The Northern Secretary yesterday strongly reprimanded the Democratic Unionist Party's MP, the Rev Willie McCrea, saying she found it "offensive" that people tried to claim a monopoly on suffering. She also accused his party of failing to play a constructive role in the peace process.
Dr Mo Mowlam was speaking during a visit to the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue in Belfast, the first by a secretary of state since it was set up 17 months ago.
Mr McCrea had asked Dr Mowlam what confidencebuilding measures she could announce to "the widows and orphans of IRA murder gangs" and if she appreciated the "grievous insult and hurt that she causes to the lawabiding innocent victims of Ulster when she embraces a notorious terrorist like Martin McGuinness".
Dr Mowlam said her heart went out to those who had suffered. As mutterings about Sinn Fein leaders continued on the DUP benches, she retorted: "We are all allowed to have suffering. I'm sorry, you don't have a monopoly on it, sir. My father fought at Dunkirk, my mother worked in an ammunitions factory. I care as much as you care about the suffering that has gone on, and I find it offensive that people say they want to claim a monopoly on it."
Dr Mowlam also pointed out that she had not embraced Mr McGuinness, but had shaken his hand. She said she had also shaken the hand of the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams.
"And I will do so to people who have announced a ceasefire and signed up to the Mitchell Principles, and as Tony Blair said, we will treat them as human beings while they are trying to work for peace in the talks process."
Dr Mowlam also hit back at DUP members of the Forum when they complained about being denied access to the minutes of the Stormont talks. She said she would like the DUP to attend the talks. She didn't think that giving the minutes to the party would lead to a constructive debate, "because the nature of your contribution to the talks process so far has not been terribly constructive".
Earlier in her address to the Forum, Dr Mowlam called on parties boycotting the Stormont talks, the DUP and the UK Unionist Party, to return. She said she asked herself why some parties had such difficulties engaging with others when it comes to the talks "when they have no difficulties in so doing in other arenas".
Later, in response, the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said her comments would "not bring any converts" from his side of the house.
Dr Mowlam also urged the SDLP, which left the Forum in protest over the handling of the 1996 Drumcree crisis, and Sinn Fein to take up their seats.
"I am sure that the more the Forum shows its readiness to embrace the views of all sections of the community in Northern Ireland, the more incentive there will be for the SDLP and Sinn Fein to take their seats."