THE British and Irish governments, as predicted, have decided to allow the two fringe loyalist parties to remain at the multi party talks at Stormont. But the legacy of the crisis ridden marching season is still stalling the talks from moving to substantive issues.
While the hurdle of the loyalist parties' involvement was surmounted yesterday, further indictments being pursued by the Alliance Party against most of the unionist parties are expected to take up most of next week. Alliance leader Lord Alderdice, in the face of strong criticism from unionists, is pursuing claims that the Ulster Unionist Party, the Democratic Unionist Party and the loyalist parties all infringed the Mitchell principles on democracy and non violence.
The two governments determined yesterday that "it has not been established" that the Progressive Unionist Party and the Ulster Democratic Party "have demonstrably dishonoured" the Mitchell principles. "No further action is therefore appropriate," they ruled.
There was no evidence that the two parties endorsed the death threats issued by the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) against dissident loyalists Mr Billy Wright and Mr Alex Kerr. The DUP, with the support of the UK Unionist Party, argued that, because of their associations with the CLMC, the death threats should have resulted in their expulsion from the talks.
The talks adjourned yesterday evening until Monday, when the parties will debate the governments' ruling.
The Alliance charges against the UUP and the DUP, which must now be considered by the two governments, chiefly relate to the events at and following from Drumcree. Lord Alderdice while indicating he was not seeking the expulsion of these parties insisted that he must proceed with the indictments.
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said the Alliance decision to pursue its complaint was a "highly retrograde step". While his party and others such as the SDLP wanted to push on with the agenda and address the decommissioning issue, Alliance wanted a "re run" of the events of the summer.
The Alliance charges are against the UUP and DUP for their involvement in Drumcree; against the PUP and UDP because of the CLMC death threats and against the DUP because of the attendance of the party's security spokesman, the Rev William McCrea, at a rally in support of Mr Wright.
Lord Alderdice was particularly scathing about the two main unionist parties. "Over the summer period the Ulster Unionist Party leadership, and significant players in the DUP, brought Northern Ireland to its knees. They all but wrecked the reputation of the RUC and caused massive damage to the economy of Northern Ireland," he said. "If that is not a breach of the Mitchell principles, then what are the principles at all?"
Mr Billy Hutchinson, spokesman for the PUP, said he was unaware of any mediation to try and have the CLMC death threats against Mr Wright and Mr Kerr withdrawn. "I always knew we were innocent and that we would not be found guilty. The last time I appeared in court I had only one judge; today they gave us two", he said.
Mr John White, spokesman for the UDP, said he was in no doubt that they would win the decision "because we are certainly committed to the Mitchell principles". He criticised the Alliance Party for causing further delay.
Mr Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the DUP, said the governments' decision was far reaching, but he indicated that the party would not be pursuing a judicial review, despite an earlier suggestion to that effect by the party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley.
"It is now very clear that as far as the (British) government is concerned there is a distinction to be drawn between paramilitary organisations and the groups which represent them," he said. "This judgment is the invitation to Sinn Fein to come through these doors without any change in the IRA's position.
