out of RUC match.
14 LVF vows to hand in weapons if IRA match them on ration of 10 to 1.
SDLP guarantees it will help kick SF out of government if the IRA fails to decommission within the time scale. Also guarantee it will not help
unionists if they try to rewrite the GFA
16 Launch of the Irish News/News Letter children's hospice appeal.
19 Ken Maginnis's remarks in the House of Commons that the LVF is "ruthless" and "sectarian killers", scupper planned LVF weapons
handover.
20 UN committee calls for "reconstruction of the RUC".
21 Cash-strapped Donegal Celtic "saved" by £135,000 funding.
Trimble says "cold war in this island is over" and that unionists are not pursuing exclusionist strategy against Sinn Fein.
23 Ahern believes a united Ireland is inevitable within 20 years at Fianna Fail ard fheis. Also calls for "impartial policing service".
25 Blair flies in for talks with Mowlam and the parties.
27 Blair first PM to address both house of the Oireachtas - calls on all to "crack on" with the peace process.
28 British soldiers offered immunity from prosecution in evidence they give to the Bloody Sunday inquiry
30 Mitchell in Cork with Ahern says peace process on track despite the difficulties.
Omagh CD goes on sale.
DECEMBER
I Just 114 former paras contact the Bloody Sunday inquiry out of the 3,000 soldiers present on that day.
3 Blair back in north to bring the parties closer together on agreeing number of north south bodies.
Boyzone to play Omagh gig.
4 Unionists pull out from north-south deal.
Taylor tells journalists to take a week off "because nothing will be happening".
Trimble goes to Washington and then to Oslo.
Further violence at Drumcree.
5 Crisis continues as Adams meets Ahern in Dublin.
7 Reports that members of the RIRA are assisting the CIRA.
DUP revealed in happy pose with Sinn Fein member for snap in South Africa.
8 IRA calls for help finding the graves of the "disappeared".
9 Garda warns disgruntled members of RIRA and INLA joining with CIRA for renewed campaign of violence.
11 World honours the peacemakers as Hume and Trimble collect Nobel accolade.
12 General army convention of the IRA decides on no decommissioning of arms or explosives.
14 Assembly member Gerry Kelly says the unionists are trying to push the IRA back to war.
15 UKUP assembly members rebel against leader Bob McCartney over strategy if SF takes executive seats and strong north-south bodies are
put in place.
CIRA claim they defused bomb at Apprentice Boys parade to avoid heavy civilian casualties.
17 Britain and US launch air strikes on Iraq.
Intense negotiations continue at Stormont on north south bodies.
18 Mother of Omagh victim James Barker says Orangemen are bigoted following threat to discipline David Trimble and UUP party chairman
Denis Rogan for attendance at a Catholic funeral.
19 North-south bodies are agreed by UUP executive but they again reissue demand for decommissioning. 21 Christmas 'Amnesty' for hundreds
of petty criminals exiled by the IRA for petty criminal acts.
21 Christmas 'Amnesty' for hundreds of petty criminals exiled by the IRA for petty criminal acts.